Propagation of Snake Plant | Care, Types, Benefits | Growing Tips

What is a Snake Plant?

The snake plant, or Dracaena trifasciata, is a common and robust houseplant with stiff, sword-like leaves that may grow up to 12 feet tall in their natural habitat but typically only grow to two feet tall when cultivated inside. They come in a variety of colors but typically feature leaves with green stripes or bands with a yellow or cream border. plants are practically unbreakable and simple to grow. They develop slowly inside, becoming accustomed to both bright and dim areas, but a few hours of early morning direct sunlight might speed up growth. 

Snake Plant Care

Here are a few considerations if you intend to keep a snake plant in your residence:

• Avoid overwatering. Avoid overwatering a snake plant because it might lead to rotting by planting it in a pot with good drainage. Only water, when the soil is entirely dry.
• The ideal sunlight is indirect. Although it continues to thrive in dark corners or in brighter window settings, plants prefer partial sun. If the plant is entirely shadowed, it may lose its color and its leaves may start to droop.

Snake plant Reproduction

• Like other plants, plants benefit from being multiplied during their active growth seasons, which are the spring and summer.
• To fully benefit from the active growth season, you should begin your propagations in the early to mid-spring due to the lengthy nature of the operation.
• Snake plants can be multiplied by stem cuttings in soil or water as well as division.The division method is best utilized to divide up a large, mature plant with numerous stems,  while the stem-cutting procedures can be applied to plants of all sizes.  Even though you can grow plants in water, it’s preferable to use soil to stop decay.

How to Propagate Snake Plants 

Take the plant out of its container

• Lay into a tarp or a big sheet if you plan to accomplish this indoors; otherwise, carry out this step outside.
• Place the greenery on its side after removing the pot.
• If the plant is root-bound, lightly press the pot on every side to release the root bulb.

Different Clumps

• Choose a group of stems that you want to detach from the main plant, and then use your hands to remove as much soil as possible from the roots.
• If at all possible, carefully peel the group away from the parent plant while untangling the roots. This might not be possible, though, if the plant is rootbound in compacted soil.
• Cut the roots free from the primary root cluster using a knife or a set of sharp, sterile pruning shears. Use as little of it as you can, eliminating as much with your hands as you can prior to making any cuts.

Plant the Divisions Again

Plant the newly split plants in a fresh pot that has drainage holes filled with sand and a soil mixture that drains nicely. Place it in an area with lighting that is comparable to where it was previously and firmly press the soil down around the roots. Resuming your regular watering routine.

Benefits of Snake Plant –

1. Purify the air within, even at night.

• This specific plant is special because it is one of the few living things that can change carbon dioxide (CO2) into oxygen at nighttime.
• Due to its ability to maintain a healthy airflow, this characteristic makes it the perfect plant for bedroom décor.

2. Eliminate harmful contaminants

plants also have the ability to filter out dangerous air pollutants. plants may absorb cancer-causing chemicals in minute amounts, such as – CO2, benzene, formaldehyde, xylene, trichloroethylene, toluene

3. Support for mental health

• The premise that plants play a good function has been well-established according to research from 2018, even though the advantages of plants in the home on psychological well-being still deserve additional scientific study.
• Due to its therapeutic properties, gardening therapy is even used in the treatment of mental illnesses.
• A low-cost, low-risk option to enhance the settings in companies, schools, and healthcare institutions is by adding indoor plants.

4. Easy to maintain and care 

• There are several reasons why plants are popular indoor plants. One is how simple it is to maintain.
• According to botanist Halina Shamshur from NatureID, potted Sansevieria plants are widespread across all continents. Due to their low maintenance requirements, they are widely grown on windowsills in residences, apartments, and different public buildings.

5. Beneficial for allergies

• Plants can aid in reducing the impact of breathing in allergens like dust and dandruff by generating oxygen and increasing moisture to the air.
• This is unquestionably advantageous because low air quality in the home has been associated with a variety of health problems, including allergies and asthma.

6. Heals mild bodily conditions

For instance, it is claimed that snake plants:

• skin burns and wounds
• reduce inflammation, maintain healthy blood pressure, bolster the immune system, wash out parasites, and provide headache relief

Snake Plant Flower

• Your snake plant only sometimes blooms, and when it does, you’ll notice tiny buds dispersed along its lengthy flowering stem. This stalk, which occasionally towers above the ends of the snake plant leaves, can grow to a height of approximately three feet.
• Numerous little, tubular flowers with thin petals that are borne on these stalks in groups are carried by them.
• These little flowers resemble small lily or honeysuckle flowers the most. Some cultivars fail to sprout stalks. Instead, near the base of the plant, enormous clusters of flowers bloom.
• The blossoms of several snake plant species come in a variety of hues. These hues typically run the gamut from white or cream to a greenish- or even yellow. 
• The blossoms are a magnificent sight, especially next to the snake plant’s strikingly different leaves.
• Only once every year, usually in the spring, do snake plants blossom. The blossoms last for a few days and can produce fruit as they start to wither away.

