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Sansevieria, also known as the snake plant, is extremely hardy, making it a low-maintenance indoor plant. Other than being an excellent pick for people with a brown thumb, it also removes toxins from the air, according to research by NASA.
Sansevieria best thrives in soil that drains well, resists compaction, retains some moisture, and registers between 5.5 to 7.0 on the pH scale. Snake Plants can survive in almost any condition, but these factors will help them thrive more.
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You can do many things to make your snake plant thrive rather than just helping it survive. Let us look at how you can offer the best soil to your snake plant.
Factors to Consider While Picking the Best Soil for Your Snake Plant
Although snake plants can tolerate a range of potting soil mixes, it is better to look for an all-purpose indoor potting soil mix and consider all the following factors to help snake plants grow into a healthy and verdant plants:
NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium) Ratio
Snake plants like to have a balanced NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) ratio of 10-10-10. However, a snake plant would do well in slightly different ratios.
While the soil mixes you get in the marketplace have a predetermined NPK ratio, the plant absorbs the nutrients and depletes them over time.
Adjusting the NPK ratio by adding a balanced fertilizer is also important because some nutrients get drained from the soil while watering.
Nutrients and Micronutrients
Besides the three vital nutrients – nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, you should also consider offering your plant micronutrients like boron, manganese, zinc, and copper.
While these are usually part of the organic potting, soil mixes are added to the soil with the help of fertilizers. One should add them twice a year during their growth season (from spring to summer) to help the plant grow better.
A snake plant would survive without these, but a little bit of added micronutrients can help the plant’s overall health, so you can consider putting in a balanced houseplant fertilizer.
Bark Compost
Bark compost is another element you must consider while picking a soil mix or creating your own.
Composted bark is often sourced from pine bark which can help resist compaction while retaining a small amount of moisture in the soil.
Mixes that consist of composted bark can drain quickly and are also lightweight. Thus, it can help your plant remain slightly moist but not soggy, which is ideal for snake plants.
Your snake plant will not only get plenty of room to grow with bark compost, but this can also improve the air circulation at the root level of the plant, which won’t make the soil dry out completely and quickly.
Natural and Organic Ingredients
Most of the time, growing mixes mainly consist of natural ingredients like sphagnum peat moss, compost, and other elements. However, there is a difference between natural and organic ingredients.
Organic growing mixes include ingredients sourced only from chemical-free sources and do not contain synthetic components.
Various gardeners prefer organic potting mix for their plants as it is sustainably produced and can help them produce much healthier plants.
So, you can consider getting a growing mix that contains organic ingredients.
Coconut Coir
The fibrous husk harvested from coconuts is known as coconut coir. It is commonly found in soil mixes and can also help grow a snake plant as it would not compact and thus helps aerate the soil.
Besides this, this element drains pretty well and even swells when the plant is watered, ensuring that the plant gradually gets moisture without making the soil soggy.
Moreover, this allows you to water your snake plant less frequently. Also, since this fibrous husk is biodegradable, it can eventually improve the quality of the soil as it gradually degrades.
Coconut coir does not offer any nutritional benefits as a snake plant would need.
However, in combination with all the other components, this can help the plant’s overall growth.
Drainage Layer
Being an indoor plant, a Snake plant requires adequate drainage as it might not always get proper sunlight.
Thus, you need to have a suitable drainage layer for your snake plant rather than just using the right soil mix.
What Kind of Pot is Best for Snake Plants?
A terracotta pot is suitable for snake plants as it would not trap water. Also, consider selecting a pot that comes with a saucer that collects any excess water.
Having a saucer will help you efficiently dump the excess water so your plant gets only the amount of moisture it needs.
Other than this, it would be best to consider getting a pot with at least one drainage hole. You can also add a layer of gravel to the bottom of the pot; further improving the drainage will also ensure that the pot does not get clogged, making the soil soggy.
Also, it is essential to note that snake plants prefer growing slightly tight in their pots.
Besides this, you should avoid getting deep pots as they have more soil mass at the bottom that can stay too moist and even lead to root rot.
What Kind of Ingredients Can Be Added to a Snake Plant Potting Mix?
Different ingredients offer different benefits. Thus, it is essential to identify the issue before adjusting to your soil mix. For instance, if drainage issues occur, you can pumice, clay pebbles, or perlite.
These ingredients will improve drainage, enable aeration, and even avoid sogginess.
And if you think that your mix needs more nutrients, you can add a small amount of rich potting soil to bring in more nutrients to your existing potting soil.
As a gardener, you would know your plant better. So you will be able to know what your plant needs precisely. And then, you can make specific tweaks in the recipe and offer your snake plant its ideal potting mix.
However, coffee grounds should be used cautiously and not be spread directly on the surface as they can be too strong for the plant, which can lead to issues like fungus, pests, and stunted growth.
Mixing the coffee ground organic matter to form a rich compost that will attract microorganisms that can benefit the soil and the plant.
FAQs about Snake Plants
Conclusion on The Best Soil for Sansevieria (Snake Plant)
Growing snake plants is relatively easy; however, these tips can help you get extraordinary results. We hope this information will help you grow your snake plant to its maximum potential and enjoy those lush, green, and fleshy leaves.
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