In this post you get to know about how often to water snake plant and other things related to snake plants. The snake plant, or Dracaena trifasciata, is a hardy houseplant that can survive in a wide range of environments and looks great even when neglected. In contrast to plants like Calatheas and peace lilies, which are notorious for becoming ‘dramatic’ when their care demands aren’t satisfied, snake plants are often static and may take some time to exhibit indications of stress.
Since watering is so crucial to the health of any plant, it’s necessary to learn how to water snake plants properly before it’s too late to prevent them from suffering from chronic overwatering or underwatering.
Unfortunately, there is no simple, clear answer to the issue of how frequently snake plants need watering. Watering a snake plant properly depends on a number of things. What you need to know about watering tropical houseplants is detailed below.
Table of Contents
The Secret of Snake Plants’ Incredible Capacity to Retain Moisture
The first step is to learn how snake plants absorb and retain moisture. Because of their ability to hold water in their thick, fleshy leaves, snake plants are classified as succulents. Their natural habitats in Africa and southern Asia include extreme climates. Snake plants use a special kind of photosynthesis termed Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) to combat the high rates of evaporation that occur throughout the day. In order to cut down on water loss via evaporation, CAM plants only allow gas exchange through their stomata at night.
Naturally, snake plants are tough, drought-resistant plants because of their ability to store water. They are readily overwatered and, unlike some other tropical plants, are prone to root rot. In the end, however, the frequency with which snake plants need to be watered is highly dependent on their environment.
Next to the light window, there are three potted snake plants. Two of the snake plants are smaller and housed in clay pots, while the largest one in the background is housed in a black plastic one.
Growing Conditions Determine How Much Water is Required
Here are some factor to considered on how often to water snake plant. While snake plants are known for their drought tolerance, the quantity of water they need may vary greatly from one plant to the next. The quantity of water a snake plant needs depends on a variety of factors, including the amount of light it receives, the temperature and humidity of its environment, the soil’s composition, and the size and kind of container in which it is grown.
1. Light
The frequency with which a snake plant needs watering is most strongly correlated with the quantity of light it receives. Although snake plants are adaptable in terms of illumination, their watering needs will change according on the intensity of the available light. Plants cultivated in bright conditions need more frequent watering than those produced in darker conditions. Because of this, if you have more than one snake plant in your house and they are all in various rooms, you may find that you need to water some of them more often than others.
2. Conditions of Heat and Dampness
Although snake plants thrive in a variety of climates, producers should be mindful that temperature and humidity levels affect the amount of water their plants need. Generally speaking, a plant needs more water when grown in higher temperatures and less water when grown in colder temperatures, whereas a plant needs less water when grown in high humidity and more water when produced in dry circumstances. For this reason, a snake plant in a hot, dry environment will need more water than one in a cool, humid one, and vice versa.
3. Types of Soil
Snake plants like a sandy, well-drained soil to flourish in. When this is done after watering, surplus moisture is diverted away from the plant’s roots. However, they will need less watering if planted in soil that does not drain as effectively as if planted in a more permeable medium.
4. Planting Pot
Snake plants’ watering requirements might even be affected by the container they’re kept in. For instance, soil in terracotta pots dries out more quickly than in plastic pots because the terracotta absorbs moisture from the soil. The soil will dry up faster in containers with drainage holes (which it always should have) since the excess water will run out after each watering. You need to know how the container your snake plant is in will affect its environment if you want it to thrive.
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When Should Snake Plants Be Watered?
Once the dirt on your snake plant has dried out entirely, you should water it. Increased light, higher temperatures, and more robust development mean that spring and summer are the best times to water your snake plant, as opposed to autumn and winter. For instance, throughout the spring and summer, you may need to water your snake plant once a week, but in the autumn and winter, you may only need to do so every two to three weeks. Keep in mind that it is preferable to submerge a snake plant than to overwater it if you are unclear as to whether or not it is time to water your plant. If you want to be sure the soil is completely dry before watering, you may also buy a moisture meter.
Two other snake plants are situated close to a blue moisture meter that is indicating “dry” in the soil.
Warnings That Your Snake Plant Is Drowning
Your snake plant will begin to wilt if it isn’t getting enough water. Brown, crispy tips, wilting leaves, and dirt that has hardened and is peeling away from the edge of the pot are all signs that something is wrong. You should water and keep an eye on your plant if you see any of these symptoms. If the dirt is too compacted, you’ll need to repot your plant and give it some new soil, but in most cases, a few consistent waterings will be enough to revive the plant.
Telltale Indicators That You’re Overwatering Your Snake Plant
Even though snake plants may survive with little water, there is still a danger of drowning them. Keep an eye out for yellowing foliage, mushy stems, and saturated soil since these are all symptoms of overwatering. If your plant shows symptoms of overwatering, you should unpot it and examine the roots for root rot, which may be fatal if not treated promptly.
Conclusion
This is the end of the blog which is how often to water snake plant. I hope you get your answer. On the other hand, snake plants do not require much water, it is very easy to overwater them. If the plant’s soil becomes too wet, the oxygen within it will be pushed to the surface, rendering it unavailable to the plant’s roots.
Also, if there is water pooling at the bottom of the pot’s saucer, the plant may develop root rot. It may also expose it to a variety of infections caused by bacteria and soil-borne fungi. Simply empty the plant saucers after watering your plants.
FAQs
Q1. How tall can a snake plant get?
A snake plant’s leaves can grow to be one to four feet tall. The leaves of some larger snake plants can grow to be more than four feet tall.
Q2. What’s the deal with my snake plant curling?
Underwatering, overexposure to sunlight, or pests such as thrips cause snake plants to curl. On the other hand, you have to check the soil with your finger to see if it’s dry. If so, give your snake plant some water. It could also be too close to a window. Remove it from the window or from direct sunlight.
Pests are more difficult to control. Most pests attack the leaves of your snake plant, so carefully inspect them. Thrips can be identified by small black spots on the leaves. You should remove all infected leaves and wipe them down with rubbing alcohol. If too many leaves become infected, the plant must be discarded.
Q3. How do I know if my snake plant needs to be watered?
Here are five indicators that your snake plant requires water.
1. The leaves are brown.
2. The leaves are curling.
3. Wrinkly and brittle leaves
4. The top layer of soil (2-3 inches) is dry.
5. Slow expansion
Q4. How can I tell if my snake plant is getting too much water?
Here are four indicators that your snake plant is being overwatered.
1. Leaves that are soft
2. The smell of soil (an early indicator of root rot)
3. Leaves that are drooping
4. Yellow foliage