Using the correct soil for snake plants is essential for its growth and development. The health of this traditionally desert plant depends on the consistency of the minerals within the soil it is planted in.
Despite the fact that these plants are incredibly easy to look after, they still require a container that is able to drain potting soil effectively. Soil that is drained appropriately encourages the snake plant to establish healthy roots, leading to a long life.
What Type Of Soil Does A Snake Plant Require?
The best type of soil mixture for a snake plant is a blend that drains well whilst remaining light. These soil blends are specifically designed to ensure that the roots remain oxygenated.
The soil that is used for succulents and cactuses provides the best drainage for snake plants.
The rhizomes and sansevierias leaves are uniquely designed to hold moisture for the plant. Thus, whenever the soil is dry, the roots are able to breathe easier whilst feeding the plant the minerals that it needs to thrive.
Potting soil that is heavier can easily rot the sansevieria roots, as any excess water will not be able to drain away properly. Thus, you should always ensure that you are using an aerated soil mixture that contains coarse sand.
Compost should also be added to ensure that your plant remains well fed.
Repotting your snake plant into a well-aerated soil mixture will ensure that it remains healthy and can thrive. Snake plants are the perfect indoor plant for beginners as they are incredibly easy to care for.
They also have notable benefits as air purifiers and can tolerate a variety of lighting conditions. The oxygen that is emitted from these plants also helps you to sleep better, as they improve the overall air quality within your household.
These hardy plants are native to areas within Southern and Western Africa. They are able to look after themselves, however, they still require the correct soil mixture in order to remain healthy.
What Are The Main Signs That Your Snake Plant Is Unhealthy?
If your snake plant develops mushy, cracked, yellowing, or drooping leaves, then it may be experiencing plant root distress. This is usually caused by a build-up of water around the roots.
Avoiding heavy plant soil mixtures will help you to ensure that this does not occur.
A healthy snake plant will have leaves that are bright, sturdy, and vibrant. The roots will also be lightly colored whilst remaining firm. If the roots of your snake plant become mushy, this could indicate that it has developed root rot.
While your snake plant is unspotted, you should carefully assess the soil conditions. If it is planted in a strong soil mix, then you may be overwatering your plant.
However, it is usually an amalgamation of poor watering habits and unhealthy soil that contributes to the downfall of your snake plant’s health.
How Do You Know Whether Your Snake Plant Is In Good Soil?
Regular forms of potting soil are designed to hold water. These types of potting soil are not good for snake plants as they require aerated soil that drains easily.
Thus, you should avoid planting your snake plant in heavier soil mixes that include organic materials as these can often be damaging for succulents.
This is because heavier mixtures will retain water near the roots for extended periods of time which causes root rot in snake plants.
Whenever you first purchase your plant, you should carefully examine the mixture, as mentioned. If the soil that it is planted in is heavy and wet, then you will need to repot it into a more appropriate soil mixture.
What Makes A Good Snake Plant Soil Mixture?
Snake plant soil mixture should feel crumbly as this indicates that it will drain well. Any succulent specific soil will work well for your snake plant.
These mixtures can be purchased on Amazon and ensure that water is drained away from the roots of your snake plants appropriately. Purchasing succulent specific soil provides the best form of drainage for your snake plant.
How To Make Your Own Snake Plant Soil
You can easily make your own snake plant soil moisture by using sterile garden soil or general potting mixture. However, you need to make some essential adjustments in order to create an aerated soil mix for these plants.
A good snake plant soil mixture must contain inorganic materials that are used for draining water, alongside organic materials that provide resilience whilst feeding the plant.
Soil Materials For Snake Plants
The materials and rates that are required to make good soil mixture are as follows:
1 part inorganic matter
3 parts potting mix or garden soil
2 parts organic materials
You should firmly mix these materials together using the recommended proportions and store your mixture within a large container to ensure that is sets properly and amalgamates appropriately.
Then, you will need to texture your snake plant soil mixture, assessing the texture. If you have used an appropriate mixture of inorganic and organic materials, then the soil will have structure yet still crumble when touched.
This form of mixture drains beautifully whilst protecting the roots of your snake plant.
Some good ways to test the texture of your soil mixture are as follows:
Wet the plant soil appropriately.
Pick up a handful of soil.
Squeeze it in your palm.
Open your hand and assess whether it clumps together. Add some more inorganic material if it does.
There should be some structure to the soil without it being wholly solid and thickened.
How To Store and Reuse Homemade Soil Mixture
You should store your homemade soil mixture within a container that is airtight. Alternatively, you can use a ziplock bag in order to store your soil mix. You should also label your mixture in order to identify what type of plant the mixture is suitable for.
Can Snake Plant Soil Be Reused?