Types of Snake Plant

Laurentii snake plant

• One of the most widely grown plant varieties is the laurentii variety (Dracaena trifasciata ‘Laurentii’/D. trifasciata var. laurentii, also known as Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Laurentii’). The deep green leaves of this cultivar are distinguished by their varied yellow edges.
• Laurentii plants tend to be the easiest to grow and are widely available in garden centers and plant stores. Using leaf cuttings, you can even grow your own.

Black coral snake plant

A common type of black coral snake plant has thin, flat, dark green leaves (Dracaena trifasciata ‘Black Coral’, also known as Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Black Coral’). For those seeking a subdued, refined appearance, this type is fantastic. When cultivated as container houseplants, the majority of mature plants reach heights of 2 to 3 feet.

Moonshine snake plant

A specialized cultivar with broad, pale grey-green leaves is the moonshine snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata ‘Moonshine’, also known as Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Moonshine’). This species is ideal for a tabletop or other small display area because it is also shorter than the majority of the other typical snake plant varieties. Compared compared to other varieties of mother-in-law’s tongue plants, this plant is extremely distinctive because of its light green leaves.

Whale fin Snake Plant

A unique species of plant known as the whale fin snake plant (Dracaena masoniana, also known as Sansevieria masoniana) has a single large leaf that resembles a whale fin jutting out of the water. Even though this kind is more uncommon, all the essentials for caring for snake plants still apply, namely indirect light, grittier, better-draining succulent soil, and occasional watering (remember the desert).

Snake plant and starfish

A rare cultivar of Sansevieria cylindrica, the starfish snake plant (Dracaena angolensis ‘Boncel’) has conical leaves that stretch out into the shape of a pointed star. This sluggish-growing plant somewhat resembles a hand with its fingers spread out in a fan at the plant’s base. 

Snake plant Sayuri

A unique kind of Sansevieria snake plant known as Dracaena aubrytiana ‘Sayuri’ has silver-green leaves with a subtle vertical stripe pattern. This succulent plant shares sword-shaped leaves and a greenish- blooms with other members of its genus.

Snake plant in black gold

The black gold plant is a bicolor variable cultivar with deep green flowers that have vivid yellow borders. Its scientific name is Dracaena trifasciata ‘Black Gold’.

Futura superba Snake plant 

The Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Futura Superba’ snake plant is a small variegated variation with large green leaves and yellow borders. It is also known as Dracaena trifasciata ‘Futura Superba’. The leaves of this cultivar have distinct horizontal striped patterns.

Black robusta snake plant

A dark green cultivar with dark grey-green horizontal stripes on the leaves is the black robusta snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata ‘Black Robusta’, also known as Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Black Robusta’). These snake plants are some of the darkest varieties on the market.

Whitney snake plant

A speciality kind of snake plant with distinctively variegated dark green-grey leaves is the Whitney snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata ‘Whitney’, also known as Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Whitney’). The sides of the leaf feature a wide vertical grey stripe with thin horizontal dark green stripes, whereas the center of the leaf is normally very dark green.

Soil For Snake Plant 

Snake plants are not too finicky about fertilization, and they can take both organic and synthetic fertilizers. They can handle a variety of potting soil mixtures. Despite the fact that there are numerous varieties of plants, growers are likely to locate a potting mix specifically designed for the plant. Instead, opt for a general-purpose indoor potting soil blend that satisfies the following criteria.

Ratio NPK

Although it will tolerate slightly varied ratios, the plant likes a balanced ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK), such as 10-10-10. The NPK ratio in the soil mix may be predetermined, but the user can change it by supplementing with a fertilizer that is balanced.

Micronutrients and nutrients

A snake plant benefits from residues of micronutrients in the soil, such as boron, manganese, zinc, and copper, which are frequently present in naturally occurring amounts in organic potting soil mixtures, in addition to the three main NPK nutrients. As an alternative, they can be given to the soil when the landscaper fertilizes the plant, which should be done roughly twice a year, ideally in the spring and summer when growth is at its strongest.

Composted bark

Composted bark is often naturally rich in organic nutrients, and it adds lightness and quick drainage to soil mixtures. Although plants can survive a variety of soil conditions, they, like many plants that are grown indoors, fare best in damp but not saturated soil.

Are Snake Plants Toxic to Cats?

• The plants’ degree of toxicity is far too low to endanger your pet’s life. The effects of consuming the poisons are mostly restricted to stomach distress because they are not particularly potent.
• However, it could be deadly if your cat ingests a significant amount of poisons. However, as previously said, it is still extremely implausible.  Your cat may be able to recover fully in a few days with prompt diagnosis and treatment. 
• In conclusion, a plant won’t harm your cat. But as soon as you notice the symptoms, it is highly advised that you take your pet to the clinic. Even if your cat has consumed the plant but has not yet seen any symptoms, it is always best to be safe and visit the doctor.