Sansevieria plant is also known as the Snake plant. Snake plant is one of the easiest plants to grow as there are not many issues that you are likely to encounter. One of the exceptions, however, includes watering the plant. Improper watering of this plant is one of the most common sources of problems for many gardeners planting and nurturing the plant.
Watering this plant depends on many aspects. There are 8 golden rules that you need to master to properly water the snake plant. These rules are critical to keeping your plant in good health and for a long time. The watering schedule varies depending on the type of soil the plant is growing, the home environment, and pot size.
By following this simple rule that we will look at in-depth in this article, you will realize that watering a snake plant correctly isn’t very difficult. This article will also give you a deeper understanding of the trickiest aspect associated with managing this classic house plant. It includes knowing how often and best to water this plant.
1. Water the Soil and not the Leaves
The problem cuts across many houseplants. But it is particularly crucial to remember this when you grow a snake plant. When watering your snake plant, you need not spill any water to the leaves.
The most common cause of brown spots on a snake plant is a fungal infection. When there is water spill to their leaves, it makes this plant vulnerable to fungal infestation. This fungus causes brown spots on the leaves of the plant, destroying its appearance.
Spillage of water to the leaves also causes them to rot. This rot continues to grow and spreads to other parts of the leaves, and you may end up losing the whole plant.
Therefore, every time you want to water your snake plant, ensure that you only water the roots and not let water spill onto the leaves. You can achieve this by bringing the watering source near the plant’s base and allowing water to flow slowly to the roots without spilling.
2. Know when to Water your Snake Plant
When watering a sansevieria plant, scheduling is the most effective way to determine when to water the plant. As said earlier, the schedule will vary depending on several factors like the type of soil used and the plant environment.
Before watering the plant, assess the plant and determine if at that particular moment it needs water. Some indications will help you to determine if your plant needs water or not. The easiest way is to check the potting soil.
Dip your finger some inches to the soil. If you don’t want to get dirty, you can use a stick or a pencil. If the soil is dry, maybe two inches from the topsoil, it is time to water the plant. If the soil is wet in the two inches of the soil, you can save the water to when the plant will require it.
If you miss out on this crucial aspect, you may end up overwatering the plant, which may lead to root rot, resulting in the death of your plant. You may also end up underwatering the plant, making it dry up.
3. Know your Snake Plant Watering Frequency
It would help if you determined the right water frequency for your sansevieria plant. Determining this frequency, you have to consider several environmental parameters. Some of these parameters are discussed below.
Temperature
The snake plant is a tough plant that is adapted to arid conditions. Ideally, your plant will do well at a temperature of between 130C-300C. At this range, your plant is happy and thrives well.
If the temperature starts falling below 100C, the plant is unhappy as it is too low. At this temperature, the plant does not consume much water; hence you may need to stay for more days before watering the plant.
If the temperature is too high, again, the plant is not comfortable. It takes in a lot of water at a time to sustain itself. During this time, you may increase your watering frequency as more water is lost through evaporation.
Season
The watering of the snake plant is dependent on the season of the year.
During the spring season, your plant is awake from the dormant stage and begins to experience some growth. At this particular season, it will need more water than it would during the rest period. As a gardener, you need to react appropriately to this need.
Hope you’ve not forgotten that it is during the spring when your plant occasionally sends up that long stem that has sweet-smelling, cream-colored flowers at the top?
During the summer season, plant growth begins to slow down but will still need a regular water supply. Growth slows down even further during the autumn, and when winter arrives, no change is taking place; hence watering will be almost unnecessary.
Humidity
Water requirement by the snake plant will also depend on the humidity surrounding the plant. If there is low humidity, the plant tends to take in more water. During high humidity, the plant will require less water.
It is also good to know that high humidity makes the plant susceptible to diseases and bacterial infections. You can counter this effect by taking the plant where there are other plants. When plants are in a cluster, they create their favorable microclimate.
4. Consider the Size of the Plant.
The size of your snake plant will determine the amount of water that the plant requires. The larger the plant, the more water is needed as the uptake of water is high. Big plant has big leaves that will transpire more; hence watering should be more frequent.
On the other hand, a small plant has small leaves. Transpiration and evaporation occur slowly; hence the plant requires little water to grow.
5. Be Careful with the Amount of Water you Use
When watering your sansevieria plant, be careful about the amount of water you pour. Watering this plant could lead to overwatering or underwatering if not done appropriately.
Overwatering
Continuous overwatering will cause the leaves of the snake plant to droop. With time, you can tell an overwatered snake plant with how it looks. Overwatering destroys the leaves and the root structure of the beautiful snake plant in the following ways.
- The leaves tend to become squishy, heavy, and limp. Within no time, the leaves may start to fall over
- Overwatering will make the roots start rotting to make the soil around them start smelling.
- You will notice that numerous leaves of the plant are falling over.
- Sometimes the leaves may begin changing to yellow.
Under watering
Yes, your plant is tough, but under watering, it will not go well for long. The good thing is that your under-watered plant will always indicate, and you have to take it seriously. Some of these symptoms include:
- Leaves may appear to have wrinkles
- Leaves start to curl
- The edge of the leaves becomes too dry
- It may experience slow growth
If you start realizing these effects, it is time that you take the necessary action to revive the plant because it is dying. Remember to always check on your plant and observe if there is any change in its appearance.
6. Type of Pot
The material used in making your pot determines the amount of water the plant will need. The type of pot will determine the loss of water by the soil. For example, a plastic pot or a glazed pot will not allow water to evaporate through its sides hence leaving the plant with water for a longer time. You will need to water the plant less frequently in this kind of pot because it does not lose water more often.
On the other hand, using a porous pot like the terracotta will draw water away from the plant, enhancing evaporation. You will need to water more in this type of container as the plant loses water more frequently.
7. Water Early in the Morning and Late Evening
The time that you water your plant is also essential. The two most appropriate times to water your sansevieria plant is either early in the morning or late in the evening. During these times of the day, less evaporation and transpiration occur. The plant can take in enough water to counter when the temperature rises and thrive well.
8. Allow the Soil to Dry out Between Watering.
Like most succulent plants, snake plants thrive well when the soil is left to dry out before rewatering. During this time, the plant tends to grow new roots, searching for more water. This method, also known as the soak and dry process, helps the snake plant have a healthy root system.
Take away
Snake plant does not need frequent watering; hence you should determine the frequency of watering. Proper watering of your snake plant will save you from many other consequences, as many troubles start when the watering is not done appropriately. Never be afraid of getting dirty when you want to determine the moisture of the soil. Most of the watering rules depend on the above-mentioned factors, and you got yourself a snake plant that is the easiest plant to keep. Just get it right in the watering.
Last update on 2023-09-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
