Snake Plant Care & 5 Amazing Benefits of Sansevieria

Easy Snake Plant care tips such as sun light, soil, water, temperature, & propagation. How to grow beautiful healthy Sansevieria plants indoors & outdoors!

So many things to love about Sansevierias! With many common names such as Snake Plant, Bowstring Hemp Plant, Mother In Law Tongue, or Devil’s Tongue.

Native to tropical and sub-tropical regions of Europe, Africa, and Asia, they are all evergreen, beautiful with dramatic sword-like leaves, super easy to grow, and some of the best plants to clean indoor air! Check out our guide on 12 best air purifying easy care indoor plants here if you are interested . 🙂

I also gathered some inspirations on how to use Sansevieria / Snake plants to decorate our homes. In case you want even more Snake plants after seeing these beautiful photos, I have good news for you: they are the easiest to propagate, see tutorial here!

Let’s look at some great benefits of Sansevieria, and Snake plant care tips such as light, soil, water, etc.

Many different species of beautiful Snake plant / Sansevieria varieties. ( Via ZZbotanical )

Table of Contents

5 amazing benefits of Snake plants

Snake plants are considered some of the best indoor plants to purify air, along with spider plants and peace lilies, are very effective at cleaning the air, removing toxins such as formaldehyde, according to NASA Clean Air Study.
Easy care and low maintenance, Sansevieria plants tolerate low light, irregular watering, and all kinds of neglect.
Snake plants are slow growing and compact, great for small spaces such as a bedroom, and container plantings on a porch or balcony.
Attractive and unique, there are many species of snake plants, some have dark-green leaves, some have white vertical stripes, all will look beautiful in any interior styles such as modern, farmhouse, and bohemian.
Easy to propagate, which means you can share them as gifts, or multiply them to decorate more spaces in your home.

Imagine all the rooms you can decorate and gifts you can give with a big Sansevieria collection like this by plant_momma?

Snake Plant care tip 1: Does Sansevieria need direct sunlight? How much light do Snake plants need?

Although snake plants can tolerate full sun and low light, bright shade or a little morning / evening sun is best for a snake plant. Sansevieria can get sunburn in hot noon sun.

Beautiful Sansevieria cylindrica and Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Laurentii’ by intotheplants.

Snake Plant care tip 2: How often should I water Snake plant?

Indoor Snake plant only needs to be watered once every 2 to 4 weeks. During winter it needs only one watering every couple of months. Overwatering or using pots without drainage holes can kill your plants fast.

Sansevieria zeylanica in modern white pot by UrbanLeaf.

Check if the top 2″-3″ of soil is dry. If not, you can wait another week. Don’t over-water snake plants, or let the plant sit in water for over a day, as the plant can easily root rot. Check out more about the best ways to water indoor plants here.

Paradoxically, Sansevieria / snake plant can grow in water, like many of my favorite indoor plants! The reason is that soggy soil contains harmful bacteria that can cause root rot, while clean water with occasional liquid fertilizer is a good growing medium for many plants.

You can check out this tutorial on the best plants to grow in water.

Snake Plant care tip 3: Best Temperature to grow Snake plant

Sansevieria will suffer damage and rot in very cold Winter temperatures. If the soil is dry it may survive temperatures as low as 5°C / 41°F. The best temperature to grow snake plant is between 18°C – 27°C / 65°F – 80°F

Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Moonshine’, Sansevieria zeylanica, Sansevieria cylindrica and Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Laurentii’ by Wrosliny.

Snake Plant care tip 4: Soil and Fertilizer

Similar to succulents, Snake plant/ Sansevieria prefers soil or potting mix that is well draining. Most potting soil will work well. They don’t need much fertilizer, but will grow a little more if it is fertilized a couple of times during the spring and summer. You can use any houseplant fertilizer that is good for foliage plants.

Sansevieria ‘Moonshine’, zeylanica, cylindrica and ‘Laurentii’ in modern farmhouse boho room by Flora and furnish.

Do I need to repot snake plant?

Snake plants don’t mind being pot bound. Because they are slow growing, they only need repotting once every 3 to 5 years.

Beautiful species of snake plant: Sansevieria ‘Jade’, cylindrica, and futura by intotheplants.

You can also divide bigger a snake plant to create more plants, see propagation tips below!

Pests

Healthy Snake plants rarely attract pests. When Snake plants are stressed, they can get mealybugs and spider mites. The best solution is to remove these pests with a damp cloth, and give the plants better growing conditions as listed above.

Sansevieria propagation

It is super easy to propagate snake plant in water or in soil! Here’s our detailed tutorial on 3 easy ways to propagate Sansevieria/ snake plants, and the pros and cons of each method.

You can even save a dying snake plant by propagating leaf cuttings from it!

Why is my Snake Plant dying?

If your Snake Plant is not shriveled in dry soil, the reason is likely over-watering or cold temperature, which can cause the roots or leaves to rot.

Extremely low light would also affect plant health. Make sure the plant gets some natural light. You can always rotate a few plants if you need one for that room without windows.

Healthy Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Black Coral’ by planted not buried.

There are over 70 beautiful Sansevieria varieties, many of them have variegated foliage with yellow or white stripes and interesting patterns, like shown in this chart below by Charming Plants.

Popular cultivars include Sansevieria ‘Moonshine’, ‘Compacta’, ‘Goldiana’, ‘Hahnii’, ‘Laurentii’, ‘Silbersee’, and ‘Silver Hahnii’.

Is Snake Plant safe for pets?

Snake plant contain saponins, which can cause gastrointestinal upset in pets such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea if consumed, says the ASPCA.

Still here? 🙂 Come visit our indoor garden with our favorite plants here!

— Update: 02-02-2023 — cohaitungchi.com found an additional article 7 Great Snake Plant Benefits Proven In Research & Studies from the website balconygardenweb.com for the keyword benefits of a snake plant.

After learning these Snake Plant Benefits proven in research and studies of top organizations, you would like to grow this houseplant immediately!

Have a look at some awesome Snake Plant Benefits in this article that will surely tempt you into growing one in your room!

