Repotting Snake Plants: The Mix To Use & How To Do It
Like all other plants, repotting Snake Plants is essential for ensuring their health and vitality. In this guide, I’ll explain the steps, the best soil mix to use, the ideal time to repot your Snake Plant, aftercare, and answer FAQs.
I love Snake Plants and have several thriving indoors and outdoors at my Arizona desert home. Their spiky, patterned foliage is fascinating. Plus, they’re low-maintenance and thrive with minimal attention!
Note: This post was published in 2017. It was updated on 1/28/2021 & again on 7/11/2024.
What are Snake Plants?
Snake Plants are among the most popular houseplants worldwide due to their resilience and spiky architectural look. Despite being tropical plants, they thrive in dry air and lower to moderate light conditions. With numerous species and varieties available, you can find Snake Plants in various sizes, forms, and leaf variegations.
Botanic Name: Dracaena (formerly Sansevieria) spp Common Names: Snake Plant, Mother-In-Law’s Tongue, Snake’s Tongue Plant
When is the Best Time to Repot Snake Plants
The best time is during the growing season, which is early spring through early fall, depending on your zone. Snake Plants don’t mind being potbound, so there is no need to repot yours unless it’s showing signs of stress or outgrowing the pot. Mature Snake Plants have strong roots and can split open grow pots.
Best Potting Soil for Snake Plants
At some point, your plant will appreciate a fresh soil mix. Snake Plants prefer to be kept dry, so the mix they’re planted in must drain freely. You don’t want it to hold too much water, which can lead to root rot.
That’s why I add the succulent and cactus mix to the recipe below: It’s chunky, well-aerated, and yields good drainage. I also toss in a few handfuls of organic compost as I’m planting and a 1/2″ layer topping of the worm compost. Both of these add nourishment and break down slowly.
The Soil Mix “Recipe” I Use
2/3 Potting Soil.
I alternate between Happy Frog and Ocean Forest, and sometimes, I combine them. Both are full of high-quality ingredients. Make sure the potting soil you use says it’s formulated for indoor plants on the bag.
1/3 Succulent & Cactus Mix.
I use this DIY succulent and cactus mix (this has coco chips in it) for added drainage. If you prefer a store-bought mix, this post on Succulent Soil has good options for you.
Compost.
A couple of handfuls of organic compost (more or less depending on the size of the plant).I use a local compost. This, like worm compost, enriches the soil naturally.
Worm Compost.
Worm compost is my favorite amendment, but I use it sparingly because it’s rich. You can learn more about why I use worm compost here.
The mix I used for my 5′ Snake Plant differed slightly because it went into a large 18″ pot. You can read about that Here.
Three alternate mixes that provide a fast-draining soil:
- 2/3 potting soil, 1/3 or perlite
- or 2/3 potting soil, 1/3 pumice
- or 2/3 potting soil, 1/3 clay pebbles
The pumice, perlite, and clay pebbles increase the drainage factor, enable aeration, and help prevent the soil from getting too wet.
If you’re interested in any of the above materials, you can find more details and links to buy them in Best Soil For Indoor Plants.
What Size Pot Should I Use?
They prefer to grow slightly tight in their pots. When I repot a Snake Plant, I go up one pot size. For instance, if yours is in a 6″ grow pot, then an 8″ pot would be the size you’d want to use.
Here’s an exception. When I repotted my 6′ Snake Plant, it was in a 10″ grow pot, and I repotted it into an 18″ grow pot. I used this larger pot because it was proportionate to the size of the plant
Because Sansevierias like to spread out as they grow, I’ve found that they don’t need a deep pot. A deep pot has more soil mass at the bottom, which could lead to water retention, which leads to root rot.
Whatever size you use, make sure the bottom of the pot has drainage holes so the excess water can readily flow out.
Repotting Snake Plants, Step By Step
Good to know: A Snake Plant’s roots are tough, so you don’t have to be too precious when handling the rootball.
Gather your soil mix materials. Sometimes, I mix them up ahead, and other times, I mix them in the pot as I go along.
Loosen the plant from its current pot. If the rootball is stubborn and not readily coming out, I either gently press on the grow pot or run a dull knife around the perimeter. Both ways are clearly shown in the video.
Once the entire plant is out of the pot, measure how much soil mix you’ll need to raise the top of the root ball to about 1/2″ above the rim of the new pot. The weight of the plant will eventually pull it down in the light mix. Then, add the new soil mix.
Place the plant in the pot and fill in around the sides with the mix.
Top with a thin layer of worm compost and/or compost.
This guide outlines Snake Plant Care and will help if you’re a beginning gardener.
Can Snake Plants Be Divided?
Yes, I’ve successfully divided numerous Snake Plants. Their root balls are quite resilient. For larger plants, I use a sharp knife to split the root ball into the desired number of segments.
Snake Plant Care After Repotting
After the repotting process, I place the Snake Plants back in their original growing spot. They thrive in indirect sunlight, so keeping them away from hot, sunny windows that could scorch their leaves is important.
