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When re-potting a snake plant, you should not water it if your potting soil is moist. Wait until the moisture in the soil dies out completely before watering, as adding more water will increase the chances of root rot.
We re-pot plants to ensure their continued healthy growth. Snake plants are hardy plants and do not require much water to thrive. If you are re-potting the plant, whether to water it immediately is likely to arise. In this post, I will be helping you understand if you need to water your plants after re-potting and why it is necessary. Read on and find out.
Watering Snake Plants After Repotting
During re-potting, some plant roots are likely to be damaged. For this reason, the plant needs proper care to recover and re-establish its roots. The plant’s roots are also prone to rot and infection, and they will be just the right environment to recover from these injuries.
Under normal conditions, snake plants require little water to thrive. The potting soil you use should be just moist.
If you use the same soil the plant was growing on; there will be no need to re-water as it will still be moist.
If you are using fresh soil, you must sprinkle water evenly over the soil. You can use mulch to help the water sip well through the soil without getting the soil too wet. Remember to use a container with proper drainage to allow excess water to flow through.
The potting soil should also be well-drained. Cactus mix makes a perfect choice for snake plants. Since snake plants don’t require nutritionally rich soils since they are slow growers, you can add sand to the potting soil to boost drainage.
Remember, the plant will remain in this pot for several years before you decide to re-pot it again. For this reason, the soil choice, type of container, and ability to drain water will play a significant role in your plant’s health and ease of caring.
One of the reasons people change plant pots is to allow room for water in the soil. The soil often gets hydrophobic after being in the same pot for some time. Water runs off when watering without sipping through the soil particles for such soil. Water cannot flow through the soil particles because they are too compact, with few air spaces.
If you intend to use the same soil for your plants, you must let the soil sit in a bucket of water until the soil absorbs sufficient water. When re-potting, freeing the plant roots from the soil particles becomes easier.
Snake plants are slow growers, and it may take up to 5years before your plants require a different-sized pot. This time is long enough for the soil to become hydrophobic and exhaust the mineral content.
If you are re-potting the plant after five years, you may consider using fresh soil.
Read this post and learn the difference between potting soil, topsoil, and garden soil.
When re-potting the plant, it is best to moisten the soil first instead of watering it after re-potting. However, watering is essential to help the soil settle in and around the new pot if you are re-potting the plant using dry soil.
Water the plant until water runs through the drainage holes at the bottom. Also, don’t let water remain sitting in the plant pot. Snake plants are used to dry environments, and giving the plant little water is always better than risk overwatering it and killing it through root rot.
Whether you use moist potting or dry soil and water the plant later, you need to resist watering the plant again until the soil is parched. Depending on the environmental conditions, you might have to wait two or more weeks before giving your re-potted plant water.
Also, read, How tall do snake plants get? Can I control it?
How Soon Do You Re-water a Repotted Snake Plant?
During this period, the plant roots are still healing from transplantation. Also, for these rots to establish in the new pot, they require a more dry ground. When you allow some time before re-watering the plant, you also help the roots go more profound as they seek water at the bottom of the pot.
The period it takes for you to give water to snake plants after re-potting depends on the moisture levels in the soil. Environmental factors such as temperature, exposure to direct sunlight, and humidity affect how soon the soil dries out.
Only water your snake plants two inches deep when the soil is dried. How do you know if the snake plant needs water? You can try to feel the soil particles’ dryness with your fingers. Resist watering the plant if there is still some moisture in the soil.
If the soil is dried, your snake plant is thirsty, and it is time to give it water. When watering the plant, you must ensure the soil is evenly wet. Also, keep pouring on the water until it runs through the draining holes at the bottom, and don’t allow any excess water to remain in the container.
You should stop watering the plant if you realize water rises an inch above the soil and allow the soil to absorb the soil for 30 minutes before pouring the excess water into the growing pot. If your plant is overwatered, it will likely develop a yellowish or brownish color on its foliage and wilt.
Pour water directly into the soil and avoid moistening the leaves. Snake plants are desert plants and don’t appreciate too much moisture on their leaves. Pouring water on the plant leaves can lead to problems associated with overwatering.
Whenever there is excess moisture on the plant’s leaves, they will begin turning yellow and mushy at the base. There is no way of reviving such leaves; you can only remove them from the plant by cutting them from the base.
Remember, you are trying to provide the plants with the same environment as their natural habitat.
Please do not wait long before re-watering the plant, as it may kill the newly re-potted plant. Even though they are used to a dry environment, remember the plant is still healing and trying to set in the new environment, and it needs water for this to happen.
If you deny water for too long, it will not carry out the necessary metabolic processes. Water is also essential in thermoregulation, the manufacture of food, and the transportation of nutrients, among other functions. Without water, the plant will not heal and is at a high risk of death.
Many snake and other plants die after re-potting due to root damage and lack of proper care, especially in the watering schedule.
Also read, How do you get snake plants to flower
Watering a Repotted Plant
| Do’s | Don’ts |
| Use moist soil when re-potting snake plants or water the plant to ensure the soil is just moist. | Avoid overwatering the plant and drain out excess water |
| After a re-potting, wait for the soil to dry out entirely before re-watering | Avoid watering the plant again when there is still moisture on an inch or two deep in the soil |
| Always use your fingers to test the dryness of the soil before re-watering | Avoid spraying water on the leaves as you water the plant |
| Always pour water directly on the soil until the soil is evenly wet and water drains out through the drainage holes | Do not wait too long before re-watering the plant |
| Keep checking the soil condition to see if your re-potted plant needs water. | Avoid re-potting snake plants using hydrophobic soil when re-potting snake plants. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do snake plants give oxygen at night?
Unlike other plants, the Snake Plant produces oxygen at night, converting carbon dioxide with its long broad leaves into fresh, breathable air. It is best known for producing the highest oxygen among all houseplants.
How much air does a snake plant clean?
The NASA study shows that snake plant (Mother-in-Law’s Tongue) removed 52.6 percent in a sealed chamber. The initial p/m was 0.156, which was reduced to 0.074 p/m in the final reading after 24 hours.
How many snake plants do I need?
6-8 plants are needed per person to survive without airflow (meaning you could live in an entirely air-sealed room if you had these plants). The snake plant also removes formaldehyde from the air.
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.
Where do you place a snake plant for good luck?
According to Feng Shui principles, a snake plant can go in your home office to help improve your ability to concentrate and stay productive, known as the Wen Chang area. You can place the snake plant in your office, on your desk, on a windowsill, or on a bookshelf.
Conclusion
The way you water a snake plant after re-potting is critical to the plant’s survival. You must avoid overwatering if you want your plant to establish and thrive in its new home. The plant’s potting soil should be moist without any excess moisture.
You can moisten the soil before putting it in the growing pot or dry it and water it afterward. Never allow excess water to remain in the growing pot, and avoid misting or spraying the plant leaves with water. You don’t want to lose your newly re-potted plant to overwatering.