Common Name: Mother-in-law’s tongue, Viper’s bowstring hemp

Botanical Name: Sansevieria trifasciata

A study published recently claims that indoor air pollution can be as deadlier as outdoor air pollution. There are many ways to reduce indoor air pollution; these two articles from the University of Kentucky Extension and NASD point out the sources well and control them.

Check out our article on growing Snake Plants here

Snake Plant Benefits

1. A Great Oxygen Producing Houseplant

An abstract of the study published in Harvard University Extension observes that the snake plant is one of the most oxygen-producing houseplants. Ficus and pothos are other plants that made to the list.

2. It Looks so Nice!

Apart from being one of the best air-purifying houseplants, it looks so nice and unique. The unsloped, thick, and tall foliage without stems look so artificial, and on top of it, the shades of green, yellow or gray with the horizontal stripes make it a desiring indoor plant.

3. It Removes Air Pollutants

One of the best snake plant health benefits is making its small contribution to eliminating toxic air pollutants. Other than CO2, it can absorb benzene, formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene. These cancer-causing pollutants are harmful to our health, a well-known proven fact.

The famous NASA experiment of 1989 on indoor plants proved that plants with more leaf surface area (leafier and bigger plants) do better air purification, and the snake plant is one of them.

Carbon Dioxide

A study published in 2015 on Indoor CO2 consequences indicates that humans who breathe more carbon dioxide in the home, workplace, and classroom face difficulty in performing and learning. Raised CO2 levels directly affect our cognitive skills and productivity; dizziness and nausea are other consequences.

Snake plant, aka Mother-in-Law’s tongue, absorbs CO2 effectively. A study conducted at Naresuan University, Thailand, with 60-80 cm tall snake plants (Sansevieria trifasciata) revealed that CO2 level in offices was reduced with 4-5 snake plants. Check it out here!

Benzene

Exposure to benzene in the indoor environment is widespread. From heating and cooling systems, solvents, paints, smoking cigarettes, etc. Check out this educational article from WHO. Headaches, nausea, and vomiting can be caused if you are exposed to benzene. Chronic exposure to benzene causes cancers related to blood cells, proved in a lot of medical research.

Besides taking other measures, you can grow snake plants in your home. It absorbs benzene. If you look at the NASA study, you’ll see that the snake plant (Mother-in-Law’s Tongue) removed 52.6 percent in a sealed chamber. The initial p/m was 0.156, which reduced to 0.074 p/m in the final reading after 24 hours.

Formaldehyde

The significant sources of formaldehyde emission are cooking, smoking, cosmetics, paints, fuel combustion from traffic, etc. Newly-made homes, flooring, furniture, and new products must be considered as well. Formaldehyde is also on the list of WHO guidelines for indoor air quality. This educational article at ATSDR on formaldehyde provides great information. Raised level of formaldehyde causes breathing problems and irritation in the eyes, nose, throat. Chronic exposure to it can cause rare nose and throat cancers.

Snake plant is one of the finest indoor plants that lower formaldehyde levels! In the NASA experiment, a single plant removed 31,294 micrograms in a 24 hours exposure.

Xylene

Xylene is hazardous to humans, and it has been reported well here. You can get exposed to it from paint, varnish, rust preventives, paint thinners, removers, and pesticides. You’ll experience nose and throat irritation if xylene is present in a small concentration in the surrounding.

Here again, snake plants and many other houseplants like mum and areca palm are your friends when it comes to xylene removal.

Trichloroethylene & Toluene

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is found in printing inks, lacquers, paint removers, varnishes, and adhesives. Here’s a list of some TCE products. TCE is carcinogenic and can irritate the upper respiratory tract and cause nausea, fatigue, and headache.

Toluene affects mental health and causes dysfunction in the nervous system. Long-term exposure to toluene is also known to cause necrosis. It also affects the reproductive system of females and causes developmental problems in children. Gasoline, solvents in paints, plastic and soda bottles, paint cosmetics are its major source.

To lower the risk of Trichloroethylene and Toluene exposure, grow a snake plant indoors. In the experiment, it removed up to 13.4 percent of TCE in 24 hours of exposure.

4. It Absorbs CO2 in the Night

It’s a question of confusion and disbelief that snake plants or any other plant continuously release oxygen in the nighttime. We don’t find any substantial evidence to prove that. However, snake plant indeed reduces the CO2 even in the night.

Due to the Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM), the capability to perform a particular type of photosynthesis. CAM plants are drought-tolerant, dry climate plants, for example, succulents. They open their stomata from the evening to minimize the water loss in hot conditions.

5. It is Effective against Allergies

A plant that releases oxygen, reduces CO2, and absorbs harmful volatile organic compounds can surely decrease the odds of airborne allergies. The snake plant is one such plant! Even if you’re using the air filters and purifiers, surrounding yourself with indoor plants helps.

Check out this educative article available at the University of Hawaii Extension.

6. For Protective Energy and Feng Shui

Some people believe that the snake plant is not a good plant when it comes to feng shui. It is far from being true. If placed in an ideal position, it brings protective and purifying energy to the home or office.

In feng shui, spiky plants are considered excellent against negative Chi. As they are so aggressive, you need to place them in less trafficked areas. Some of the best spots are Southeastern, Southern, and Eastern corners.

7. It is Low Maintenance

With all the other Snake Plant Benefits and facts listed above, one more to add is it’s one of the best low-maintenance houseplants in the world. It can thrive in full sun, in full shade, in lack of water. Basically, it thrives on neglect. We also added it to our list of Easiest Houseplants. Check it out here!

Watch this video for more information

— Update: 06-02-2023 — cohaitungchi.com found an additional article 8 Astonishing Snake Plant Benefits (Sansevieria Trifasciata) from the website floristkid.com for the keyword benefits of a snake plant.

