He needs very little water. Just give him a drink when his soil feels dry, about every few weeks. Less in winter.
He’ll thrive in almost all light conditions, from shade to direct sun. More is better, but anything at all is fine.
Every now and again - just whenever you remember - give his leaves a light wipe with a clean, damp cloth, to keep his pores free of dust.
Botanical name
Sansevieria kirkii ‘friends’
Nickname
Snake plant, Mother-in-law’s tongue, Viper’s bowstring hemp
Plant type
Indoor, evergreen perennial
Air purifying
Yes
Plant height (including pot)
40-50cm
Pet/baby safe
Mildly toxic if ingested
Nursery pot size
15cm
The snake plant is made of tough stuff. It grows primarily across Africa, in very dry conditions. It’s used to places so hot that during the day it keeps all its pores completely closed, so it doesn’t lose any water to evaporation. When the temperature cools at night, its pores open, releasing all the oxygen its been holding in.
Its toughness makes it a dream of a houseplant. If you’re a beginner, this is the one for you. It thrives on neglect. It can live in any light conditions and doesn’t care if you forget to water it. The only thing it hates is too much water. It will appreciate a feed with liquid fertiliser once per month in spring and summer, but that's about as much special attention as it needs.
Low-key as it is, the snake plant is treasured all over the world. Across Africa, it’s associated with Ogun, the deity of war, and Oya, the bringer of storms. In China, it’s the ‘tiger’s tail orchid’; in Brazil, the ‘sword of Saint George’. Basically, this plant is pretty famous.
We have snake plants in all shapes and sizes. Check out Susie, Zey and Mikey.
Did you know?
Another nickname for this plant is ‘viper’s bowstring hemp’, because its strong fibres were once used to make strings for bows.
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