To help your snake plant grow faster, plant it in the right size pot, make sure it gets the appropriate amount of water, expose it to more sunlight, fertilize it regularly, and periodically check for signs of pests and disease. Snake plants are some of the most resilient houseplants available, but even they need certain conditions to thrive and grow. If you notice that your snake plant doesn’t seem to be growing, there are easy ways to promote faster growth.
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5 Tips to Make a Snake Plant Grow Faster
Snake plants are a popular houseplant, and great for novice green thumbs, due to their beauty and hardiness. While it’s difficult to kill a snake plant, it can also be difficult to get it to flourish. If you’d like yours to grow faster, here are five easy adjustments you can make.
Choose the Right Pot
When planting or repotting your snake plant, it’s important to choose the correct pot size. Snake plants do best in smaller pots. If your plant becomes slightly rootbound, you may notice a temporary increase in its growth rate. It may also produce more pups.
- Snake plants do well in small pots.
- If your snake plant is slightly root bound, it will temporarily grow faster and produce more pups.
- If your plant is very root bound, it will stop growing. That means it’s time to replant.
- Transfer your plant into a pot that is 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) wider than the last to promote maximum growth.
However, if the plant becomes totally rootbound, growth will drastically slow down or stop. When this happens, it’s time to repot your plant. Choose a pot that is 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) wider than the last to give the roots enough space to grow without running the risk of root rot.
Provide the Correct Amount of Water
Both underwatering and overwatering your snake plant can affect its growth. A plant that is underwatered is not getting the nutrients it needs to be able to grow. Increasing your watering regime can fix this.
- Underwatered plants lack the nutrients they need to grow.
- Snake plants with excess water can suffer from root rot.
- If your plant won’t grow, and the soil is always damp, look for signs of root rot.
- If your plant has root rot, treat it immediately.
- Once root rot is eliminated, your snake plant should start growing again.
On the other hand, if your plant is overwatered, the soil may remain damp for too long, causing root rot. If you notice that your plant is not growing, and the soil is constantly wet, you should remove the plant from the pot and examine the root ball for signs of root rot. If you see soggy, brown roots, take immediate action to rid the plant of root rot. Once resolved, your plant should begin healthy growth again.
Give Your Snake Plant More Sunlight
Snake plants prefer lots of bright, indirect sunlight. If your plant is in a dim room or dark corner and isn’t growing, move it to a sunny spot closer to a window for a few weeks, and see if growth speeds up.
- Snake plants grow best in plenty of sunlight.
- If your plant is in a dimly lit area, move it closer to a window, and see if growth increases.
- It’s natural for snake plants to become dormant in the winter.
- In the winter, an indoor grow light can promote growth.
In the winter months, when there isn’t as much natural sunlight, snake plants often go dormant. Use an indoor grow light to mimic indirect sunlight to help your snake plant continue to grow through the winter.
Fertilize Regularly
Snake plants are more apt to grow quickly when fertilized. If you want to boost your plant’s growth rate, fertilize it once every 4–6 weeks. However, full-strength fertilizer is much too strong for this plant species. Instead, dilute the fertilizer solution to between ¼ and ½ strength.
- Snake plants grow faster when fertilized.
- Fertilize your plant once every 4–6 weeks.
- Dilute the fertilizer solution to ¼ to ½ strength.
- If your plant starts to wilt or turn brown, or stops growing, it may be overfertilized. Adjust your fertilization schedule to once every 8 weeks.
If your snake plant’s leaves are turning brown, or stops growing despite ideal growing conditions, you may be overfertilizing. In this case, cut back to once every 8 weeks, and see if growth speeds back up.
Check for Pests
If you’ve made all the above adjustments, and your plant still won’t grow, check for signs of a pest infestation. Common snake plant pests damage the plant and stunt its growth.
- Pest infestations can damage your snake plant and stunt its growth.
- Thin white webs can indicate spider mites.
- Tiny white insects, or tiny cotton-like bits on the leaves could be mealy bugs.
- Eradicate any infestation to get your plant growing again.
If you notice thin white webs on your snake plant, it may have spider mites. If you notice tiny white insects or what looks like tiny bits of cotton, your snake plant may have mealy bugs. Eradicate the common pest infestation, and your plant will once again begin to grow.
How Do You Encourage the Root Growth of a Snake Plant?
If your plant is lacking deep, healthy roots, its root system may have been damaged by overwatering. Examine the plant for root rot, trim off any dead roots and treat the root rot. Then, change your watering regime to water your plant less frequently, making sure the soil dries out in between each watering.
Additionally, make sure you are using potting soil that allows water to reach all the way down to the bottom of the pot. This will encourage the roots to grow towards the water source.
Why Do Snake Plants Grow So Slowly?
The snake plant is a slow-growing plant, averaging only about 2–3 new leaves and a few inches (5–8 cm) of growth per year. They’re succulents, which means they are conditioned to survive in harsh conditions.
- Snake plants grow a few inches and produce 2–3 new leaves per year.
- Snake plants are opportunistic growers. They grow in perfect conditions and protect themselves when conditions aren’t quite right.
- Your snake plant will grow slower indoors than in natur because it’s hard to replicate its natural growing environment inside.
Dubbed “opportunistic growers,” snake plants will grow under the right conditions but will protect themselves by slowing down when the conditions aren’t quite right. It’s difficult to replicate ideal growing conditions in an indoor setting, so your snake plant will grow more slowly than it would in the wild.
Tips for Faster Growth in a Snake Plant
To promote faster growth in your snake plant, be sure to choose the right pot, provide the correct amount of water, give it lots of sunlight, fertilize regularly, and be on the lookout for pest infestations. Adequate bright light and small amounts of fertilizer will help your snake plant produce green leaves. In no time, your snake plant will brighten up your home.