Eight amazing benefits of snake plants

Benefit 1: A Favorite plant in Feng Shui

Benefit 2: Air Purifier

Mother in law tongue plant benefits go beyond reducing negative energy and bringing luck to your home. The snake plant can also help you feel better physically. CO2, benzene, formaldehyde, xylene, and other hazardous air pollutants can be removed by snake plants. Sansevieria was one of the most efficient plants in NASA’s famous experiment on the effect of indoor plants on lowering air pollution, which was conducted in 1989. In this experiment, snake plants eliminated all contaminants, Except for ammonia. According to NASA findings, plants with larger leaf surface areas clean the air more effectively. Remember that the study was conducted in a small room, and the results may vary in a larger home. Still, it offers you so many reasons to have mother-in-law’s tongue plants indoors.

Benefit 3: Increasing the Quality of Sleep

You have probably heard that plants generate CO2 at night, and being exposed to a high concentration of CO2 can increase stress and reduce the quality of your night’s sleep. However, when it comes to Sansevierias, you do not need to worry about CO2. One of the benefits of Snake plants is that they reduce carbon dioxide even at night. Snake plants have Crassulacean Acid Metabolism or CAM ability, which allows them to convert Co2 to oxygen at night. As a result, these plants will continue reducing CO2 and producing oxygen even at nights. That is why it is recommended to have some snake plants in the bedrooms.

Benefit 4: Anti-cancer Plant

Sansevieria plants, as previously said, are highly effective air purifiers. Sansevieria plants can reduce our exposure to cancer-causing chemicals such as toluene, xylene, benzene, and formaldehyde by eliminating them from the air.

Benefit 5: Promoting oxygen flow

Everyone knows that plants produce oxygen; this aspect is self-evident. But another critical aspect of plants is the amount of oxygen production. Sansevieria and Pothos (Epipremnum Aureum) are the most oxygen-producing indoor plants. As a result, snake plants clean the air and create more oxygen than other plants.

Benefit 6: Reducing Allergy

Sansevieria’s air-cleansing properties have already been discussed. However, snake plant benefits are not limited to their ability to purify the air. Sansevieria plants can minimize the risk of airborne allergies by eliminating contaminants like CO2 and formaldehyde from the air. Snake plants can alleviate allergies much more by creating a lot of oxygen and hydrating the surroundings.

Benefit 7: Reducing the noises

The thick leaves of Sansevierias can help to absorb undesirable noises in your home. As a result, when placed correctly, Snake plants can improve acoustics and reduce noise pollution, which is another reason why everyone should have a Sansevieria plant in their bedroom.

Benefit 8: Improving mental well-being

So far, we have discussed how Sansevieria can enhance your physical health, but the snake plant benefits do not end here. Snake plants also have a significant psychological impact. Purified air created by mother-in-law’s tongue plants decreases stress levels and makes you feel more relaxed. In a world where it is nearly hard for us to go outside and become one with nature, we must rely on indoor plants like snake plants to reconnect with nature.

Snake plant spiritual benefits

Snake plant spiritual meaning in many is associated with protection, healing, prosperity, and good luck. Despite having very sinister-looking spiky leaves, they are said to absorb bad energy and protect against bad luck. You can bring beneficial energy into your life by taking advantage of snake plant spiritual benefits.

The green color of a snake plant represents a bond with the natural world. Indoor snake plants rarely bloom; however, when they do, their flowers represent luck and fortune [1, 2].

Snake plant benefits in the bedroom

Without a doubt, Snake Plant is the best choice for the bedroom. In addition to its many benefits, it is lovely and can make the bedroom more fascinating. Read on to learn more about snake plant benefits in the bedroom.

1) High Oxygen-Producing

The first benefit of snake plants in bedrooms is their ability to produce high amounts of oxygen. Along with plants like the Rubber Plant and Cascading Pothos, the Snake Plant is one of the plants that produces high amount of oxygen. Studies show that higher oxygen levels promote deeper sleep, so that is why we should have at least one snake plant in our bedrooms.

2) Oxygen production at night

Most plants produce oxygen in the presence of sunlight through a process called photosynthesis. On the other hand, most plants act reversely at night, take in oxygen, and release carbon dioxide, a process called respiration. However, the Snake Plant continues to produce oxygen even at night, making it the ideal plant to place in your bedroom for better sleep.

3) Filtering Harmful Pollutants

Another fantastic benefit of snake plant in the bedroom is that they can clean up indoor settings of dangerous pollutants like benzene, formaldehyde, and xylene. Thus, keeping a snake plant in the bedroom allows us to breathe clean air while sleeping.

Conclusion

Now that you know about the benefits of snake plants (Sansevieria plant), it is time to buy your own plant. It is easy to take care of mother in law’s tongue, so you do not need to be worried if you are not an expert in gardening. Just give your snake plant minimum care, and in return, it will reduce the air pollution to protect you from cancer-causing substances.

You can keep your snake plant in your bedroom to get more oxygen at night. It’s presence in bedroom can lead to better sleep and noise pollution Reduction. Sansevieria plants can help you reconnect with nature and balance the energy in your home. Now that you are aware of the numerous benefits of the Sansevieria plant, it is time to test this gorgeous plant.

— Update: 07-02-2023 — cohaitungchi.com found an additional article The Benefits of Having a Snake Plant in Your Bedroom from the website sleep.me for the keyword benefits of a snake plant.

You want to upgrade your bedroom with a plant. You want to purify the air or simply fill up an empty corner, but you’re not sure what to get. You’ve looked at peace lilies, English ivies, Transvaal daisies, and the other hundred plants out there.

Before you get overwhelmed with your search, you should consider a few factors. Most houseplants are strategically placed throughout the home or bedroom and used as traditional and modern decoration. But did you know that some of them also contain health benefits?

Let’s introduce you to the snake plant or at least remind you of one. The snake plant is one of the most popular houseplants that looks great and provides health benefits, including indoor air quality.

Keep reading as we’ll discuss the following topics:

What is a Snake Plant
Snake Plant Benefits
Types of Snake Plants for the Bedroom
How to Care for Snake Plants
Final Thoughts

What is a Snake Plant?

