There are more than 70 different varieties of snake plants out there, from Whitney to Black Coral to White Owl to Whale Fin and comes in many sizes ranging from 6-7 inches to several feet tall. These plants are very durable and are known for surviving in unstable conditions.
Snake plants have so many different uses inside and outside your home. Snake plants are good for removing toxic pollutants from the air, they are effective against most allergies and they can be a mental health booster plus they are very easy to maintain.
Since these plants are so beneficial and easy to grow, most gardening like having them in their backyards because they always add something extra to your garden.
With so many varieties out there it can get confusing on how often you should water these plants and how much water they need. So, if you ever wondered, “how often should I water my snake plants,” then this should help you out.
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Every Fortnight
That’s right, you should water your snake plants every 2 weeks (a fortnight). After watering your snake plants you need to allow the soil time to dry out. By letting the soil dry out over two weeks prevents over watering and helps prevent root rot which will ruin your plants. Make sure the top soil is completely dry before watering again. The leaves on most snake plants can hold water in them which helps with dispersing water to the water overtime.
When it comes time to water your snake plants it is best too deeply soak your soil, it may look soggy or over watered at first but the soil will soak it up over time and hold onto it for the next few weeks. Snake plants will thrive with filtered water, or rain water (which you can catch and save for later use). If you only have access to tap/hose water, it is better for the plants if you collect the water and allow it to sit out overnight to allow chemicals to disperse. Filling a watering can with tap water and letting it sit out overnight is the easiest way to water the snake plants with tap water.
They Grow Inside and Outside
If your snake plants are outside, during the winter months you only need to water them about once a month if your yard/soil stays wet longer due to cold/rain/snow. You don’t want to over water them in the winter months because you don’t want the roots to freeze in the ground. To prevent this make sure to touch the soil, not just the top soil but down a little bit into the ground (about an inch down).
If your snake plant is indoors, the soil may take longer to dry out than it would outside in the sun so make sure to double-check the soil before watering your indoor snake plants.
When watering your snake plants make sure to not let the water pool and rest on the leaves of the plants. This can damage them, weigh them down and break them off over time. Making sure the water is evenly poured throughout the soil will ensure the best results. You can also use a “moisture meter” to determine if they need watering, if you have any doubts.
Signs of overwatering;
- Leaves start to fall over
- Yellowing leaves (unless of course, your snake plant is of the yellow variety)
- Smelly soil
- Soft or squishy leaves
They Are Easy To Care For
With all that being said, you should not just wait two weeks to water your snake plants if you notice they look dry or seem to be dying off or not growing at all. Two weeks is the “estimated” time to water them but that can change due to the type of soil, sunlight or temperature so make sure to check in on them every once in a while to ensure the best results.
If It Feels Dry, Water It!
These plants are very simple to take care of so you do not need to stress out about leaving them unattended for a few weeks. They do not require full sunlight (they even prefer partial shade) and they can survive without water for more than a fortnight if something were to happen and they could not be watered.
These plants also come back year after year and can easily be pruned and planted in other locations. So have fun with these beautiful, easy, snake plants but make sure not to over water them.
