Snake plants are a favorite for beginner plant keepers and people with not-so-green thumbs. There are more than 70 species and more cultivars of this hardy plant. Snake plants survive neglect and withstand a lot before starting to fade. However, even though it can do fine without consistent care, knowing how to water is essential to keep this spiky, eye-catching plant looking its best all year round.

The Snake Plants’ Origin and Natural HabitatSansevieria trifasciata (Dracaena trifasciata) is also known as sansevieria, snake plant, mother-in-law's tongue

This flowering plant originates from West Central and West Africa, mainly Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Nigeria, and Tanzania. So, it makes sense that it grows well in rocky, tropical, dry climates. As the snake plant grows, it forms underground, web-like roots, and the foliage has a banded pattern with upright, sword-shaped leaves. It can flower annually to produce cream-colored clusters of flowers.

For pet owners, note that every snake plant species is toxic because they have saponin toxins.

Signs of Over and Under-Watering

Snake plants will give several apparent signs that they’re getting too much or too little water, and these visual cues will help adjust your watering schedule and amount to bring them back to peak shape.

Yellowing or Wilting Leaves

One significant symptom of a snake plant getting too much water is leaf wilting or turning yellow. If the leaves look limp and have a light yellow tinge, this indicates over-watering. The leaves will turn mushy and droop as they take in too much water.

Brown Spots or Leaf Margins

Brown spots or margins indicate something wrong with your plant, and the edges or tips may start to brown. Eventually, they can progress to black and die off due to too much or too little water and losing the ability to produce green, healthy leaves.

Mushy or Soft Leaves

If a snake plant gets too much water, the leaf's structure will become compromised, resulting in soft or mushy-feeling leaves. The leaves will eventually rupture due to the strain of taking in too much water and turning floppy, soft, mushy, or squishy.

Ideal Watering Frequency for Snake Plants

Ideally, these plants only need water once every two weeks, and the soil should completely dry out between waterings to prevent giving it too much water and damaging the plant. Touch the soil and see if it feels dry to the touch. If so, and if it’s been around two weeks since the last watering, it’s safe to water again. If the soil still feels slightly damp, wait a day or two and touch it again. Remember, these plants do well with borderline neglect, and they’re very hardy, so it’s better to underwater than over water.

During winter, approximately October through February, you can reduce watering to once a month because snake plants go dormant and stop growing, so don’t require as much water until spring and the active growing season comes around again.

Factors Affecting Watering Frequency

Snake plant

While two weeks is a general guideline for watering this plant, a few factors can change the timeline by a few days. These factors include:

Pot Size and Shape

The size of the pot the plant is in will affect how much it needs water. Generally, smaller containers allow less space between the soil particles, meaning they get less air circulation and can hold less moisture. So, plants in a smaller pot may require slightly more frequent watering. Also, ensure the pot has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape into the drip tray so it doesn’t sit around the roots and encourage root rot.

Soil Type

What soil the plant is in impacts watering because sandy soils can’t hold much water, and soils with a medium texture, like silty clay loam or silt loam, hold the most. So, any plants in sandy soil will need more frequent watering than loam soil. This is because silt loam and silty clay loam soil have larger surface areas, retaining more water.

The Right Way to Water Snake Plants

Hand with a watering can waters a houseplant. Care, cultivating and watering of decorative indoor plants.

​​​​​​Make a practice of watering moderately, making sure the potting soil in the container is moist. Allow the plant to sit for 15 minutes after watering, and remove any water that is collected in the run-off dish so it won’t soak back into the soil and overwhelm your plant.

When the plant is actively growing in the spring and summer, let the soil dry out between waterings. Snake plants tolerate extended dry periods and have a more shallow root system that will rot easily if they get too much water. Also, having the plant in a space with average household humidity (30 to 50%) is adequate for good growth.

Embracing Flexibility and Observing Your Snake Plant

Keep your snake plant looking spiky, green, healthy, and upright all year round by following this simple watering guide and general tips. This hardy, eye-catching plant will reward you by thriving and growing for years. Do you know someone who is struggling to keep their snake plant alive? Share this with them so they can get to the root cause of their plant's problem and fix it.