Commonly – and eloquently – identified as mother-in-law’s tongue, the snake plant is a carefree, resilient houseplant that grows anywhere between six inches to several feet. Not only does the snake plant provide unique and visually appealing, sword-like leaves, but there are plenty of health benefits to having one in your bedroom too.

Snake Plant Safety: Considered relatively safe to humans, snake plants are toxic to household pets. If a pet ingests a leaf, it will irritate its mouth, causing digestive issues. Please make sure the plants are out of reach of pets and children.

Snake Plant Benefits

Known as a low-maintenance plant, there are several benefits of snake plants.

Releases Nighttime Oxygen

Unlike some household plants, the snake plant produces oxygen throughout the night, while also taking in carbon dioxide (CO2), a natural byproduct of breathing. This characteristic makes the snake plant perfect for home or bedroom decoration due to its ability to improve air quality.

Did You Know: Snake plants produce large amounts of oxygen all night.

Toxin-Fighting Plant

Besides being an oxygen-producing plant, the snake plant also filters common air pollutants, mold, and household toxins [1, 2], including:

Trichloroethylene: found in varnish, adhesives, and paint removers.
Toluene: found in paint, nail polish, adhesives, synthetic fragrance, and cigarette smoke.
Xylene: found in paint, gasoline, and paint thinners.
Formaldehyde: used in the production of fertilizer, paper, plywood, and some resins.
Benzene: used in the production of plastics, resins, synthetic fibers, some types of rubbers, lubricants, dyes, detergents, drugs, and pesticides; cigarette smoke byproduct.

Famous for improving sleep, the snake plant has earned the nicknames “the bedroom plant” and “oxygen factory.” It is one of the most effective toxin-fighting plants you can purchase.

NASA Study: Interior Landscape Plants for Indoor Air Pollution Abatement. [3] In a landmark study by NASA, researchers found several plants, including the snake plant, were the top reducers of indoor air pollutants. Additionally, the test discovered that they can survive in low-light levels.

Allergy-Reducing Plant

Allergy-reducing plants enhance air quality through the effects of common allergens. Individuals who suffer from allergies can find relief with these plants. Whether at your home, bedroom, or office space, these air-purifying indoor plants help alleviate airborne allergies. [4]

Deliver moisture in the air and reduce airborne allergens
Absorb toxins
Releases oxygen

Please Note: Though rare, an allergic reaction to the snake plant has been reported [5]

If you suffer from allergies, including a stuffy nose or sore throat, a snake plant can help make breathing easier before falling asleep.

Mental Health Booster

A study in 2015 suggested that caring for an indoor plant reduced physiological and psychological stress in the participants. Interacting with plants also helped suppress diastolic blood pressure and sympathetic nervous system activity. [6]. In another study, researchers observed that the presence of some indoor plants was associated with a’s perception of better indoor air quality and increased subjective well-being or happiness. [7]

As discussed previously, snake plants produce oxygen in excessive amounts, which assists in improving the energy and mood of everyone in the room.

Plus, caring for a plant can provide benefits, a sense of purpose, and self-love. [8] Growing and maintaining your plant offers a temporary escape from your busy and stressful life.

Easy to Maintain

We’ve learned that snake plants remove airborne toxins and allergens but are also easy to maintain. If you are looking to start gardening, many professional horticulturists recommend beginning with a snake plant, as they are almost impossible to kill. Snake plants tolerate both direct sun and shade. Caring for them is effortless (as long you remember to water them!).

We’ll discuss how to properly care for your snake plant further below.

Did You Know? The snake plant, while not edible, is from the same Asparagaceae family as asparagus, garlic, and onions! [5]

Types of Bedroom Snake Plants

You can purchase a number of relatively inexpensive plants such as the peace lily and English ivy, aloe vera, spider plant, and valerian to name a few. One that rises above them all is the snake plant. Whether calling them mother-in-law’s tongue, viper’s bowstring hemp, or Sansevieria trifasciata Hahnii, any type of the “bedroom plant” will suit any home decor.

How to Get Your Snake Plant: These common houseplants can be purchased at your local nursery, garden center, home improvement retail store, or online.

Below are the most common snake plants.

Bird’s Nest Snake Plant

The Sansevieria, or Bird’s Nest, is a trendy, low-maintenance, compact snake plant that is easy to maintain. The Bird’s Nest gets its name because the cluster of leaves is similar to a bird’s nest. The small size (6 to 9 inches) makes them a great addition to any bedroom or workplace if you lack the space for one of the taller varieties. It adapts well to different light levels but truly shines in bright filtered conditions.

Laurentii Sansevieria Trifasciata

Considered one of the most popular and recognizable kinds of snake plants, the low-maintenance Laurentii Sansevieria trifasciata is selected by numerous people for its low light and hardy nature. This plant offers sword-like upward leaves with a vibrant, creamy yellow outline inside homes, offices, and bedrooms. Its height ranges from 24 to 33 inches tall.

Cylinder Snake Plant

Also known as Sansevieria cylindrica (or African Spear), the cylinder snake plant is a relative to the mother-in-law’s tongue and is easy to grow. This plant provides smooth, round, dark-green, spear-like leaves that can grow upwards to several feet tall. The leaves reach outward to resemble a crown, and if you’re lucky, you may get a bloom. These long creamy white flowers provide a beautiful fragrance that appears on well-established plants.

Twisted Sister Snake Plant

Popular and hard to find, the Twisted Sister is a small, indoor plant with bright gold and green variegated leaves. The leaves twist as they emerge from the base, also providing the effect of a bird’s nest. This dwarf Sansevieria can grow up to approximately 15 inches in height, making it taller than the “bird’s nest” variety. Similar to the other plants, they tolerate shade but do well with warm, bright light.

Rhino Grass

??The rhino grass is also known as a Sansevieria desert due to its pointed leaves providing a red tint. The plant leaves could grow upward to 12 inches on average and are considered medium-sized snake plants. The look is different from the other type.

White Snake Plant

This unusual and unique plant provides white vertical stripes on its thinner-than-usual dark green leaves. It tolerates a long period without water making it easy to maintain. One of the taller Sansevieria, the white snake plant can grow up to 36 inches tall.

