How much light does a snake plant need? Snake plants are one of the most popular houseplants because they’re easy to grow, tolerate low light, and can last for years.
They’re easy to care for, don’t need a lot of sunlight, and are hardy enough to survive in low-light areas of your home.
Its stiff, upright leaves are covered with sharp triangular spines, which are modified leaf cells that protect the plant from harmful insects.
The snake plant’s name comes from its resemblance to a snake’s head.
The plant’s long, narrow leaves grow in a rosette shape and can reach up to 40 inches tall. Snake plants are also called mother-in-law’s tongue or ribbon plants.
Snake plants don’t need much water or fertilizer and can survive in low-light conditions.
If you’re wondering how much light a snake plant needs, it depends on the variety.
Some snake plants prefer bright indirect sunlight while others prefer low light or shade.
When choosing a location for your snake plant, make sure it gets bright indirect sunlight during the day; if possible, make sure it doesn’t get direct sunlight.
But how much light does a snake plant need? If you’re growing snake plants indoors, you’ll want to make sure they get plenty of light.
Snake Plant Wrinkled Leaves (Causes and Fix)
Snake Plants Are Low-Light Plants
Snake plants (Sansevieria trifasciata) are native to Africa and South America. They thrive in full sun but can tolerate low light conditions as well.
The Sansevieria genus includes about 70 species of succulents that grow in warm climates around the world.
The common name “snake plant” comes from the waxy leaves that resemble snakeskin — hence the nickname “mother-in-law’s tongue.”
A member of the Agave family, snake plants are hardy enough to survive outdoors year-round in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 8 through 11.
Snake Plant Light Requirements
The snake plant is a succulent that grows in the wild in Africa, where it gets lots of sunlight.
However, you’ll have better luck growing your snake plant indoors if you provide it with bright indirect light.
Snake plants prefer bright indirect light and will do well in east-facing windows or under artificial lights.
They can also thrive under fluorescent lights or grow lights. If you want your snake plant to bloom, place it by a south-facing window where it will receive plenty of sunlight throughout the day.
Snake plants thrive in low-light conditions but will tolerate full sun if necessary, so they make excellent companions for hanging pots in your home.
They also tolerate partial shade and bright indirect light. If it receives too much light, the leaves will scorch or turn yellow and fall off.
Place your snake plant in an east- or west-facing window where it receives at least four hours of direct sunlight every day.
If you don’t have a place in your home with this much light, consider placing the snake plant near a sunny window during the winter months, then moving it back indoors when temperatures drop in springtime.
The snake plant requires about 12 hours of sunlight each day. If you have a very bright light in your home, you can give your snake plant as much sun as possible.
If you have less than 12 hours of sunlight during the day, try to move your snake plant closer to a window that receives bright light and not direct sun.
If you have trouble finding the perfect spot for your snake plant, look for one that already has its spot at the store or nursery and transplant it into your home when you get home from shopping.
How To Tell If a Snake Plant Needs Water
Temperature Needs
The ideal temperature range for growing snake plants is between 60 degrees Fahrenheit and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Snake plants can withstand temperatures as low as 50 degrees Fahrenheit if they’re kept dry when you water them.
However, they won’t tolerate freezing temperatures, so bring them inside if nighttime temperatures drop below 45 degrees Fahrenheit outdoors.
Water Requirements
The snake plant is drought-tolerant and needs little water once established in its pot.
Snake plants also don’t need much water — once every two weeks is usually enough.
It prefers moist soil, but if you forget to water it for several days, it will still survive as long as it’s not sitting in standing water.
Water your snake plant when the soil feels dry about an inch below the surface.
Allow the soil to dry out between watering sessions—don’t overwater!
How often to water African Violet
Soil requirement
They can grow in any type of soil, but prefer sandy soil that drains well.
They don’t need much fertilizer either — just a once-a-month dose of an all-purpose houseplant fertilizer at half strength.
You must be careful not to overwater your snake plant because it tends to rot from soggy soil.
Allow the top two inches of soil to dry out before watering again.
When you water your snake plant, allow the water to run through it until it drips out of the bottom of the pot; this will ensure that all parts of your plant receive adequate moisture without overwatering it.
Over-watering can cause root rot and kill your snake plant.
You can fertilize once every 2 weeks with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted by half.
The leaves will turn yellowish if they’re not getting enough light or nutrients.
If that happens, move your snake plant closer to an east- or west-facing window where it will receive more light exposure through the day
Snake Plant Root Rot (Causes and Fix)
Humidity Requirements
These plants do not like high humidity or wet soil conditions because they are succulents that store water in their leaves for use later on when needed.
Your snake plant doesn’t need humidity to survive but will need some when you first bring it home from the store or garden center because the air inside the store is very dry compared to the air outside where it was growing.
You should also make sure the snake plant gets enough humidity, as it loves humidity and tends to look a bit droopy if it doesn’t get enough water vapor in the air around it.
The easiest way to raise humidity is by placing a humidifier near your plant or by misting its leaves every few days with room-temperature water from a spray bottle (don’t use cold water!).
How much light does a snake plant need?
So, Overall, How much light your snake plant needs depends on:
The type you have
The answer depends on the type of snake plant you have. If it’s one of the more common species, such as Sansevieria trifasciata (aka mother-in-law’s tongue), then it will grow just fine in low-light conditions.
However, if your snake plant is a rare variety or you want it to flower, then it may need more light.
The best thing to do is check with the experts at your local garden center; they’ll be able to tell you how much light your particular snake plant needs for optimal growth and flowering.
Where you live
Well, that depends on where you live. If you’re in a sunny part of the country, you’ll want to give your snake plant as much light as possible—ideally at least six hours of direct sunlight every day.
If you don’t have that kind of access to natural light, consider getting an artificial light source like a grow lamp or another type of full-spectrum bulb (you can find these types of lights at most hardware stores).
If you live in an area where there are long periods without sunlight during the winter months (like in Seattle), consider moving your snake plant into a south-facing window so it can get some sun during those dark months!
Why Is My Snake Plant Turning Yellow and Soft?
Conclusion
Snake plants need indirect sunlight to thrive. They can also be kept indoors under fluorescent lights or even in a sunny window during the winter months.
The plant should be kept away from air conditioners and other sources of drafts, as these will cause leaf drops.
In such cases, the leaves should be trimmed and the plant moved to a more suitable location.
