Snake plants are usually known as versatile plants to grow indoors due to their ability to adapt to grow in indoor conditions. We could grow them in bathrooms, living rooms and even in bedrooms. If you ever wonder about snake plant growth rate and their growth pattern, this article is for you.
Snake plant growth cycle
Snake plant growth cycle commences from the root stage. They usually tend to resume their growth from other plant cuttings or from the roots.
General practice is to utilize pots of 3-6 inch to plant snake plants.
Next is their growth stage. They are usually renowned as a set of slow growing plants and would like to grow in pots usually.
In case your plant becomes root bound and too large, you should consider transplanting them. Indirect sunlight would be sufficient for them to grow.
They would thrive in infrequent watering conditions. Normally snake plants would rise to 4-5 feet in height.
Further if you wish to have taller snake plants, you could do that by repotting them in a new pot which is bigger about 2 inches than the older pot.
After that it will be the reproductive stage of the plants. Once they grow tall and carry a healthy plant, you could consider them to propagate ideally by leaves.
You could consider dividing the snake plant in this circumstance. You simply need to trim the leaves horizontally and segregate them into several parts.
When you do that make sure that all those sections comprise of rhizomes. Next you could plant them in pots. When selecting the pots, you could select them based on the cut sections sizes.
Then comes the flowering stage. Chances are that snake plants could bloom with white green or even yellow colors.
That will take place once they mature. It is not possible to state any specific period for their flowering.
In terms of their life span, they could usually live up to 5-10 years and chances are that they could live longer than that if you take care of them well.
There are some exceptional types of snake plants which could last for more than two decades.
Snake plant growth rate
Snake plants are known as slow growing plants. When it is in their growing season, they tend to grow about 2-3 fresh leaves.
On the other hand, it will go dormant in fall and in winter seasons. The plant species could impact on the growth rate of the snake plants.
Apart from that, light, humidity and the temperature could also contribute to the growth rates of the snake plants.
Once you could supply all its growing conditions, they tend to grow faster whilst growing vigorously. You only need to make sure that you fulfill its nutrients requirements and the rest of other basic requirements.
Factors responsible for snake plant growth
Light
In terms of providing a proper level of sunlight for snake plants, they would love to grow in bright indirect sunlight.
Having said that they could also thrive in partial sunlight and in shade also. You should not expose them to direct bright sunlight though.
Although they can survive in low sunlight, it is necessary that you provide it with at least a moderate level of sunlight. Unless it will not be possible for the snake plants to bloom.
Water
You need to ensure that soil is entirely withered before watering them.
To do that you could simply observe the soil surface whether it is dry or damp. In case you water these plants when the soil is in moist it could lead to over watering issues and consequently there will be repercussions such as root rots.
In case the soil is damp, you need to wait for another couple of days. Furthermore, Grow them in a well-draining soil mix so that excess water could could move through faster.
Do not keep the plant to stand in water and you should always empty the water which is getting collected in the tray.
It could go waterless for about three weeks usually and you should water the snake plants about once a month during wintertime.
They can conserve water in their leaves, and you should avoid over watering them as it could badly impact on the plant’s wellbeing.
Soil
When it comes to providing a proper soil mix, it is very important as it could allow the plant to thrive well. it has to be a well-draining potting mix.
You could alternatively use a cactus soil mix in the same ratio too. You could provide some additional nutrients to the soil mix by applying some compost to the medium.
When you add the cactus soil to the potting soil, it has to be in a 1:1 ratio while the compost should be around 25 %.
Fertilizer
Snake plants do not depend a lot on fertilizers. However, it is essential to feed them occasionally as it would help them to grow well. Having said that, you need to avoid over fertilizing them too.
You could either use chemical fertilizers or organic fertilizers. Usually, the three main nutrients a fertilizer should contain are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
You could use a balanced houseplant fertilizer for them and that means there will be the same percentage of these three macronutrients included in the fertilizer.
You should go for a 10-10-10 or 20-20-20 strength fertilizer.
If you feed them a couple of times a year, it will tend to grow well. During spring you could feed them once and feed them once again in summer.
When it is fall, you could reduce feeding them from about 50%. On the other hand, you should skip feeding them in winter as it will be their dormancy period.
In case you have over fertilized your plant, you could see unusual colored tips of the leaves along with the withering of the plant.
In addition to that, there will be drooping leaves also and finally they will end up dropping their leaves on the ground.
Season
Snake plants have a particular season to grow and during that period you could spot how well it grows. It usually falls in the Spring to Summer seasons.
With proper watering and proper feeding, it will thrive well. they would rise to 3 feet generally. That could vary on the snake plant species though.
When it is winter, they terminate their growth and will be in relaxing mode. As such do not feed them in winter as they do not consume their energy during this period.
Snake plant growth zone
Snake plant is a plant which usually grows in tropical conditions and survives in low levels of light. They could thrive in winter conditions only in USDA zones 9-11.
