Snake plant care comes down to three things: bright, indirect light (though it tolerates low light), a free-draining mix, and water only once the soil has dried out completely. The snake plant, also called Sansevieria or Mother-in-law's Tongue and now classified botanically as Dracaena trifasciata, stores water in its thick leaves and underground rhizome. That means too little water is far easier to recover from than too much. In Australian homes, expect to water roughly every 2 to 4 weeks in summer and every 4 to 8 weeks in winter, but always check the soil first.
As Perth's snake plant specialists, Le Botanist offers one of Australia's largest ranges of snake plants (Sansevieria), with 16+ varieties, and this guide is the care advice we give every customer. Use the links throughout to go deeper on watering, problems, pets, varieties and propagation.
Snake plant care at a glance
| Care factor | What a snake plant wants |
|---|---|
| Light | Bright, indirect light is ideal. Tolerates low light but grows slowly. Avoid hot afternoon sun through glass. |
| Water | Only when the soil is completely dry. Roughly every 2 to 4 weeks in summer and 4 to 8 weeks in winter indoors. |
| Soil | Free-draining cactus and succulent mix, with extra perlite or coarse sand. |
| Pot | Drainage holes, snug fit. Terracotta dries fastest. |
| Temperature | Happiest between about 15 and 30°C. Frost-tender. |
| Feeding | Lightly, in spring and summer only. |
| Pets | Toxic to cats and dogs. Keep out of reach. |
Light: where to put your snake plant
- Best: bright, indirect light, such as a spot near a window that gets filtered light. Growth is stronger, and variegated types such as Laurentii and Moonshine hold their colour.
- Tolerated: low light. A snake plant will survive in a dim corner, but growth slows, leaves can stretch, and the soil stays wet for longer, so you need to water far less. The real danger of low light is overwatering.
- Take care with: hot direct sun. Morning sun is fine, but Australian summer sun through west-facing glass can scorch leaves, leaving bleached or brown patches. Introduce stronger light gradually.
- Not suitable: rooms with no natural light, such as windowless bathrooms. Even this tough plant needs some daylight.
Give the pot a quarter turn every few weeks so growth stays even.
Watering a snake plant through the Australian seasons
Watering is the most important care factor. Let the soil dry out completely between waterings, then water thoroughly until it drains from the bottom of the pot. A wooden skewer pushed to the base of the pot, or simply lifting the pot to feel how light it is, will tell you when the soil is dry.
- Summer (Dec to Feb): about every 2 to 3 weeks. Pots dry faster in heat and under air-conditioning.
- Autumn (Mar to May): about every 3 to 4 weeks as growth slows.
- Winter (Jun to Aug): about every 4 to 8 weeks. This is when most plants are overwatered.
- Spring (Sep to Nov): about every 2 to 4 weeks as new growth starts.
Never let the pot sit in a saucer of water, and do not mist your snake plant. Misting does not help and can mark the leaves or encourage fungal problems. For the full breakdown by season, climate and pot type, see how often should you water a snake plant?
Best soil and pots for snake plants
Snake plants need excellent drainage. Use a cactus and succulent mix and add about a third perlite, coarse sand or fine orchid bark if it feels heavy. Avoid moisture-retaining potting mixes and water crystals.
- Choose a snug pot. Pick a container not much larger than the root ball. A pot that is too big holds extra wet soil that the roots cannot use.
- Always use drainage holes. If you want a decorative pot without holes, keep the plant in its plastic nursery pot inside it and lift it out to water.
- Consider terracotta. It breathes and dries faster than glazed ceramic or plastic, which makes it more forgiving.
- Go heavy for tall plants. Tall varieties topple easily in a light pot.
Repotting and dividing
Snake plants are happy being slightly root-bound, so repot only every two to three years, or when roots push through the drainage holes or the rhizomes lift the plant out of the pot. Spring and early summer are the best times.
- Choose a pot one size up, with drainage holes.
- Tip the plant out, shake off old mix and trim any dead or mushy roots.
- Replant at the same depth in fresh, free-draining mix.
- Wait about a week before watering so any damaged roots can settle.
To divide a crowded plant, separate sections with a clean, sharp knife, making sure each piece has roots and rhizome attached. Pot each division into its own small pot.
Fertilising
Snake plants are not hungry. A single application of a slow-release fertiliser in spring is usually enough. Alternatively, feed monthly with a liquid fertiliser at half strength through spring and summer. Do not fertilise in winter or when the plant is stressed or dry. Over-fertilising causes brown, crispy leaf tips.
Temperature, humidity and frost
Snake plants are happiest between about 15 and 30°C. Growth slows in cool weather, and they dislike being cold and wet at the same time. Keep them away from cold draughts, air-conditioning vents and single-glazed windows on winter nights, and protect them from frost, which turns leaves mushy and brown. They cope with average household humidity, so no misting or humidifier is needed.
