Because of their exotic-looking nature and easy maintenance persona, Sansevieria is the perfect house plant for beginners. But beginner or not, eventually you’ll need to repot your Snake plant.
Even though Snake plants are easy to care for, knowing how to report a Snake plant lets you maintain its beauty and health.
Snake plants explained
Snake plants are a hardy member of the Cactus family, otherwise known as Sansevieria Trifasciata, Snake’s Tongue Plant, and Mother In Law Tongues.
Being incredibly easy to look after, Snake plants handle most light conditions, dry air, and minimal watering with ease.
Is it easy to repot a Snake plant?
If your Snake plant seems to be suffering from an uncomfortable bulge or yellowing foliage, it’s probably time to repot your Snake plant.
But learning how to repot Snake plants is much simpler than you think.
Do Snake plants like small pots?
Snake plants do well in small pots because they prefer to grow snug. Growing slightly tightly in their plant pots means repotting snake plants only usually require one size up pot.
For example, if your Snake plant lives in a six-inch pot, you should only need to go up to an eight-inch pot. What’s more, Sansevierias have a penchant for spreading out as they grow, meaning they don’t need a deep pot.
Deep pots create more soil mass in the bottom, causing more moisture and eventual root rot, so stick to a shallow pot for this house plant.
When should I repot my Snake plant?
Knowing how to repot a Snake plant means knowing what time of year is best. Choose a time when your Snake plant isn’t in active growth mode, such as late winter or very early spring.
However, if your Sansevieria is browning on the edges or looking crowded, you can still perform the transplant at any time of year.
Although Snake plants do like a tight fit, if there’s nothing left but roots, you’ll see a decline in health; it'll also mean it needs a larger pot.
Ask yourself:
- Are the Snake plant's roots creeping through the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot?
- Does the Snake plant appear to be a little stuck in its pot?
- Can you slide it out with ease?
- Is the water seeping straight out when watering?
- Is the plastic pot bulging?
If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, it’s a clear sign that your plant pot needs an upgrade.
What kind of potting soil does a Snake plant need?
Snake plants don’t need much water, so overwatering can lead to root rot. With a preference for the dry side of life, you want to ensure the soil can drain quickly. Efficiently draining soil means your Snake plant won’t hold unnecessary moisture.
You can even try adding a cactus and succulent mix to the soil to make it chunky, allowing plenty of aeration.
Alternatively, why not try throwing in a few handfuls of organic compost as you’re repotting your snake plants, plus a half-inch layer on top of the worm compost.
Can you use indoor potting mix for Snakes?
Like I said, Snake plants like chunky, airy compost. So, don’t repot your Snake plant into plain potting soil, or it will probably be too heavy.
Instead, add perlite, pebbles, and pumice to your soil to create more aeration and better drainage.
A soil mix is the best method for Snake plants. Although a combination of indoor potting soil and compost is best, try using a potting recipe so you can combine them both properly.
The most important thing to remember when repotting Snake plants is to make sure you use potting soil suitable for indoor use.
How do you repot a Snake plant for beginners: 8 tips
You might be asking yourself how to repot a Snake plant, feeling a little daunted. But really, this is the easy bit. Just follow the simple steps below to repot this house plant.
1. Select a suitable new pot.
Snake plants have tall leaves, so they’re pretty top-heavy. To avoid your house plant toppling over, choose a plant pot that’s wider than it is deep.
2. Don’t size up too far.
Sizing up too much results in extra soil, which causes excess moisture and the potential for root rot. A pot about one to two inches wider than its current pot should suffice.
3. Choose the best soil mixture for a Snake plant.
Always choose soil that’s incredibly well-draining and suitable for tropical house plants. You can also mix a standard indoor potting soil with some succulent mix.
4. Gather your soil mix.
Either combining before or during the transplant.
5. Now, how to repot a Snake plant?
All you need to do is loosen the plant from its pot. Then, use a dull plant to separate the plant from the pot without damaging the roots or gently press on the pot.
6. Measure the amount of soil needed.
The root ball should rise by half to one inch below the rim of the new pot.
7. Add the soil mix to the pot.
8. Place the plant in its pot.
Fill in the sides of the plant with your compost mix. Add a thin layer to the top of the worm compost when you’re finished.
Should I water a Snake plant right after repotting?
You’ll want to make sure you avoid transplant shock so your Snake plant doesn’t get too stressed after repotting. A fact which is especially important if you’ve had to trim your roots.
Because too much water is damaging to the roots of a Snake plant, make sure to only water your Snake plant when the top inch of the pot is dry. You should also keep a saucer under the pot, draining any excess standing water.
Finally, don’t overwater this house plant at all costs.
Hopefully, you now know everything you need to know about repot a Snake plant. So, when the sides of your plant pot are bulging, or if your Snake plant looks incredibly cramped, you won’t hesitate in repotting Snake plants.