How to Grow Snake Plant
Snake Plant At a Glance
Difficulty
Easy
Category
Houseplant
Sun Exposure
Partial Shade
Frost Tolerance
Frost Tender
Cold Hardiness
Survives to 10°C
Plant Family
Asparagaceae
Growing Season
Year Round
Plant Lifecycle
Perennial
How to Start It
★ Recommended for beginners
When you repot in spring or summer, slide the plant out and pull or cut the clump apart at the roots, so each piece has a few leaves and its own roots. Pot each piece in gritty, fast-draining mix and wait about a week before the first watering. Divided plants look exactly like the parent, stripes and all.
Snake plant is about the toughest houseplant there is: it puts up with low light, dry air and weeks without water. The one thing that kills it is too much water, so when in doubt, wait.
When To Start
Snake Plant grows all year in the right spot, so there is no window to wait for.
We do not have exact sowing dates for this one yet.
When should you plant Snake Plant?
Your planting dates depend on your local climate. Sign up and add your location to unlock personalized dates.
Your Snake Plant Planting Window
Start planting
May 15, 2026
Last chance
Sep 10, 2026
Your Snake Plant Calendar
Set your location to turn these into exact dates and reminders.
Pot up your snake plant in gritty, fast-draining mix
About 0 days after you plant it
Check if your snake plant needs a bigger pot
About 365 days after you plant it· every year· optional
Split a crowded snake plant into rooted pieces
About 120 days after you plant it· every year· optional
Check the soil of your snake plant: water when the top 3 cm feel dry.
About 7 days after you plant it
How is your snake plant settling in? Let the soil dry out fully between waterings.
About 30 days after you plant it
Checking in on your snake plant. Bright light helps it push out new leaves faster.
About 90 days after you plant it
The Journey Ahead
Snake Plant's Lifecycle
Seedling
Mature Plant
Seed Production
Step 1
Prepare Your Space
Vertical Growing
No.
Succession Planting
No.
Good Companions
Bad Companions
Step 2
Planting & Sprouting
Growing Tips
- 1Give your snake plant bright, indirect light for the fastest growth, though it copes with a dim corner.
- 2Use a gritty, fast-draining mix such as cactus mix, in a pot with drainage holes.
- 3Water only when the mix is dry all the way down, about every 2 to 3 weeks in summer and as little as once a month in winter, and never leave it sitting in water.
- 4Feed with compost tea or a sprinkle of worm castings once or twice in spring and summer.
- 5Keep it above 10°C (50°F) and away from cold drafts, and wipe dusty leaves with a damp cloth.
- 6It is mildly toxic and can upset a cat's or dog's stomach, so keep it where pets will not chew it.
Seedling Phase
Step 3
Growth & Maturity
90 cm
Mature Height
40 cm
Mature Width
Pests to Watch For
Diseases to Watch For
Mature Plant
Step 4
Harvesting
How to Harvest
- 1There is nothing to eat on a snake plant, so its care is simple tidying.
- 2Cut any damaged or floppy leaf off at soil level with a clean knife.
- 3Move it to a pot one size bigger every 2 to 3 years in spring, or when the roots start to bulge or crack the pot.
- 4Use that moment to split off a few pieces for new plants.
Step 5
Saving Seeds
Seed Production
Still have a question?
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