How To Repot A Snake Plant

How to repot a snake plant is what we will be looking into in this post. Snake plants (Sansevieria trifasciata) also known as the mothers-in-law’s tongues are perfect for beginner gardeners because of their durability and toughness.

It is a well-known antioxidant popular for its ability to remove toxin from the environment and purifies the air. They have a fascinating spiky leaf that makes an amazing sight in the home. They are amazing house care plants and not so difficult to nurture but once in a while, they need some repotting to keep them in shape and enhance proper growth and development.

This article will show you how and when it’s appropriate to repot your snake plants and also, the necessary things needed for the process.

Why Do You Need to Repot Your Snake Plant?

As earlier said, this plant is easy to grow but one can encounter some problems during the course of growing them and one of them is the need to repot the plant. Repotting a snake plant can be due to different reasons and a few of them includes:

1.    Plant Growing From Drainage Holes

This isn’t relative to only snake plants all plants as a whole. The moment your plant starts growing from the drainage hole, it’s a sign that it doesn’t have anywhere else to grow thereby forcing its root out of the drainage hole in a bid to expand and grow. Leaving the plant in this pot will cause overcrowding and lead to its growth being stunted. As soon as you notice the root prowling out of the drainage hole, gather your repotting tools and get to work

2.    Poor Drainage Pot

Once you discover that the drainage pattern of your plant pot is bad, the next course of action should be repotting the plant in a pot with better drainage. A plant pot that drains quickly when it gets water rather than retain and soak the soil will not yield a healthy plant. The snake plant can be without water but not for too long as it will be deprived of the needed nutrients to produce a healthy plant.

3.    Cracked Pot – How To Repot A Snake Plant

In some conditions, the plant grows so big and huge which leads to the pot cracking. You can tell when a pot is about to crack when the base (rhizomes) are getting bigger and distorting the shape of the plant. The plant won’t be able to survive in a cracked pot if it eventually breaks because it will cause the moisture to escape really quickly.

This can cause the roots to spread its root outwards of the initial planting space. So, repotting should be done the moment you notice a cracked pot before it eventually breaks apart.

4.    Change Of Look

At times, you might be willing to change the look of your plant pot into something more beautiful and attractive. It’s more like redecorating your space with a new pot collection. It’s advisable to get a pot slightly bigger than the former pot you’re using and gently drop your plant inside.

5.    Plant Falling Over – How To Repot A Snake Plant

Another thing to look out for is when your plant pot keeps falling over; it’s a sign that the pot can no longer hold the weight of your plant so it calls for repotting.

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How Do You Repot Snake Plant?

You certainly will be needing a new pot for repotting. Snake plants do well in shallow pots than in deep pots as the plant’s rootstocks spread out instead of growing deeper. The deeper the pot, the more quantity of soil that will be needed.

When selecting your pot, you should consider the variety of your plant. The taller the plant, the larger the pot it will require and the smaller growth species and varieties thrive well in smaller pots. A low-profile plant pot with good drainage is also a factor that should be considered when sourcing for your plant pot and ensure it is 1-2 inches larger in width than the old pot

Materials

• Plant pot
• Soil mix (snake plants thrive well in a chunky soil mix that funnel/drains easily and also supplies air easily)
• Worm compost
• Succulent and cactus

Steps To Follow

Step 1 – Obtain Your Soil – How To Repot A Snake Plant

After getting all you need for the repotting, the next thing to do is to gather your soil mix and set it aside.

Step 2 – Take Out The Plant From The Pre-existing Pot

You loosen the plant from the old plant either by using a dull knife or by painstakingly watering the plant to help loosen the root of the plant so it can slide out easily and faster.

Once you turn the pot upside down, the root ball should slip out with your hand under it to support it from falling. If you discover the plant is still stuck after the thorough watering, hit the pot by the side to help loosen it.

Step 3 – Trimming

After getting the plant out, you can trim off the roots on the outside of the root ball that has gone soft or look like it’s rotting away. You also can cut through any large roots that is totaling encompass the root ball to avoid future cases of root bounding.

Step 4 – Set Up The Soil In The New Pot – How To Repot A Snake Plant

Once you’ve taken the plant out of the pot, measure out the soil mix that will be needed to raise the top of the root ball up to 1/4” to 2” beneath the surface of the new pot then pour in the soil mix into it. Note that the snake plant must maintain the same depth in the new pot just as it was in the old pot.

Step 5 – Additional Soil Mix When Required

After positioning the plant in the new pot, fill the sides in with additional soil mix.

Step 6 – Addition Of Compost

On the top, add a dense layer or your already set worm compost.

Step 7 – Water The Plant – How To Repot A Snake Plant

After that is done, return back to the well-situated growing spot. Don’t forget to carefully water the plant to help the potting media become proportionally moist.

How To Repot A Snake Plant: Conclusion

How to repot a snake plant is what this article has explained. We have also outlined some good reasons why you may need to repot your snake plant.

Read more about Does Snake Plant Flowers?

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