An old-school houseplant, Sansevieria, commonly known as the Snake plant, enjoys more popularity and appreciation worldwide than many other exotic ornamental species. And we can easily see why!
This leafy plant is among the friendliest companions to have around, rewarding gardeners with its unique appearance, and plenty of vigorous foliage without requiring constant attention.
The Snake plant was botanically classified as Sansevieria trifasciata, but because the plant had so much in common with ornamentals from the Dracaena family, its name became Dracaena trifasciata.
So, this plant can be labelled either as Sansevieria, Dracaena trifasciata, or simply Snake plant. While the Snake plant is super easy to grow and care for, it also comes along with high responsiveness to several methods of propagation.
In other words, you will surely have a bit of fun while propagating your Snake plant and it will most likely show nice results in the end.
Environmental Requirements for Snake Plants
Before getting to work, you need to know some tips and tricks regarding propagating your Snake plant. No matter what method you choose to use, you will still need to be aware of the environmental requirements of this plant.
Being informed will make the whole process so much easier as your Snake plant cuttings or divisions will propagate at their best only if you give them what they need.
When it comes to lighting, we recommend you keep the Snake plant cuttings and divisions in a location with bright, but indirect sunlight.
These ornamentals do fine in indoor light but might grow slowly when they are not exposed to sufficient direct light. So, increasing light exposure can give your Snake plant a boost. Make sure your Snake plant gets at least 8 to 10 hours of bright, indirect light.
Temperature-wise, make sure the values do not drop below 45 °F (7 °C). However, the ideal temperature range for optimal propagation results would be from 65 to 90 °F (18-32 °C).
When you plant cuttings or divisions of your Snake plant, do it in the same soil you already grow the parent plant. This is usually a well-draining one designed specifically for cacti & succulents. It’s recommended to plant and repot Snake plants in spring, so you might want to plan your propagation schedule accordingly.
Want to know more about all the different ways to propagate a Snake plant? Keep reading our complete guide and, in the end, you will undoubtedly become a master of propagation.
Propagate Your Snake Plant Through Offshoots
In general, the Snake plant tends to grow pretty fast and, during this process, it will produce several offshoots with time. If you notice any new baby offshoots or pups around the mother plant, this is the perfect moment for you to take action. The great thing about this method is that all you have to do is remove the baby plants and replant them.
For this process, you will need a clean, sharp knife. Pull the root ball of your Snake plant out of its pot, locate the root of the offshoot, and cut the pup off. Once you have the offshoot removed, you can prepare the propagation medium for the new baby plant.
Fill a clean container with fresh cactus potting soil, then water it well until it becomes damp to the touch. Plant the offshoot in the prepared substrate and move the pot to a spot with bright, indirect light. You will see results in little to no time!
Root Snake Plant Cuttings in Water
Taking leaf cuttings of your Snake plant can have a high rate of success in terms of propagation. The size of the cuttings is not really important, but they will respond better to this method if they measure at least 4 inches (10 cm) in height. Likewise, you should opt for a tall container or glass that can manage to hold your Snake plant cuttings upright.
Now let’s get to the cutting part! Once your Snake plant has reached maturity, look for healthy leaves on it to use for propagation. Cut the leaves near their base with a sharp knife or pair of gardening shears.
When you have as many leaf cuttings as you want, you can take a container for each and fill them with water. The container should have enough water to cover the lower quarter of each leaf cutting. Put the cuttings in their individual containers, then place them in a warm place where they can also receive lots of bright, indirect light.
To ensure that the Snake plant cuttings root properly, you will have to change their water once every two days to always spoil them with a fresh propagation medium. After several weeks, you should see tiny roots appearing at the cut ends of each leaf cutting.
You can transplant the cuttings in soil when their roots are at least 2 inches (5 cm) in length. Keep in mind that the new pots must feature drainage holes to allow the soil to drain well.
Start Snake Plant Cuttings in Soil
When you take Snake plant cuttings and plant them directly into potting soil, the process is a bit different from propagating them in water. But that doesn’t mean it is more difficult. At first, you must do the same such as taking cuttings of at least 4 inches (10 cm) in height. From now on, some steps will begin to change.
Once you have the Snake plant cuttings, you should leave them in a dry location for a few days until the cut ends become calloused.
When this happens, it would be wise to dip the cut end of each cutting in a rooting hormone to encourage new faster growth. After all this fuss, you can plant the cuttings in pots filled with a suitable potting mix. Water the growing medium of each Snake plant cutting immediately to give it a nice start.
If the propagation medium of your cuttings has dried out entirely, you can provide the cuttings with another drink. In suitable conditions, the Snake plant cuttings should develop tiny roots within a few weeks.
It is obvious that you cannot directly see the roots growing, as with the water-propagation method, but there are other few signs of root development. New leaves are typically an indication that your cuttings have developed their strong root systems.
Moreover, you can pull your baby plants gently to check if there is some resistance out there. If this is the case, your Snake plant cuttings are independent plants from now on.
Propagate Your Snake Plants through Division
Many eye-appealing Snake plant cultivars that come along variegated will have a difficult time showing up with the same foliage pattern from cuttings.
For example, the cuttings from the ‘Moonshine’ variety, which has dark margins, or from the ‘Gold Flame’ variety, which features yellow stripes, will not produce the specific variegation of the mother plants. In general, the plant babies will revert to the common green Snake plant.
Because of this, if you are the owner of a variegated Snake plant, the most suitable method of propagation would be division. This method consists of breaking the root clump of a plant up into two or more sections. While doing this, you can obtain more specimens of the same plant without damaging the root and crown of your plants.