A snake plant can live outdoors in mild, shaded spots, but in pots is best. Sansevieria trifasciata is regarded as an environmental weed in parts of Australia, so never dump leaves or offsets in bushland. See can you grow snake plants outdoors in Perth? for climate-specific advice.
Common snake plant problems
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow, soft or mushy leaves | Overwatering and root rot | Stop watering, check the roots and repot if needed |
| Wrinkled or curling leaves | Thirst, or roots that cannot take up water | Soak if the soil is dry, check the roots if it is wet |
| Leaves flopping or falling over | Overwatering, low light or a top-heavy pot | Check the soil, move to brighter light, use a heavier pot |
| Brown, crispy tips | Over-fertilising or erratic watering | Feed less and water more consistently |
| Bleached or brown dry patches | Sunburn | Move to bright, indirect light |
| Pale, stretched leaves | Too little light | Move somewhere brighter |
| White cottony clusters or fine webbing | Mealybugs or spider mites | Wipe leaves, then treat with soap or oil |
For symptom-by-symptom fixes, see why is my snake plant dying?
Overwatering recovery
If a plant has been overwatered, it can often be saved.
- Remove the plant from its pot and shake off the soil.
- Cut away any rotting roots or rhizome until you reach firm, healthy tissue.
- Leave the plant in a dry, shaded spot for a day or more so the cuts dry and callus over.
- Repot in a free-draining mix that is fairly dry, and do not water for about a week.
Damaged or torn leaves
Torn or damaged leaves will not repair themselves, but a damaged leaf is harmless and keeps photosynthesising. You have a few options:
- Leave it. It is a cosmetic issue only.
- Trim the damaged tip with sharp scissors, following the leaf's natural pointed shape. A cut tip will not regrow.
- Remove the whole leaf. If a leaf is badly damaged, pest-affected or diseased, cut it off at soil level with a clean, sharp knife, working from the outside of the plant inwards. Avoid cutting into the centre of the plant.
- Use healthy cut leaves for propagation. See below.
Are snake plants safe for pets?
No. The ASPCA lists the snake plant as toxic to cats and dogs, with nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea the main signs. Place it out of reach, and call your vet if a pet chews it. Our guide to snake plants and pets covers symptoms, first steps and safer placement.
Do snake plants clean the air?
You will often read that snake plants purify indoor air. That claim traces back to a 1989 NASA study carried out in small sealed chambers. In real homes, with air constantly moving in and out, the effect is minimal, and a 2019 review of the research concluded that plants remove pollutants far too slowly to matter in typical rooms. Grow a snake plant for its looks and its easy nature, not as an air purifier.
Propagating snake plants
Snake plants are easy to multiply, either by dividing offsets (pups) from the rhizome or by taking leaf cuttings. Division keeps the plant exactly as it is. Leaf cuttings work well for plain green types, but variegated cultivars such as Laurentii often revert to plain green. Our propagation guide shows both methods and lists which varieties come true to type.
Choosing a snake plant
The care above applies to every variety, but the plants themselves vary a lot in size, colour and shape. Our guide to types of snake plants compares the options, and our snake plant vs Mother-in-law's Tongue article explains the names and the Dracaena reclassification. For a compact option, see our dwarf snake plant (Hahnii) care guide.
Snake plant care FAQs
How often should I water my snake plant?
Only when the soil has dried out completely. Indoors, that is roughly every 2 to 4 weeks in summer and every 4 to 8 weeks in winter, depending on light, pot size and temperature.
Can a snake plant live in a room with no windows?
Not for long. A snake plant tolerates low light but still needs some daylight. A bright room with filtered light is far better, and a windowless room will cause it to decline.
Why are my snake plant's leaves yellow or soft?
This is almost always overwatering and root rot. Check the soil and the base of the leaves, and follow the overwatering recovery steps above.
Should I mist my snake plant?
No. Snake plants do not need extra humidity, and misting can mark the leaves or encourage fungal problems.
Do snake plants flower?
Occasionally. A mature, well-grown plant may send up a spike of small, fragrant, creamy flowers. It is a sign of a happy plant but nothing you need to encourage.
Are snake plants frost-hardy?
No. They are frost-tender and prefer to stay above about 10°C. Bring them indoors or under cover on cold nights.
Is a snake plant the same as Mother-in-law's Tongue?
Yes. Both names usually refer to Sansevieria trifasciata, which is now classified as Dracaena trifasciata. See our explainer on the names for more detail.
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Browse our full range of snake plants (Mother-in-law's Tongue). We ship Australia-wide and offer Perth pickup.