Yes, y0u can reuse your soil mixture. However, it does need to be sterilized prior to being reused. You can sterilize the mixture by placing it on a sheet of baking paper and baking it at 200 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately an hour.
After you have sterilized you soul, you should also add some refreshed organic and inorganic amendments in order to create the perfect blend for your plants.
What Plant Pots Are Preferred For Snake Plants?
Whenever you have developed a strong soil mixture for your plants, you should place it within a plant pot that contains drainage holes.
The pot should also be appropriately sized in order to fit the root ball of your plant.
If you choose to utilize the nursery container that your plant arrived in, then you should place it within a larger non-draining pot that contains gravel underneath in order to avoid moist feet.
Whenever a snake plant is potted in a container that is too large for their roots to develop, even a good soil mixture can rot these roots. This is because a vast amount of water will remain in the pot if you overwater it.
The roots of the snake plants will not be able to use all of the water and thus, it will remain in the pot itself and encourage root rot pathogens.
Therefore, you should be careful when choosing a plant pot for your snake plant and only place it in a pot that suits the root system.
What Type Of Material Is Good For Snake Plant Pots?
You should choose a pot that drains water away from the soil.
Thus, a terracotta pot is perfect for a snake plant as it is good at removing any excess moisture from the soil. Using a plastic pot will still work, however, these pots are not as breathable as their terracotta counterparts.
You should remember that the pot that you choose has to drain water effectively in order for your snake plant to have a long life.
What Is The Impact of Soil Mixture On Plant Health?
Whenever you purchase a snake plant, it is important to note the role that soil mixture plays in their overall growth and development.
Thus, choosing the best soil for snake plants, and/or any succulents, helps them to absorb an abundance of nutrients, moisture, and oxygen. Soil is also the sturdy base from which your plant’s roots develop.
Soil mixture allows your plant to build strong roots and supports its structure accordingly. This is why using good soil mixture is essential for developing freshly propagated snake plants.
What pH Level Is The Best For Snake Plants?
Snake plants tend to thrive in soils that have a pH ranging from 5.5-7.5. Thus, they thrive in soil conditions that are either natural, slightly alkaline, or slightly acidic. They do not tend to thrive in extreme soil conditions.
Snake Plant Soil Considerations
Snake plants require well-drained soil irrespective of the type of container that they are planted in. However, if you choose to opt for a plastic container, then you should ensure that your soil mixture doesn’t retain any excess water.
As mentioned, snake plants tend to thrive in terracotta pots that have drainage holes, as this decreases the chance of water retention. Terracotta pots also tend to be stronger than plastic pots and thus, they can hold your snake plant better.
The root system of your snake plant may otherwise crack other forms of container.
The Best Soil For Repotting Your Snake Plants
Whenever the size of your snake plant increases, you may wish to repot your plant to provide it with extra space to grow and develop.
However, this doesn’t affect the type of soil mixture that should be used. When you are repotting your snake plant, you should use a fresh version of the same mixture that you originally used.
Are Orchid and Cactus Soil Mixes Good For Snake Plants?
Both orchid bark and cactus soil are great for snake plants. Using orchid bark is also a good way to improve the drainage within the plant’s soil, ensuring that your soil mixture doesn’t retain an excessive amount of moisture that can lead to root rot.
You want to avoid root rot from occurring at all costs, as this is often irreversible and causes significant damage to your snake plants.
Conclusion
To conclude, the best form of soil mixture for a snake plant is a mixture that is well-aerated and light. You should try to avoid using traditional potting mixture for your snake plant as these mixtures tend to be incredibly dense in order to retain moisture.
Any excess moisture that is retained around the roots of this succulent will lead to root rot.
Root rot causes irreparable damage to the roots of your snake plant, and thus, you need to ensure that you are using a crumbly mixture that allows your snake plant to establish sturdy roots.
It is entirely possible to make your own soil mixture for your snake plant, and you should follow the guidelines that I have outlined above to do so.
Ensuring that you use an appropriate proportion of inorganic and organic matter will ensure that your soil has structure whilst remaining crumbly enough to drain excessive moisture.
Overall, snake plants are incredibly easy to take care of and are the best plant for beginner plant owners!
Hi, my name is Amy Enrich and I have had a keen green thumb since my parents first taught me how to sow a sunflower seed. The process of watching it grow from seed to sprout, sprout to shoot, and then to a full-blown plant is a wonderful sight - I never get bored of it!
I love talking to anyone who will listen about plants, different varieties, how to look after them, and more. That is why I have created Plant Vessel, to help other plant lovers look after their new family members properly and keep them thriving!
Please stick around and enjoy my plant content, and don’t blame me if it influences you to go and buy some more plants!
