Snake plants (Sansevieria) are easy care houseplants that are drought tolerant and only require minimal watering.
How often you need to water sansevierias depends on the temperature, amount of sunlight and the type of soil.
In this article I’ll share my tips for watering snake plants so that your plants stay healthy and happy for many years to come.
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How to water snake plants
The best way to water snake plants is to give them a deep watering by thoroughly soaking the soil.
Use filtered or rain water if you can and allow the top layer of soil to dry out before watering again.
Avoid wetting the leaves and try not to let the water pool in the center of the leaves because this can cause the plant to rot.
When planting or repotting snake plants, make sure that the container has plenty of drainage holes in the bottom and use a potting soil that drains easily to avoid the soil becoming waterlogged.
How often to water snake plants
Snake plants should be watered every two to four weeks during warm weather and less often during the cooler months.
Before watering your sansevieria, check the soil with your finger to make sure the top layer of soil is dry.
Push your finger about an inch (2.5 cm) into the soil and if it feels dry it’s time to water.
If the soil is still moist, leave it another week before watering.
You can also use a soil moisture meter to tell you when the soil has dried out enough to water again.
Overwatering
Snake plants are used to growing in dry conditions, so they don’t do well in waterlogged soil.
Constant overwatering will cause the plants to rot. [1]
If the leaves are starting to fall over, it’s a sign that you’re watering them too much.
How long can snake plants live without water?
Sansevierias, like other succulents are able to store water in their leaves, roots, and rhizomes, which means they can survive without frequent watering.
Snake plants can last around two to three weeks without water during the summer and about six to eight weeks during cool weather.
If you’re going on a long vacation be sure to give your snake plants a deep watering before you leave.
Can snake plants be watered with tap water?
Ideally it’s best to use filtered water or rain water for snake plants and other house plants because they’re sensitive to the chlorine that is added to tap water.
If you only have access to tap water, leave it to stand overnight to allow the chemicals to disperse.
Can snake plants be misted?
The leaves of the snake plant should be kept dry at all times so misting is not recommended for these plants.
Why does the water take a long time to soak in?
If the water sits on top of the soil and takes a long time to soak in, your plant is most probably pot bound.
It’s hard for the water to get through when the roots are tightly packed into the pot.
Sansevierias don’t mind being slightly pot bound but they should be repotted every three to five years.
Can snake plants be bottom watered?
Snake plants can be watered from the bottom every few weeks to give them a deep watering.
You can bottom water your snake plants by placing them in a shallow container or bathtub filled with about an inch (2.5 cm) of water.
Bottom watering allows the soil to become fully saturated and encourages the roots to grow towards the bottom of the pot.
Always check that the soil has dried out before bottom watering sansevierias.
So there are my tips for watering snake plants.
Snake plants are gorgeous low maintenance houseplants and with the right watering schedule you can ensure that your plants will stay healthy and thriving for many years to come.
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How often do you water your sansevierias? Let me know in the comments below.
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I water my snake plant- named Florian- every two weeks on Saturday.