How Often to Water a Snake Plant for Perfect Growth

How often do you water a snake plant? These easy to grow succulents are adapted to periods of drought, but they'll reward you with the best growth when they're regularly watered.

That being said, they do require different levels of moisture at different times of the year, so it's not as simple as consistent watering. And snake plants are famously intolerant of standing water, so overwatering can be a real issue.

So, how often to water a snake plant? The answer lies in the time of year, location of the plant, soil type, container, and other factors. Let's take a closer look at this essential part of snake plant care.

When to Water a Snake Plant

Like most commonly grown houseplants, snake plants actively grow during the warmer months of the year when the days are longer. By the time the daytime hours of light are diminishing in September (March in the Southern Hemisphere), the plant begins to go dormant, and will stay dormant until the light levels increase. During its rest or dormant period, a snake plant needs less than half the water it required during its growing phase.

During the growing season, you should water a snake plant when the top couple inches (5 cm or so) feel dry to the touch. During the winter, once per month on average is plenty of water for a snake plant.

How Often Do You Water a Snake Plant?

The exact number of days or weeks between watering any plant will be different due to the time of year and the conditions in which it is kept. Heating and cooling vents both dry plants out faster. The closer your snake plant is to one of these vents, the more frequently it'll need to be watered. The type of pot also matters – unglazed containers tend to dry out sooner because moisture is able to evaporate out of them faster.

The amount and type of soil is important. A snake plant in standard potting soil will remain moist longer than one in gritty cactus soil. A large, mature snake plant that's pot bound in a small pot will also need more frequent watering than a smaller plant in a large container.

And finally, a snake plant in a low light area will require less water than one in bright light.

While these are all real factors, they're not hugely influential, and shouldn't be given too much weight. When in doubt, you should always check by feel.

How Do You Know It's Time to Water a Snake Plant?

There are a few easy visual clues that'll tell you your snake plant needs water. The leaves may be puckered, or the soil might be lighter in color and pulling away from the side of the container.

Another method is to lift the pot – if it's noticeably light, it could probably use some moisture. Another way to tell if you need to water a snake plant is by rapping on the container. If it makes a hollow sound, it's low on water.

Touch is the most accurate gauge. Insert a finger to the second knuckle. If the soil feels dry all the way down, it's time to water your snake plant.

How to Water a Snake Plant

Snake plants can be sensitive to tap water, especially if your municipal supply adds chlorine. Allow the water to sit out overnight to offgas and come to room temperature before adding it to the container. You might also use rainwater or distilled water.

Avoid getting water on the leaves – this could lead to fungal disease.

Once per month in the growing season, soak the plant until water runs from the drainage holes freely. This will remove any excess salts that may build up from fertilizing.

Snake plants, with their broad, attractive leaves, tend to get dusty. The dust will impede transpiration and photosynthesis. Put the plant in the shower to clean the leaves and soak the soil to remove excess salts.

Snake plants are succulents with very shallow root systems and are especially susceptible to root rot with overwatering. This means they should never be allowed to sit in a saucer with water. After watering, wait 15 minutes and tip out any water that has collected in the dish.

Snake Plant Watering Essentials