How Often To Water Snake Plant? Snake plants are also known as Sansevieria; they’re a common piece in the homes of almost all Americans. Anyone interested in gardening often uses snake plants as a stepping stone to learning the curve of gardening.
Snake plants have succulent leaves resembling aloe vera, and their body doesn’t drain water like every other plant. This phenomenon has made some beginners wonder how often they should water the plants. If we put the water retention ability into play, snake plants can surprisingly do well without water for some time. But not for long, though, as they get most of their body mass from water. They can survive up to 14 days without it.
How Often To Water Snake Plant
And the reason behind this is that it’s really easy to take care of. Most people grow them indoors, and they always look great with home decor, no matter what. It doesn’t matter your level of expertise; growing plants requires learning and unlearning techniques. So if you normally forget to water your snake plant and you’re wondering if it’s going to have a lasting bad effect on it, this article is for you. Sit back, and let’s show you the right frequency you should water your snake plants.
In a normal situation, snake plants can retain water for 10 to 14 days, but this depends on the variety you planted. Some types retain longer than others but to be safer, and you should ensure you wet the plant every ten days at least. Another way is to check the soil and see its state. If the soil is dry, then you should water it immediately. That means the plant had to suck in all available water in the soil when it’s in need. This rule does not work for the winter season, though; no, it doesn’t.
Winter Season
It gets a little bit tricky here. Each season has its preference and affects snake plants. During the winter, you can go as long as four weeks without watering your plant. If you have this flower in your home and you would like to go on a vacation, winter is probably the best time for you. In that case, once you add a snake plant to your plant collections, shift all your traveling to the winter period. This way, you won’t feel guilty leaving it alone or coming home to a dead plant.
Summer Season
Snake plants require water every week in the summer as they need more water to survive. By this time of the year, water in the soil has become dried up, so the plant relies on the irrigated form. In addition, where you put you can’t have a huge impact on how fast the water dries up. A snake plant placed beside a window with access to the summer sun will typically use up its water faster than the one indoors with artificial light.
If you still prefer to know more about how to water your snake plants, you’re on the right page. Just follow the guide below, and you’d do great.
How Often To Water Snake Plant
Most people don’t know it, but snake plants don’t like too much water. It ruins their healthy leaves and makes them rot easily. They retain water for some period of time, so if there’s an excess, they won’t be able to control it. It would be best for you kept in mind that it’s not ideal to water the leaves. All the direct water contact should go to the soil. To make this easy, you’ll need to purchase a spouted watering can and use it to water your snake plants.
As we already mentioned, gauge your plant’s water intake based on its location. Plants in the well-lit area get more water than those in shady areas. The whole point is to make them all stay hydrated.
Most rotten snake plants happen during winter. This is because people often over-water during this period. They develop the practice of always watering during the summer and tend to continue when the plants don’t need it. To save yourself this trouble, always drain the soil right after watering it. Also, water according to the volume of the soil; the more the soil, the more the water.
Which Lighting Is Best For Snake Plants?
Direct sunlight is too harsh on snake plants. They don’t need it. The ideal form of lighting is to use artificial light or shade the sun a little bit to prevent direct contact.
How To Know If Snake Plant Is Hydrated
As a first-time owner, you may not know when to stop watering as it may be hard to discern the difference between a hydrated snake plant and a dehydrated one. There are a few steps to take to create your custom watering routine.
Step 1
As soon as you finish watering, deep your finger inside the soil. If the finger is wet, then you’re good to go. This means there’s enough water to last the plant for some time. Also another thing to observe is the color of the topsoil. After enough water is absorbed, the soil will turn to a dark brown color. Most soils behave this way.
Trying to squeeze the water out is still a way to determine the extent to which water is present in the soil.
Step 2
Give it about 36 hours and check back to see the state the pot of plant is in. The soil should now have weak areas. Although some areas may still have that dark color, touch it to feel the texture. There should be no more water squeezing out of it anymore, just the soil’s moisture.
In a case where there’s no moisture, and the topsoil appears to be too dry for a recently watered soil, you should water it again.
How Long Can Snake Plants Go Without Water?
Snake plants are fleshy plants, and their leaves use more water than an average flowering plant. This ability makes them suitable for someone who doesn’t have much time to water flowers every day. The plant can live up to six weeks before it starts to show signs of dehydration. It’s worth saying that there are various types of snake plants, some of which can retain water more than others. You need to know which variety you’re planting and what it entails.
Can You Overwater A Snake Plant?
Yes. You can overwater a snake plant as it has a certain capacity of how much water it can retain. These plants don’t need too much water to function; watering them too much will cause the oxygen in the soil to diminish. Also, the root will begin to rot, killing the plant gradually.
How To Know An Overwatered Snake Plant
To know when to stop watering and help your plant battle with oversaturated water, you’ll need to observe the plant closely. If you notice any form of a brownish spot on the leaves, it’s time to stop. You may also notice that the leaves began to droop towards the ground. This is bad for the health of the plant, and it may be headed to unrepairable destruction.
When this happens, one way to stop it and get your snake plant back to its glory is to ensure that the pot you’re using has holes at the bottom to drain the water. After this, leave it and wait for some weeks before watering it again.
What’s The Best Water For Snake Plants?
You can use any water on your snake plant. It doesn’t select, but to have the preferable result, you can opt for spring or rainwater. We choose these types because they don’t contain harmful materials that can cause the plant’s growth to be stunted.
Using rainwater may also speed up the development process of a newly planted snake plant.
To Wrap Things Up(How Often To Water Snake Plant)
Just like every other plant, snake plants need water to survive. But the difference is that they don’t perform well when douched in too much water. It’s better to keep tabs on your watering routine and create a plan to avoid confusion.