How Much Light For Snake Plants? 5 Direct Answers

The standard requirement of the light for snake plants is about 5-6 hours of indirect sunlight for their survival. That would be adequate for them to form energy for their growth.

light for snake plants

They could withstand low level of light conditions as well as medium and high level of light conditions too. 

Having said that if you expose them to a low level of light constantly it could affect them to slow the growth. 

In case you provide only low light for these plants, it could also attribute the plants to grow spindly purely because the leaves could bend towards a direction where they can absorb sunlight. 

In case you spot your snake plant has stretched, you should take necessary actions to shift to a place where they can get sunlight. 

Having said that, do not expose them to direct bright sunlight at once. Ideally you may place it somewhere closer to a window.

Light requirement of different snake plants

Moonshine snake plant

  • Moonshine snake plants would thrive in low light conditions
  • they would love to have bright sunlight along with direct sunlight for a couple of hours which would be beneficial for them.. 
  • In case it does not get its light requirement fulfilled, their growth will be slower, and chances are that it will turn dark too. 
  • If you provide it with adequate bright sunlight, you could see a rapid growth of the plant. 
  • you could spot a color enhancement in pale silver-gray green color of the plant too

Cylindrical snake plant

  • Cylindrical snake plants would thrive in low light conditions.  
  • Although they could thrive in low light conditions, they require full sunlight with bright filtered sunlight for some time too.  
  • when it comes to outdoor light requirements, they would do well in the morning sun. 
  • However, you should not expose them to direct sunlight in the afternoon. 
  • If you are growing them indoors, you could place them by a windowsill. 
  • If you expose them to intense sunlight, chances are that they could get yellow tips of the leaves. 
  • On the other hand, if they do not get sufficient light, it could contribute to subpar leaf growth.
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Starfish snake plant

  • Starfish snake plants could also thrive in low light conditions
  • On the other hand, it would perform even better with bright indirect sunlight. 
  • Having said that, do not leave your starfish snake plants in the direct sunlight as it could contribute to burning leaves.

Bird’s nest snake plant

  • Bird’s nest snake plants thrive in low light. 
  • However just like aforesaid snake plants species, these plants would also love to have bright sunlight to full shade.
  •  If you cannot fulfill their light requirement, you could spot stunted growth. 
  • They will further look less variegated too. 
  • If you wish to see a flourishing bird’s nest snake plant, best is to place your plants under indirect sunlight.

Braided snake plant

  • Braided snake plant does survive in low light conditions
  • However, they would rather love to have plenty of bright sunlight. 
  • If you do not provide adequate sunlight, they do not tend to grow well. 
  • Best is to locate by a window when you grow them indoors. 
  • In terms of providing adequate sunlight for outdoors grown braided snake plants, they would require bright sunlight along with shade in the afternoon.

Dwarf snake plant

  • Dwarf snake plant is an exceptional plant as it could thrive in any level of sunlight. 
  • Be it low light, medium light or high light or shade, they would survive. 
  • Having said that, it is crucial that you expose them to bright filtered sunlight for them to grow optimally. 
  • Once you do not provide it with adequate sunlight, they could form darker green color leaves. 
  • In addition to that, they will go through an etiolation condition too. Consequently, they would grow taller and slender too. 
  • When you are growing them indoors, you could place them closer to a window.
  • If the plants get too extreme sunlight, you should provide some shade unless you will end up getting a snake plant which has leaves with yellow margins.

Whale fin snake plant

  • Whale fin snake plant is also an exceptional plant which could survive in shade to partial sunlight to filtered sunlight areas. 
  • Avoid exposing them to extreme sunlight in general. 
  • If you have grown them indoors, they can withstand intense sunlight for some time. 
  • On the other hand, if you have grown them outdoors, best is to provide them partial sunlight. 
  • If they get low light, it will impact their growth rate and it will be somewhat slower.
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light for snake plants

Different light for snake plant

Low light

They could thrive in shade and in low light as well. That is why they are exceptional and contrary to other plants. 

Having said that, their growth rate will be somewhat slower compared to when they grow in adequate sunlight locations.

In other words, consider that you have placed a snake plant in a low light area of the office, that will not lead them to perish. 

However, they will not look pretty as they do in regular light  due to the sunlight shortage. It will not be as colorful as they generally look in proper growing conditions. 

Hence, best is not to grow them in low light areas.

Medium light

Medium light would be perfect for the snake plants. 

Precisely, snake plants would require indirect natural sunlight. If you are growing them indoors, consider growing them near a window. 

Alternatively, you may locate them in the center or even in the corner of the room so that they will not expose for direct sunlight. 

High light

Highlights would also work well with snake plants. 

They would withstand the full sunlight. On the other hand, if you expose them to direct bright sunlight,they will burn. 

Moreover, you could spot the plant becoming drooping as a repercussion of this. Considering the above, best would be to provide indirect sunlight for the snake plants.

light for snake plant3 1

Artificial light for snake plants

Fluorescent Light for snake plants

This would be the option if someone wants to provide more blue wavelengths of the light spectrum and it will help the plant to grow well. 

You may use these along with red wavelength light bulbs. Red lighting would be effective for root production. 

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You have the option of using white fluorescent tubes along with these as well.

One good thing about these lights is that they do not produce heat and you may place it near the plant. This is quite famous among the people and it doesn’t cost a lot to afford these too. 

Incandescent light for snake plants

They provide the red wavelengths of the light spectrum. 

You could utilize this along with florescent light and this will work as a supplementary light for the plants. They produce more heat than the fluorescent light though. 

As such keep them at distance from the plants.

LED light for snake plants

LED stands for light emitting diode. This is an artificial light source which generates low heat. 

This is a new addition to the artificial lighting sources and the specialty of it that you could customize it. 

They would be beneficial, if someone wishes to have an artificial light source of both blue and red wavelengths for their plants.  

Their durability is high. On the other hand, it could be costly to afford this compared to others.

Other 

Halogen lights would be useful if you want to provide a source of full light spectrum. 

Having said that, in terms of energy efficiency, they are somewhat less compared to fluorescent lights. 

Moreover, they tend to produce plenty of heat too. As such if you wish to use one of these as your source of artificial lighting, you need to establish it at a distance though.

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Does snake plant like direct sunlight?

They do not like direct sunlight. Instead, they would love to have bright indirect sunlight. 

Having said that they could survive in low light, medium light and in high light in general.

Can a snake plant survive in light?

They do survive in light. They are versatile plants as they could thrive in any level of light be it low, medium or even high. They could survive in full sunlight and in partial sunlight too. 

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About author

I’m Dr. Chamika, As a hobby love talking about plants and showing you that taking care of indoor plants. My website is knowledge I’ve learned over the years and continue to learn about growing succulents. If you’re a succulent lover, then you have come to the correct place.