Other than that if you live in a different zone and if you wish to grow it, you could grow it as an indoor plant for most of the time except during summer where you can shift it outdoors.
Different snake plant growth rate
Cylindrical snake plant growth rate
Cylindrical snake plants are usually known as slow growing plants. They usually grow upward along with stiff leaves which could be about 4 inches in length and 01 foot in width.
Their leaves tend to grow in a circular way. Those leaves would be about 1 inch thick. Those leaves taper to grow in a pointed way.
Further, their leaves would comprise shallow channels which would run from bottom of the plant to the tip. Moreover, they would consist of crossbands of dark green too.
Given that they get all their proper growing conditions, they could usually grow up to 3 feet long along with flowers which could be about 1 inch in size.
Chances are that they could even form in an attractive spray manner if they get a proper level of sunlight.
Moonshine snake plant growth rate
These plants’ height would generally be about 2 feet. They have inherited this name due to their formation of the leaves.
You could spot their leaves in silver green color which consist of faint dark green lines on the surfaces of the leaves.
If it gets a low level of light, their leaves will tend to get a darker green color. They are known as vigorously growing plants.
Starfish snake plant growth rate
These plants are a chubby short set of plants. Their mature height would be approximately about 8 inches and they produce a spike of flowers.
They are slow growing. Their leaves would be chubby and round shaped. They tend to grow in an upward manner from the central rosette resembling a pattern of a fan.
If you fertilize them occasionally and if you provide them adequate sunlight, it will boost the growth of the plant.
Dwarf snake plant growth rate
These are tiny sets of snake plants which could rise to 4 inches to 6 inches in both height and in width. Their leaves form in a v shape.
Further they comprise red margins of the leaves too. if you look at this plant from above, you could spot it in a spiral formation due to its unique way of forming their leaves.
Chances are that you could spot some brown tips since they tend to form their new growth at the bottom of the plant and not in the top part of the plant.
You could spot their new leaves also emerging from the plant base.
How to speed up snake plant growth
You need to choose an appropriate pot, ideally a smaller pot would suit well as then they could grow rapidly. Next you could keep the plant root bound slightly.
It will stimulate the plant to produce more pups. Thirdly, you need to apply fertilizers for them. Ideally an all-purpose fertilizer which has a ratio of 10:10:10.
Moreover, you could keep it in a warm location where it can absorb an adequate level of sunlight.
Though snake plant is renowned as a plant which would thrive in low light areas, it would be better if we could place the plant in a bright sunny spot so that it would make the plant’s growth faster.
In terms of watering the snake plants, you need to bear in mind that they have naturally conserved water in their leaves and if you water them frequently and over water them, it will lead the plant to deteriorate.
There would be repercussions such as root rots and stunted growth of the plant. As such you need to wait until the soil is entirely dry from the previous watering before you water them again.
Snake plants grow kit
It is vital that you have the following equipment which would be useful when interacting with the snake plants.
- Dull knife – It will help remove the soil around the containers and to take the plant out from the container
- Pruners or shears – it would be useful if you wish to do any pruning the plant
- Gloves – it would be useful when you interact with the plants which will help you to keep the hands clean.
- Garden trowel – for digging purposes.
- Cloth, marbles, gravel, pebbles – to conceal the draining holes.
How tall snake plant grow
The general practice for the snake plants is to rise to one to four feet in height. On the other hand they could grow up to 3 inches wide.
Will snake plant grow in water
Snake plants could root in water. They form out from the rhizomes which gather and intensify once they grow..
Related question
Why snake plant not growing
If you have placed your plant somewhere in a shady place, it will impact on the growth of the plant negatively.
Consequently, they will tend to grow slowly. Moreover, when the plants go through dormancy, their growth will be slower too.
Colder temperatures would also affect the plants to slow their growth or chances are that they would not grow at all too.
When you water the plant on and off with a light watering, that would also cause the plant to grow slowly as they tend to save some resources instead of growing.
In addition to that if there are any damages to the leaf tips, that would also impact the plant to slow the growth of the plant.
Once this happens, their leaf blade would terminate its growth.
This is quite popular among the taller snake plants as they are too heavy, and chances are that they would fall over too. In case the plant lacks sufficient nutrients, that would also contribute to the plant to slow its growth.
Can snake plant grow with artificial light
Snake plants would thrive under artificial light. Having said that, these plants would prefer to grow in natural indirect sunlight.
Further, once you grow them in artificial lighting conditions, they will not grow at the same rate as they do in natural sunlight.
Can snake plant grow in sand
They could grow in sand as that will help the plant to remain straightforward.
Snake plant is somewhat heavy and once you apply some sand it will make the soil mix dense. Once the density of the soil medium is high, it will support the plant to remain upright.
Why is my snake plant turning light green?
You could spot light green leaves, which indicates they are baby leaves.
Snake plants grow wider not taller
Snake plants tend to bend towards one direction and become wider once they lack an adequate amount of water. As such it is a sign that you need to water them.
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