Snake Plant Care and Tips

If you’re planning to add a snake plant to your home or office, below are a few things you should keep in mind when caring for them.

Lighting

When it comes to light, it’s best to place snake plants in bright but indirect sunlight. Yet, if your room doesn’t provide a lot of the sun, you can still place the plant in a dark corner; it will be just fine. Keep in mind that the less light, some plant leaves will become washed out, and the taller ones can become leggy or floppy. Having it under the right conditions will help them flourish!

Lighting Tip: If the leaves are losing color and becoming pale, this suggests a lack of light.

Watering

What makes snake plants so popular is that they are drought tolerant. But make sure you don’t overwater the plant. It can happen easily. Allow the soil to dry between watering. Also, use well-drained potting soil or potting mix; they don’t retain much water.

Root rot can occur if you end up over watering. Yellow leaves are a sign of potential root rot and too much water. When the top inch or more of the potting soil is completely dry, it’s time to water.

Watering Tip: If possible, try watering them from the bottom. Placing the plant in a bowl of water or in a dish to allow the water to soak up from the root is often called reverse water. This process can help develop a strong root system within the soil.

Temperature

It’s best to keep it with temperatures above 50 degrees. The ideal temperature ranges between 70 and 90ºF. In the winter, protect them from the drafty windows and cold temperatures. Frost can kill the plant.

Feeding/Fertilizer

Gardeners recommend feeding the plants with a mild-cactus, all-purpose fertilizer during the summer months in the pot. Make sure you read the instructions to ensure you’re not overfeeding. Do not fertilize in the winter.

Fertilizer Tip: Try to fertilize once a month during the spring and summer months.

Potting and Repotting

When potting, select a sturdy pot material as strong roots can easily break and crack the pots. Typically these plants are slow grower that seldom needs repotting, but if ample sunshine is provided, they might overgrow and require dividing or repotting. If you need to repot these plants, the best time is during spring. Always use fresh potting mix and potting soil (or both) when repotting.

Cleaning

Susceptible to collecting dust, snake plant leaves often need cleaning. Take time to periodically wash the leaves with a damp cloth or tissue. Additionally, when cleaning, observe the plant because this is when you can cut leaves and determine if you need to repot or transfer to another pot.

Final Thoughts

With all the above benefits, you’ll never want to go back to sleeping in a room without a bedroom snake plant or something like it again. You’ll notice a difference in the indoor air quality within a week or two. So, it’s time to purchase a couple of these miracle plants as they will greatly enhance your sleep hygiene and overall sleep quality.

Whether you were searching for a plant to help purify the air, a plant to fill up an empty corner in the room, an easy maintenance plant, or possibly a pet-friendly plant, there are plenty of options.

— Update: 07-02-2023 — cohaitungchi.com found an additional article 6 Snake Plant Benefits – Plus Guide To Care And Decor from the website jayscotts.com for the keyword benefits of a snake plant.

Need a quick fix in your decor?

Or would you like to increase your indoor air quality?

How about reducing airborne allergies and cancer-causing pollutants? Sounds important right?

Well, the Snake Plant does it all. This little plant has so many benefits that we created 6 key areas in which it will improve your home or office environment. Plus we curated the best advice on how to use your Snake plant, from keeping it healthy to pro decor tips.

What is a Snake Plant?

The Snake plant, scientifically known as Sansevieria Trifasciata, has a much more funny name originating from Asian culture where it is commonly referred to as the ‘Mother-in-law’s tongue’.

Appearance

This plant has strong sword-like leaves that extend upwards in a show of strength and beautiful power. In Asian culture, colloquially, the leaves represent the strength of the mother-in-law, hence the name.

Folk law

Most of the original folk law comes from ancient Asian societies and traditions that considered the Snake Plant to be an ideal plant in the fight against evil spirits and negative Chi.

Modern benefits

Nowadays, the Snake Plant has much more power than anyone expected!

Snake plant medicinal benefits include removing indoor air pollutants (such as formaldehyde and benzene) and helping to filter out impurities such as xylene, trichloroethylene, toluene, and ammonia. The snake plant can remove up to 87% of these harmful toxins at night. It can also reduce the level of nitrate ions. According to NASA research, snake plants can improve indoor air quality and remove toxins in small or medium-sized areas.

Unlike other houseplants, the Snake plant continues to convert indoor air into usable oxygen at night! Overall this means the medicinal benefits from a snake plant are top tier and not to be ignored.

In this article, we will delve deeper into the Snake Plant’s incredible ability to reduce indoor air pollution, make impactful changes to your decor, and how to keep it healthy both indoors and in your garden.

1. Excellent for decoration

No one can deny the beauty of a Snake Plant. Its sword-like leaves give off a vibe of vitality. Its size, from 1 to 4 feet tall, along with the interesting pattern on its foliage can attract attention from every angle. Its aesthetic appearance makes the snake plant a natural, green sculpture for your house.

Interior design secrets

Draw attention

Interior designers have been using the Snake Plant’s natural straight lines and tall foliage to draw the gaze of onlookers upwards to other features of the room. This is particularly effective when there is a painting or mirror above that is a focal point of the room.

Well you can check out this project. Pretty sure you will be amazed with how we use snake plants and our planters to help our client!

Planter arrangement

Straight lines suit a number of interior design trends including minimalism. Paired with a straight line plant pot such as our Lima Square Planter ensures that viewers are met with continuous movement as they begin to scan upwards in your room.

Reaching new heights

Like with any design that features upward lines, the Snake Plant also artificially increases the height of your room! Great for when you just need a few more meters of space to relax in!

2. Mental health booster

Like all houseplants, Snake Plants give you some mental support.

Science proves that growing a plant in your house makes you calmer and more content.

Moreover, Snake Plants produce oxygen in excessive amounts which helps improve the mood and energy of everyone in the room – great for a lifeless office!

There is also proof that caring for a plant benefits your sense of self-love and gives people a purpose, which in turn reduces anxiety and stress.

Watering your snake plant, or just simply watching it grow might be a temporary escape from your stressful and busy life.

