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Sansevieria, a houseplant, grows slowly under moderate or indoor light. However, its growth can be accelerated with plenty of sunlight, especially during its growing season (spring to summer), humidity, and temperature.
The height and width of the snake plant achieve on the variety of Sansevieria. So, let us know how one can accelerate the growth of their snake plant and the kind of care its needs to reach its full potential.
When Does a Snake Plant Grow?
On average, a snake plant would grow around a couple of new leaves every growing season (spring to summer). However, during its dormancy period (winter season), it won’t show any signs of growth.
And while they can survive even in low-light areas and relatively dry environments, keeping them in a spot that receives plenty of sunlight during the daytime for better growth is better.
To know if your snake plant is growing, you must look for light green, tiny leaves poking through the surface.
How to Make Snake Plants Grow Faster?
To help your snake plant grow quicker, you need to prune them when needed, keep the pests away, and offer them ideal temperature, humidity, proper watering regime, fertilization, and good quality of potting soil.
However, at the end of the day, how rapidly or how large your snake plant grows depends on its variety and the growing conditions you provide it. So, offering your snake plant reasonable care can ensure its continued and healthy growth.
Also, in an exclusive poll hosted by Simplify Gardening, more than 50 percent of the respondents said that snake plants are NOT fast-growing.
Does Snake Plant Need Fertilizer to Grow?
You can use an essential fertilizer made for houseplants during this duration every few weeks. Fertilizer would be an excellent option if your snake plant is not growing well, receives little sunlight, or has a fungal infection due to overwatering.
A fertilizer can immediately revitalize the snake plant with nutrients when it is unhealthy.
However, while using fertilizer on a snake plant, one should apply it sparingly. One should consider using a cactus fertilizer or one made for succulents with a 10-10-10 NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium) ratio.
However, fertilizers are not needed during winter as that is its dormancy period. And since the plant is native to poor and rocky soil, one should avoid overfertilizing it.
How Large Do Snake Plants Grow?
The height and foliage attained by a snake plant depend on its variety. While some snake plant varieties only grow up to 4-8 inches, some may grow over 7 feet.
When someone refers to the snake plant, the S. trifaciata laurentii variety comes to mind as a commonly found snake plant with variegated foliage and green and yellow stripes on either side of the leaves.
This variety of snake plants tends to grow straight, and flowers can rarely grow to a height of around 1-2 feet and even 3 feet in some cases. However, the plant has grown up to 5 feet in some exceptional cases.
And the variety of S. cylindrica can grow over 7 feet tall, making it one of the tallest snake plants. On the other hand, the S. trifaciata “hanhii” variety is the shortest and does not grow tall.
Since the S. trifaciata cultivar is considered a dwarf variety, it is often grown in terrariums.
Here is a table to help you get a better idea of some of the primary varieties of snake plants and the average length they attain:
If this intrigued you, you should look at other snake plant species. More than 70 different species, each offering a different kind of foliage, appearance, and even flowers. Here is a blog that gives an overview of some of the best species of snake plants.
How to Handle Undesirable Growth in Snake Plants?
If you witness an undesirable outward growth in your snake plant, you can divide the plant and eliminate the leaves you do not want.
But if you still wish to maintain the plant, you should grow it in a separate pot. And since snake plants are pretty hardy, they do well even when divided.
Snake plants have a root system known as a rhizome that allows new shoots or leaves to grow.
Alternatively, if you encounter an unwanted upward growth in your snake plant, you can cut the leaf at your desired length. After this, new leaves will take several weeks to grow. You can discard the cut portions if you do not wish to maintain a new plant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Snake Plants Grow Larger Outdoors?
A healthy snake plant can grow up to 12 feet when planted but not exceed 8 feet high when grown indoors. So, snake plants can grow more prominent outdoors due to increased sunlight exposure.
Does Pruning Help Snake Plants Grow?
Like any other houseplant, Snake plants require pruning to grow better and bushier. Besides helping the plant grow, pruning can also help you eliminate damaged leaves or prevent them from growing in a hay-wired direction.
Thus, pruning your snake plant is a good practice if you want your snake plant to grow bigger while staying in the right shape.
Not pruning your plant can cause stunted growth and thus negatively affect its overall health.
Can Snake Plants Withstand Direct Sunlight?
Snake plants are hardy so they can withstand both bright and low light levels. However, it is better not to place them under strong direct sunlight to burn the leaves, especially outdoors.
An ideal spot for a snake plant would be indoors, around 10 feet from a west or south window.
How much water does a Sansevieria need?
Every 2-3 days is just fine. You can also touch the soil and water your plant if it is dry or crumbly. If you have a larger snake plant, you may need to water it more often or give it more water.
How do I know if my snake plant is healthy?
If the brown or black roots feel mushy, your plant is succumbing to root rot. The smell of the rotten roots will be rather odorous as well.
Conclusion on Are Snake Plants (Sansevieria) Fast Growing Plants?
Although snake plants are considered slow-growing, one can accelerate their growth rate and have healthier and fuller foliage with the ideal growing settings.
Also, one needs to understand that snake plants thrive on neglect. So, you can let them be on their own, and you will soon witness verdant leaves shooting straight up.
Moreover, snake plants do not require a lot of water or fertilizers. Making things relatively easy and convenient also makes snake plants an excellent pick for people with a busy schedule. All you need is a well-draining potting mix, enough light exposure, and a proper watering routine to grow up to its full potential.
We hope this information will help you better understand what a snake plant needs to grow and how you can accelerate the process. So, are you ready to follow all these tips and help your snake plant grow bigger and better?
