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When you think of low-maintenance and hard-to-kill houseplants, one name that comes to mind is the snake plant.
There are many snake plant varieties, but the most common one that is known is the mother-in-law’s tongue, while its botanical name is the Sansevieria plant.
The big question that comes up quite often in a beginner gardener’s mind is, how fast do snake plants grow?
The snake plant is a slow-growing plant. In the summer, you will occasionally notice 2-4 additional leaves (sometimes more), and in the winter, it goes dormant.
If provided with optimal growing conditions, it can grow rapidly.
Read on to find out how you can make your snake plant grow quicker and faster.
How Large Can Snake Plants Get?
The height and size of your plant depend on the type of Sansevieria Trifasciata variety planted.
The common Sansevieria Trifasciata Laurentii is one of the most popular houseplants.
It has variegated foliage with thick, sharp leaves and yellow stripes that can grow up to 2-3 feet tall in perfect growing conditions.
The Sansevieria Trifasciata Hahnii has yellow stripes on the outskirts of the leaves. This is a dwarf variety that occasionally grows taller than 6-8 inches.
Sansevieria Cylindrica has thick leaves and can grow the tallest. Their average size is 3-4 feet. But sometimes these plants can grow as tall as 7 feet.
The unique feature of this type of snake plant is that you can braid the opposite ends of the leaves and create plaits to resemble a money tree.
PinAre Snake Plants Slow Growing?
The growth rate of a snake plant depends on several factors such as the amount of bright light received, the amount and frequency of watering, the type of potting soil used, and various other factors.
But generally speaking, snake plants grow slowly compared to other regular plants.
Let’s talk about a few factors that can affect a snake plant’s growth rate.
Light
In low to moderate indoor light, the snake plant grows slowly, but if it is exposed to some direct sunlight during the day, you will witness a good growth rate in your plant.
However, if the plants get too much sun this may cause yellowing leaves on your snake plant.
Potting Soil
The speed of your plant depends heavily on the type of soil mix you use. Snake plants love loose, well-drained soil mix. Snake plants hate tight, loamy soil as it doesn’t allow the water to pass through easily.
We suggest this potting soil as it’s designed for plants that need well-draining soil like snake plants.
Grow your snake plant in cactus soil mix as it contains an adequate amount of sand that helps with drainage. An ideal soil mix for a snake plant would be a combination of one part garden soil, two parts sand, and one part perlite.
Water
One issue that people can face with the snake plant is over-watering. Over-watering your plant leads to root rot.
The only way that we’ve found to prevent root rot is to apply the general rule of watering your plant when the soil is at least two inches below the soil surface.
Season
Although snake plants can be grown and propagated throughout the year, we do not recommend growing them in the winter season.
They stop growing in the winter months. New leaves and growth can be seen on the plant in the warmer months of the year, particularly during the spring.
To propagate your snake plant, you can either simply divide the roots of the Sansevieria or propagate by replanting leaf cuttings in soil or water.
Ideal Temperature for New Growth
The ideal temperature for optimal growth of a Snake plant is between 70 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit (20 and 35 degrees Celsius).
If the temperature falls below 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15 degrees Celsius), transfer your plant to a warmer spot that receives sunlight during the day.
In places with temperatures that are too high, placing your plant in harsh sunlight can initially cause mild stress and eventually cause burns.
To prevent the leaves from burning and to keep the plant growing upward, keep it in the morning sun for a few hours and then shift to a shady spot.
Pests and Insects
Snake plants, when given too much water attract pests like spider mites and mealybugs.
Check for bugs and mites if you notice the leaves getting brown from the tips. Gently wipe off the leaves with Neem oil to get rid of pests.
This particular brand of Neem oil has worked well for us.
- Add Neem Organics Gold Leaf Liquid Plant Food Concentrate to water
- PURE NEEM OIL - Our concentrated spray contains pure neem oil cold-pressed...