3. Houseplant air purifier

The Snake Plant benefits are numerous and wide. In addition to mental health benefits, the Snake Plant is one of those indoor plants proved to have physical health benefits too.

Just a taste of their fantastic natural ability:

The Snake Plant releases oxygen and will purify air around you
Helps people with breathing problems who have airborne allergies
Snake Plants remove toxic air pollutants and other toxins that are common in the home
They target particularly harmful toxins such as formaldehyde and benzene

Unlike other plants, the Snake Plant produces oxygen at night. It does this by converting carbon dioxide with its wide long leaves into fresh breathable air. In fact, it is best known for producing the highest amount of oxygen among all houseplants.

This makes the Snake Plant very friendly for your bedroom. Removing carbon dioxide also improves your sleep quality at night and mental state in the day.

Besides producing fresh oxygen, the snake plant can also absorb mold and cancer-causing toxins from the air like benzene, formaldehyde, xylene, carbon monoxide, and toluene.

With outdoor air pollution kept under control by your Snake Plants, it’s very easy to relax and know you have the best environment to live in.

4. Feng shui benefits

There are many powerful plants in Feng Shui, but the Snake Plant is one of the most important.

Beliefs

The sword-like leaves resemble strength in the face of adversity, which in turn, brings wealth and fortune to the owner. That’s why many business owners in the East still use the Snake Plant today in their commercial property to boost their income.

Placement

In Feng Shui, this plant is considered to be quite aggressive, and not a good plant to place indoors. However, according to Eastern tradition, when you put your Snake Plants in a suitable place, preferably in Southeastern, Southern, and Eastern corners, its shiny foliage will protect you from negative Chi.

5. Low maintenance

The hidden benefit of a snake plant is its low-maintenance nature.

The so-called mother-in-law’s tongue can stand some neglect, this quality makes it perfect for beginners, busy owners, or those desiring indoor plant relaxation.

Most dry climate plants like the Snake Pant are drought tolerant and can survive for a long time with very little water.

The plant is highly pest resistant to common household insects like spider mites. You don’t need to worry that your plant will get sick!

Snake plant care tips

Light

The snake plant is also incredibly versatile. It can thrive in a wide range of light conditions ranging from full sun to full shade. However, it still prefers indirect light so place it in low-light areas of the house away from direct sun light.

Water

If you keep your plant in a planter, avoid overwatering it or you will risk the health of its roots.

Watering the plant once every two weeks in the hot summer, and once in 6 weeks in winter is enough for your snake plant to stay healthy.

Soil

The Snake Plant can be grown outdoors or inside as a houseplant. Because of its drought-tolerant nature, it prefers cactus potting mix or well-draining soil. This will ensure enough water loss and good drainage before further watering.

6. Easy to propagate

So you love your snake plant so much and want to continue its legacy? Don’t worry! There are two ways to do this:

How to propagate using leaf cuttings

To propagate your plant with its leaf, make sure your leaf is healthy, shiny, and not too old. Cut off the leaf, then put it in a tall container for your leaf to stand straight.

Keep the cut end of the leaf in water. You only need enough water to cover the bottom quarter of the tissues. Then place the container under indirect light.

Remember to change the water regularly. After the root develops from the leaf, you can place it in sand and take care of it normally.

How to propagate using a rhizome

Another way is to use the under-soil organs of the plant called rhizomes.

To make healthy offspring, it is recommended to have three rhizomes and one healthy leaf per new plant. After cutting them off, leave the new plant underwater for a month so that it can develop enough roots.

You can also plant the offset directly in a small pot and put it in an airtight jar. This way the new plant will grow faster.

Considering the Snake Plant benefits listed above, it is a valuable plant for your home.

Snake Plants benefit not only your health but also your decoration.

What other houseplant is as versatile, excellent for decoration, reduces your stress, provides you with high air quality, protects your energy, and is very low maintenance?

As a houseplant, it is important to choose a good planter for your Snake Plant. To suit its stunning visual, our fiberglass planters are the best option. If you want to see them in action, be sure to check this project out:

Our planter’s elegant design not only helps your Snake Plants stand out but also easily fits in your interior design. Take a look and get ready to grow some Snake Plants!

If you’re still looking for that perfect plant, you need this expert guide on the best indoor houseplants to suit any kind of gardener.

— Update: 09-02-2023 — cohaitungchi.com found an additional article 15 Snake Plant Benefits | Reasons To Put A Snake Plant In Your Bedroom and Home from the website abanahomes.com for the keyword benefits of a snake plant.

Snake plants are native to Africa and grow as evergreen perennial plants. They have strong, appealing leaves that stand vertically tall, making an excellent masterpiece. It can reach upto 6ft in ideal conditions.

There are also various snake plant benefits in the bedroom. No, it is not only limited to the beautiful and appealing aura that comes along the plant. Air purification and pollutant removal are some of the major indoor snake plant benefits.

At night, the plant emits a lot of oxygen and filters out pollutants like benzene and toluene, making indoor spaces like bedrooms much safer. But the advantages don’t stop there. Let’s take a closer look at what all snake plats can do for you.

15 Snake Plant Benefits in Bedroom

Snake plants are pocket-friendly despite being so hardy and attractive. Eventhough, there are many indoor plants for the bedroom, but the snake plants win over them all.

1) Air-purifier Quality

One of the best snake plant benefits in bedroom is its air-purifying quality. Air pollutants like CO2, benzene, formaldehyde, xylene, and others are more likely to present in indoor environments that cause harm to people like you and me. It filters such pollutants from the air.

Carbon Dioxide

According to a study on carbon dioxide, people who breathe more carbon dioxide in the bedroom, or workplace, have difficulty concentrating and learning.

A massive amount of CO2 levels directly impact our cognitive abilities and productivity. It causes dizziness and nausea. The snake plant effectively absorbs CO2.

Benzene

Paint, varnish, rust preventives, paint thinners, removers, and pesticides can all expose you to a high level of benzene. It is very common indoors. Airborne chemicals like benzene can lower red blood cell count and increase the risk of anemia and other immune problems.