Snake Plants are succulents, which means they prefer dry conditions. To help them adjust after repotting, I refrain from watering for about 5 to 7 days. This dry period allows their roots to settle and prevents any potential rot.
Once they’ve had time to acclimate, I resume their regular watering schedule, ensuring they remain healthy.
Do Snake Plants need to be repotted? How Often Should You Repot Snake Plants?
Snake Plants don’t mind being tight in their pots. They actually do better if the root system is a bit pot-bound. I’ve seen quite a few root-bound plants actually break their grow pots, and they’re growing just fine. Of course, a bigger pot would be appreciated!
I have a few Snake Plants I haven’t repotted for over five years. Don’t rush to repot yours unless it looks stressed or has cracked the grow pot.
Repotting Snake Plants Video Guide
Repotting Snake Plant FAQs
Houseplants appreciate fresh soil at some point. Snake Plants like a chunky soil mix that drains freely and is well aerated. They store water in their rhizomes and thick leaves, so you don’t want the soil to stay consistently wet. I always use potting soil combined with succulent potting mix.
I wouldn’t recommend using straight potting soil because it could be too heavy and hold too much water. You want to use a well-draining soil mix. Add pumice, perlite, or pebbles to up the ante on drainage and aeration. See the “Soil” section for more details on these amendments.
If the grow pot is cracked, that’s one sign it needs repotting. Generally, I repot my Snake Plants every 4-6 years.
Snake Plants do fine growing tight in their pots. At some point, they’ll appreciate a bigger pot, which gives the rhizomes more room to spread.
No. Their rhizomes spread out rather than grow deep. A deep pot means more soil mass, which can cause the root ball to stay too wet.
Some, like the Bird’s Nest varieties, do just fine in smaller pots. As the taller species and varieties grow, they’ll need larger pots.
When repotting a snake plant, a general rule of thumb is to go up one pot size to avoid an excess of soil mass. I often use azalea pots because they have a lower profile and provide better drainage.
Conclusion: If you’re new to houseplant gardening, repotting Snake Plants might seem daunting, but with the right approach, it’s a straightforward process that can invigorate your plants and encourage healthy growth. Your Snake Plants will thrive in their new pots if you follow these steps and pay attention to their sunlight and watering needs.
Happy gardening!
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Nell, the founder of Joy Us garden, was born into a gardening family and grew up in Connecticut’s countryside. After living in Boston, New York, San Francisco, & Santa Barbara, she now calls the Arizona desert home. She studied horticulture & garden design, working in the field all her life. Nell is a gardener, designer, blogger, Youtube creator, & author. She’s been gardening for a very long time & wants to share what she’s learned with you.
I have a snake plant that I want to make into 2 plants, what is the best way to do that? Also, if I’m just goi going to use potting soil and cactus soil what would be the ratio I would need to use? Thanks
Hi Nell!
I am new to indoor plants. I recently bought golden pothos and spider plant for my living room . I used the readymade soil which was specially designed for indoor plants . I want to keep snake plant in my small bathroom , because it doesn’t need much water and can survive in dark with less sunlight. My question is should I just use the same soil which is specially made for indoor plants or should I have to do all the mixes you showed in the video.
I had used ” miracle grow indoor potting mix ”
Thanks
Zara
Hi Kimberly – I either gently cut or pull them apart. Sometimes you can start by making a cut & them pull them apart, depending on how tight the rootball is. I use approximately 1/2 ps to 1/2 S & c mix. Nell
Hi Jason – I’ve never used that mix before. I know it’s supposed to prevent both under or over watering but don’t know how it works with plants which like to be kept drier. You could always buy a small bag of succulent & cactus mix & try it 1/2 & 1/2. Nell
Hi Zara – Welcome to the world of houseplants! You can use potting soil but you might want to buy a small bag of perlite or pumice & add a bit of that in to facilitate drainage. With potting soil, you have to be very careful not to over water, especially with the Snake Plant in lower light. Nell
I only have 1 snake plant so what soil mixes would work for only 1 small house plant to be repotted. I don’t want to buy large bags that will dry out and have to throw away…your help is greatly appreciated…
Hi Shar – If only 1 small plant, I’d use succulent & cactus mix. You can find that in a small bag. Nell
I adore your content! I’m an AZ beginner plant momma myself and your content really helps me out!
Question for a large snake plant indoors… hope in the world do you find a nice pot that would be appropriate in size and drainage for indoors? I have one about the size maybe bigger than your bigger one you did.. help please!
Hi Chelsea! I’ve found some resin/plastic pots at HD & Lowe’s which are big & not expensive. This way, they’re easy to move around. And, I always paint them. Try Homegoods too. Nell
Hi Nell! Thanks for the video. 🙂
I bought my first Sansevieria Laurentii 6 years ago. I separated it yesterday and repotted each half into a new pot. One in their new homes, I watered them until the water drained into the saucer. Is this okay? I used a combo of pitting mix and succulent mix.
I noticed one of the leaves on one plant has a horizontal crack, almost through and through, on one of the long leaves— should I just cut it? Leave it? It droops.
Thank you 🙂