- NEEM OIL SPRAY FOR PLANTS- Regular foliar application of our Neem oil will...
How Can I Make My Snake Plant Grow Faster?
If you take care of your plant during the growing season, they can reach the desired height.
Snake plants have a horizontal root system, so it needs space to develop properly, but it also likes to be root bound. Plant multiple plants in separate pots to get rid of unwanted outward growth of the leaves.
Use separate pots so that the root system can develop fully in separate pieces.
The pot should have a drainage hole at the bottom so that there is no standing water. You should check every year during the springtime.
When you notice there is no more space left for any new leaf to grow, it is time to repot your snake plant.
Take the plant out of a small pot and check to see if your snake plant is root bound in the smaller pot. The new pot will give the roots of the plant space to grow.
Avoid over-fertilization and overwatering your snake plant. Drainage holes will help tremendously.
We highly suggest this self-watering planter so you don’t have to worry about a watering schedule or overwatering.
- SELF-WATERING, 2-WEEKS+ DEEP RESERVOIR: No more troublesome wicks that clog...
- SELF-AERATING, HIGH DRAINAGE, MINIMIZE ROOT ROT: No need to keep poking...
- WATER FROM THE BOTTOM + NO MORE OVERFLOW: Each planter comes with a clip-on...
Fertilize once a year when you see new shoots grow.
As for humidity levels, maintain low humidity around the plant to keep the plant healthy.
FAQ
Do All Snake Plants Grow Tall?
Not all snake plants grow to an excessively large size and are hence restricted in height. The dwarf types grow to just 6-8 inches in height, but the Sansevieria Cylindrica varieties may reach heights of up to 7 feet.
Do Snake Plants Like To Be Crowded?
Snake plants, like other houseplants, love to be contained in a container and do not need frequent repotting. After it gets overcrowded, it may be separated and repotted in many containers to provide room for new growth. If you see that your snake plant is growing out of its pot, it is time to repot it into two distinct plants. Be careful since the snake plants might become quite top-heavy if they are not repotted into a properly sized container.
Why Is My Snake Plant Not Growing?
There are many reasons why your houseplant is not growing. More often than not, the most frequent causes of a snake plant’s stunted growth are a lack of light and/or sufficient water. Overwatering, bugs and diseases may all cause damage to your snake plant, which can prevent it from developing. Check your plant for symptoms of stress on a regular basis, increase the amount of light it receives, and assess the plant’s water requirements every few days.
How Do I Control The Snake Plant’s Growth?
If there is unwanted outward growth, you can stunt the growth by separating the plants from the mother plant by dividing and throwing away the unwanted leaves. To prevent your snake plant from growing any further in height, just clip off the ends of its leaves. As a result of this, the sansevieria will stop producing a hormone that signals it to grow larger.
If you are looking for some great pruning shears, we use these gardening pruning shears. They are super sharp and easy on the hands.
- Reduce Hand Strain: These micro tip snips are made to reduces hand fatigue...
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Conclusion
The Sansevieria plant species are good luck plants and great air purifiers. They don’t necessarily flower, but they are easy to care for and if you keep these tips in mind, you can grow your Sansevieria plant quickly.
The snake plant is one among the 15 other plants that NASA recommends as pollutant absorbing plants.
So what are you waiting for? Go and get yours from your nearest garden center!
Feel free to contact us if you face any issues with your plants.
References
- Cooperative Extension Service. (2016). Snake Plant (Mother-in-Law’s Tongue). University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, Agricultural Experiment Station.
- About/mentions: Sanseveria, houseplant care
Lindsey Hyland grew up in Arizona where she studied at the University of Arizona’s Controlled Environment Agriculture Center. She continued her gardening education by working on organic farms in both rural and urban settings. She started UrbanOrganicYield.com to share gardening tips and tactics. She’s happy to talk about succulents and houseplants or vegetables and herbs – or just about anything in a backyard garden or hydroponics garden.