Snake plant benefits include removing benzene, which causes headaches, nausea, and vomiting. If there is a major concentration of xylene in the environment, you can experience nose and throat irritation.

Formaldehyde

You may have a dressing table in your bedroom with cosmetic products, or your walls may have the wrong paints, which can cause severe problems. If you have a smoking problem, it can increase formaldehyde emissions.

A high formaldehyde level can cause various issues like eye irritation, breathing problems, and throat infection. Chronic exposure can result in rare nose and throat cancers.

You should carefully examine the newly constructed homes, flooring, furniture, and other products before purchasing them. Bedroom snake plant benefits include lowering the harmful formaldehyde levels to an extent.

A snake plant’s air purification properties make it a useful addition to your bedroom if you want to promote a healthy, chemical-free environment.

2) Home Decor

Who isn’t attracted to the snake plant? The snake plant quickly becomes the talk of the bedroom with its appealing aura. With their long, upright leaves and green variegation patterns, these robust plants add a structural but natural look to your interior design.

It adds a natural touch that contrasts with most homes’ typical furniture and electronics.

Although there are many different types of sansevieria, the key factor is sword-like leaves. Some of the varieties have yellow markings on the leaves’ edges. Indoor snake plant benefits include giving life and adding a natural touch to the space.

These plants can easily complement various house designs. They are very flexible, so you can grow them as you desire. Snake plants adapt easily in large, medium, or small containers.

3) Better Sleep

In this stressful life, you may struggle to get good sleep. A bad sleeping schedule can cause severe headaches, eye pain, and lack of concentration. It decreases your productivity and can give you more unwanted stress.

If these are what bother you, then take a deep breath. Snake plant benefits in the bedroom come to rescue you. Again, this plant’s air purifying properties are the solution, with improved air quality. It gives you a night of better and quality sleep.

Snake plants also emit oxygen at night and trap dust particles, giving you a more relaxed sleep. Other studies have found that smelling aromatic plants before bedtime promotes more comfortable sleep.

If your snake plant blooms, place it next to your side table, where it will emit a sweet scent that may promote deeper sleep.

4) Less Watering Demands

Watering your indoor plants can be a hectic task for new plant parents. Maintaining the proper moisture in the soil can be challenging, whether underwatering or overwatering. On the other hand, watering is the last thing you should be concerned about with your snake plants.

If you are someone who often neglects or forgets to look after your plants, the snake plant is the one for you. Snake plants’ leaves are long, pointed leaves that retain a lot of water. It gives them a plump and juicy appearance.

One of the major benefits of indoor snake plants is they can easily go a week or two, if not longer, without additional water. For new plant parents, it won’t bother you every now and then to water it. It would much rather have less water than too much water.

It uses less water as compared to other plants. You can give them less care and get rewarded with spiky leaves. It may not make much of a difference in an indoor pot.

5) Effective for Allergies

If you suffer from air-borne allergies, snake plants may help you.

Snake plants absorb pollutants from the air and release oxygen and moisture. The clean air produced works similarly to an air purifier to alleviate allergy symptoms.

Indoor snake plants benefits include catching dust and pollen and reducing the amount that stays in the air. Although these are not proven scientifically, people experience good results after placing them in their bedrooms.

You can place a snake plant near your bed for better sleep, good air quality, and a lower risk of sore throat, stuffy nose, and other respiratory allergies. These plants are low on maintenance and won’t give you much trouble growing up.

6) Can Tolerate Light Fluctuations

Like most indoor plants, Snake Plants adore bright indirect light. However, they have a unique survival package. They can easily endure light fluctuations, making them one of the best indoor plants.

In the proper temperatures, snake plants can tolerate relatively low lighting conditions. They won’t get any bigger, but they also won’t show any signs of struggle.

Although some varieties may lose some of their colors in low light, other types will do fine. You should examine your lighting conditions and snake plant species before buying one.

If your bedroom gets a lot of natural sunlight during the day, it can also withstand them. Because their leaves retain a lot of moisture, they can withstand direct sunlight better than indoor plants with delicate leaves.

They are super cool being in a spot in front of a bright window as long as the afternoon sun isn’t too harsh.

You can also witness blooms with the right care. Indoor snake plants benefits are living in almost any lighting condition with a few exceptions and still looking as good as the day you bought them.

7) Anti-Cancer Plant

Snake plants remove cancer-causing agents such as toluene, xylene, benzene, and formaldehyde. They clean the surroundings.

8) A Great Company

No matter how many people around you surround you, you need someone who listens to you quietly. Unfortunately, no human can listen to you indefinitely without needing a break. But it is not the case with these spiky plants.

These plants will listen to you all day long and night. No matter how much you talk or when they will be there for you even when no one understands you. PS: They will never get bored by your constant whining.

Your people may go to the office or children to school, but plants won’t. You don’t have to worry about snake plants constantly leaving you after packing their belongings. Until and unless you don’t switch their places, they will stick by your side or where you last left them.

9) Easy to Propagate

Propagation is only about bringing new friends into your life but also about being creative. It is one of the best gardening skills you can learn. After all, who doesn’t want more unique plants for FREE?

Snake Plants are not fussy about propagation and are comfortable with the procedure. There are numerous methods for propagating snake plants, all of which are extremely simple.

Indoor snake plant’s benefits are easily sprouting and having a big collection of them. The first and most basic method of propagation is to replant pups. The plant does all the work for you by producing smaller plants around the base connected by rhizomes.

You can separate this pup from the parent plant and plant it in a new pot as long as it has a few roots. Snake Plants will start producing pups in the right conditions. It will serve you with a steady supply of new plants for free.

What to do if your snake plant has no pups?

Don’t worry; you can still bring new plants to life. Leaf cuttings will also root quickly in water or soil, growing into a full-fledged plant.

Steps to propagate snake plants with cuttings:

Start by cutting a whole, healthy leaf from the plant’s base with a knife.
Now place it in a glass of water filled with gravel to hold the cutting up.
It will develop new roots in one or two weeks.

