Snake plants (Sansevieria or Mother-in-law’s tongue) are considered low-maintenance plants that are typically housed in containers inside. While snake plants can be planted outside in some areas, the conditions must be right.
Snake plants are one of the easiest plants to grow, even if you’re a novice, which is partly why they enjoy such popularity.
While snake plants can be grown in or outdoors, there are things you need to consider if you want to put your snake plant in an outdoor container.
Snake plants ideally grow best kept between 70 degrees Fahrenheit and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. This means if you live in an area with cooler temperatures in the winter, you may not be able to keep them outdoors year-round.
If you live in USDA growing zones 9-12, you can keep them in containers outdoors, or plant them for a permanent situation if you’d like. If you live in a cooler climate, make sure to bring your snake plants indoors for the winter months.
The Best Way to Grow Snake Plants
You can grow snake plants outside, either in a container or in the ground, as long as you have a climate that doesn’t get too cold in the winter time.
The ideal placement for snake plants is in a sunny area with proper drainage.
If you’re leaving your snake plants in a container, but move them outside, make sure your pot drains well.
If you’re planting outside and there is a large clay content in your soil, consider amending your soil with a little compost; snake plants love compost.
Here are some takeaways to remember when growing snake plants:
- Water the plant only about once a week. Snake plants are drought tolerant.
- Don’t allow the soil to become waterlogged or you’ll risk rotting the roots. You want to make sure the soil feels dry to the touch when you check on it before watering again.
- They typically don’t require fertilizer, but if you want to add it during their active growing stage which is during the spring season, you can use a slow-release fertilizer.
- Snake plants love full sun, especially for variegated types.
- While frost is tolerated, snake plants are not frost hardy and should be brought inside when temperatures go lower.
Dividing Snake Plants
Many farmers love to divide their plants to create more of the same plant, and it’s easy to do for the snake plant.
Look at the base of the plant for smaller plants, called offsets.
Once you find offsets, you can leave them where they are to form larger clumps, or you can divide them and produce new plants.
If you divide, make sure to distinguished the offset only every few years.
If you prefer to propagate snake plants, that’s also possible by cutting leaves into sections, then placing those sections in either water or seed-raising mix.
Just note that if you have a variegated snake plant, you probably shouldn’t propagate it as the subsequent offsets will be less vibrant and colorful once cut.
Important to Remind: Leaf propagation seems to work best on the varieties of snake plants that are green leaves.
Pests on Your Snake Plants
The presence of snake plants outside, means that there will be the possibility of pest infestations.
The most frequent pests that get in snake plants are:
- Mealybugs: white cottony-looking bugs that often reside on the leaves
- Scale insects: are tiny, brown, and resemble small lumps on the leaves
- Spider miles look like either yellow/brown spots on the leaves
The good news is that you can quickly eliminate most of these pests by simply wiping them off with a damp cloth.
In the case of those that don’t wipe off, just spray with an insecticidal soap or neem oil weekly until the pests are gone.
When you spray, try to spray in the evening when the cleaning agent will not bake in the sun and scorch the leaves.
Snake Plants Contain Flowers
A lot of people do not realize that snake plants kept outside can sometimes produce flowers that are cream or white in color.
They are not going to produce these types of flowers every year, but when they do, it is a beautiful sight.
Besides being very aesthetically pleasing, as they come out on a long, graceful flower stalk, the flowers also emit a lovely scent that most people really enjoy.
These flowers will usually be pollinated by moths, and after blooming, they will then produce small red or orange berries.
Final Thoughts
In addition to these characteristics, snake plants come in many varieties, although most will grow between 1 to 3 feet tall. A few types can reach up to 5 feet tall.
However, if you plan to grow snake plants indoors and then move them outdoors, you should place them in a shady area for 1 to 2 weeks before taking them directly outdoors.
This will help prevent problems associated with the shock of two very different kinds of light.