First of all, you will have to take your Snake plant out of its pot gently. You can also just dig a clump up of the soil and it will work the same. Secondly, you must equip yourself with a clean and sharp knife or a pair of scissors to use for division.
After this, use your tool of choice to divide the roots of your Snake plant into two or three sections. Make sure each divided part contains roots and a few pups or leafy tops attached.
Once you check these steps, you can go and plant the new individual Snake plants in their own containers. Fill the pots with a fresh, well-draining growing medium, such as a potting mix designed for succulents. If you want to grow your Snake plants outside in the garden, you can do so only in areas with warm climates.
The pros of propagating your Snake plant through division are pretty obvious – obtaining more specimens without losing their hypnotic variegated patterns. However, while not so important, there is also a disadvantage of using division: you can’t propagate young plants. Your Snake plant should be mature and pretty big to sustain this particular method of propagation.
Start Snake Plants From Seed
Although you can grow your own Snake plant using seeds, the other methods of propagation presented above are more reliable and likely to give you fast results.
Starting ornamental plants from seed isn’t considered worthwhile by experienced gardeners, especially because the majority of cultivars will only stay true to type through division by rhizome and root. Seeds will produce the original type of plant which was used to create the hybrid. So, if you have an interesting hybrid that you’d like to propagate, seed propagation is not the best technique.
Another disadvantage of seed propagation is the unreliable germination rates. Snake plants in general tend to have low germination rates.
This means that while it is technically possible to start a plant from seed if you want to start several plants at the same time, division or cuttings would be more effective.
But this should not stop you from experimenting and, with a bit of luck, maybe you will even manage to grow new Snake plants from seed!
So you might be wondering where you can get Snake plants seeds and the answer is – from a reliable seed supplier.
The seeds that come from a verified supplier tend to cost a bit more, but their quality is better and their success rate is higher. You need to be careful with seed scams, especially online, and avoid any sellers that do not seem trustworthy.
- HARDINESS ZONE.10-12
- GROW.Fill a three-inch pot with a well-draining cactus potting mix or seed starting mix. Sprinkle the seeds on top of the starting mix. Place the pot in a warm, sunny spot. Cover the pot with plastic wrap or a clear plastic dome to retain warmth and humidity.
- WHEN TO PLANT.Spring
- CARE.Performs best in full sun in well-drained soils.Tolerates part shade in hot summer areas.
- USE.Great in containers,Mediterranean gardens or as a houseplant.
- LIVE INDOOR SNAKE PLANT: Bring home a beautiful 4-Pack of Snake Plants for a tropical feel. These easy care houseplants are ready to liven up any space with their sword-like leaves, bringing a focal point to living room, office, bedroom, and patio décor
- GORGEOUS HOME DECOR: Snake Plant is a striking way to decorate your home. These plants come potted in nursery pots, ready to be enjoyed and admired instantly after unboxing. The air purifying Snake Plant looks good in any space
- EASY CARE: The Snake plant is an excellent choice for both new plant parents or experienced owners. Its light and watering requirements make it easy to appreciate its hassle-free nature and beauty without the stress of a complicated plant care routine
- PROMOTES WELLNESS: Plants make us happy. They give us life, fresh air and a sense of calm - all of which have the ability to lift your mood and improve your wellbeing. NASA studies show having plants improves mood, creativity and reduces stress
- UNIQUE GIFT: Surprise your loved ones with a live Jade plant, ready to be gifted for any occasion, including birthday, anniversary, and housewarming. It's a refreshing alternative to flowers or typical gifts, creating a lasting memory that shows you care
- Dracaena trifasciata is a lovely flowering plant. It is most commonly known as the snake plant, Saint George's sword, mother-in-law's tongue, and viper's bowstring hemp.
- USDA Hardiness Zone. The snake plant, or sansevieria, is a hardy indoor plant, which can grow in 9-11(USDA).
- Height. Sansevieria are evergreen perennials that can grow anywhere from eight inches to 12 feet high.
- Easy to grow. Snake plant is an ideal choice for beginner gardeners because it is difficult to kill. It's great in a container and grows well on the floor or on tabletop displays.
- Sow. Fill a three-inch pot with a well-draining cactus potting mix or seed starting mix. Sprinkle the seeds on top of the starting mix. It can take between three to six weeks before you see a seedling.
Last update on 2023-07-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- Fill a 3-inch (7.5 cm) pot with seed starting mix or a well-draining potting soil addressed to cacti. Sow the Snake plant seeds above the propagation medium of your choice, then place the pot in an indirect-lit, warm place.
- Water the seeds evenly and cover the container with plastic wrap to conserve all the humidity and warmth. Make sure you water the soil regularly to keep it lightly moist.
- In case you are doing this right, it can take three to six weeks before you notice some seedlings. When the Snake plant seedlings are about 4 inches (10 cm) tall, this is the perfect time to repot them into their individual containers or outdoors in the garden.
In Conclusion
If the Snake plant is one of your favourite ornamental plants and you decided that you need to have more specimens around, propagation will be a fun and rewarding experience. As you can see, there are many different propagation methods that you can try, some more effective than others.
Most experienced gardeners agree that the most effective propagation method for Snake plants is division. Separating one mature plant into several clumps is the best option if you wish to multiply an attractive hybrid plant.
Even if you are a novice gardener, each propagation method can help you make more Snake plants for your collection with minimal effort. And you can also share your gardening skills with your plant-loving relatives or friends by surprising them with one baby Snake plant!
What is your favourite propagation method for Snake plants? Share your thoughts in the comments section!