You can also cut one leaf into 4-5 sections. Then place them root side down in a propagating medium such as coconut coir, or perlite, to root cuttings in soil. Once you witness the roots have grown a few inches, transplant them into individual containers.

10) Mental Health Benefits

As you can see, there are various snake plant benefits in bedroom but are not limited only to physical advantages.

Many studies have shown that snake plants can reduce stress and improve mood. Snake plant propagation can help improve your mental state. It also reduces anxiety and depression. Stress can negatively impact a person’s productivity, health, and lifestyle choices.

According to NASA research, having plants in your bedroom can help you deal with stress, depression, anxiety, and other related issues.

You can feel calm and happy by interacting with houseplants. Whether caring for them or simply being around them makes you feel at ease and comfortable with your surroundings. You don’t have to create a whole indoor jungle to reap the advantages. A single snake plant will do the rest.

11) Importance in Feng Shui

Snake plants have significant importance in the Chinese philosophy of feng shui. It emphasizes the importance of striking a balance between our living spaces and the natural world.

Snake plants benefits as per Vastu, are associated with good luck. These plants have a special place in feng shui because people believe that these plants can absorb all negative energy.

You can keep a snake plant in your home and get blessed with eight virtues (longevity, prosperity, intelligence, beauty, art, health, and strength).

Many Chinese experts recommend keeping snake plants in bedrooms where people used to fight or near appliances that emit harmful radiation. They consume negative energies and remove anger and jealousy.

12) Boost Productivity

In lockdown due to the covid 19 crisis, you may have started working from home, most probably in your bedrooms. Although working from home gives you your comfort zone, it can also hamper your productivity.

Snake Plants not only reduce work-related stress but also boost productivity. Working alongside a snake plant can increase your productivity by up to 15%.

But bedroom snake plants benefits didn’t end here. They also have a significant positive impact on memory. A study discovered that just one hour of interaction with nature improved memory retention by up to 20%.

Snake Plants are the answer if you want to improve your productivity or memory while also working comfortably in your bedroom.

13) Pest Resistant

As I already told you, snake plants demand less water, so their leaves rarely fall off. You won’t see pests such as fungus or gnats. Although, it might get spider mites and mealybugs from another plant. The majority of bugs will avoid it.

14) Improves Acoustics

Snake plants can help improve your home’s acoustics and reduce noise levels. These plants are beneficial for lowering noise pollution because their thick leaves effectively deflect and absorb sound waves as they travel across the bedroom.

A snake plant can help reduce unwanted sounds such as static from running electronics in your space. Placing a few snake plants in the right place strategically throughout your bedroom makes it more appealing. It will improve your sleep quality due to the reduced noise.

There are numerous advantages to noise reduction in the home. It improves their mood, concentration, and mental health.

15) Can thrive in high Humidity

If your bedroom has high humidity, your snake plant will thrive. It isn’t picky about a humid environment. Make sure you water less and provide extra drainage to reduce stagnant water.

So put a snake plant anywhere you have some open space, and it will thrive. Being size adjustable is also one of the snake plant benefits. Depending on the pot, it can grow into some of the larger indoor plants or stay small.

Now that you know all the indoor snake plants benefits let’s move forward to the types. Which are the most popular snake plant varieties to grow in the bedroom?

Popular Types of Snake Plant

Snake Plant with a Bird’s Nest

The Bird’s Nest is a stylish, low-maintenance, compact snake plant. As usual, it is simple to care for. Because of their small size (6 – 9 inches), you can easily keep them in any bedroom. The leaf cluster resembles a bird’s nest.

Sansevieria Trifasciata Laurentii

These are known for low light demands, low maintenance, and hardy nature. It creates an appealing aura and is one of the most popular types of bedroom snake plants. The plant has sword-like leaves that grow upward and have a creamy yellow outline. The height ranges between 24 and 33 inches.

Sansevieria Cylindrica

This plant has smooth, round, spear-like foliage and can grow 24 to 36 inches tall. The leaves spread outward to form a crown. It somewhat resembles a lucky bamboo plant.

How to care for a snake plant?

Snake plant care is very easy, and you don’t have to follow any complex instructions. They can thrive well with minimal maintenance.

Place your snake plant in direct or indirect sunlight.
You should provide well-drained potting soil that does not retain much water.
Avoid overwatering at all costs. It may be simple, but it is best to let the soil dry between waterings.
Keep your green friend at a moderate room temperature.
Protect them from the cold and draughty windows in the winter.
You can remove dust on the leaves with a damp cloth regularly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ques 1: What should I place my snake plant in the bedroom?

Ans: Snake Plants thrive in low-light environments, so you can place them in a location near the north or west-facing window.

Ques 2: Which snake plant is the best?

Ans: Sansevieria Laurentii is one of the most common types of snake plants grown indoors. It most effectively removes and filters nasty airborne toxins in the air.

Ques 3: Is the snake plant lucky?

Ans: Snake plants are considered lucky plants in Feng Shui because of their ability to purify the air and attract positive energy vibes.

Ques 4: I have trouble getting proper sleep. Will snake plants help in the same?

Ans: One of the major snake plant benefits is aiding in better sleep. Having snake plants in your bedroom can help improve your sleeping experience and allow you to sleep more comfortably.

An increase in air oxygen quality aids in maintaining high oxygen saturation levels within the body, allowing for deeper and more productive sleep.

Experts recommend snake plants for people who suffer from sleep disorders because they can produce oxygen at night. People who suffer from hypoventilation can benefit from having higher oxygen levels in their blood during the night when respiratory problems are most likely to occur.

Furthermore, snake plants are excellent for air purification, producing cleaner air while sleeping.

Conclusion

If you plan to add something green to your bedroom, a snake plant is the one to go with. Many snake plant benefits add positivity to life.

Whether you want it for its aesthetic value, the energy balancing feng shui capabilities, or if you want to ease stress and improve memory, a Snake Plant is what you need.

We would love to know what you like the most about these amazing snake plants. Le us know in the comments section below. Happy gardening!