Get your Sansevieria to rise like the phoenix! Here’s how to grow a snake plant so tall that it touches the ceiling!
Dracaena trifasciata refusing to grow taller? It might seem like you are taking good care of it, but your plant might be feeling otherwise. Snake plants can survive anywhere, but they will not thrive or grow taller unless the conditions are exactly right. So, here’s how to grow a snake plant tall enough to tickle the ceiling!
Ways To Make Your Snake Plant Grow Tall
1. Stick Your Plant at the Brightest Spot
Your snake plant is practically a green celebrity, so of course, it craves the spotlight! Despite its reputation for surviving in low light, don’t fall for the myth—you’ll see very little growth if you leave it in the darkest corners of your home.
For a tall, thriving snake plant, place it near an east or south-facing window, and it won’t even need sunscreen! Snake plants love basking in a couple of hours of direct sunlight, which will naturally lead to the most luscious, tall growth you can achieve with this plant. In case you don’t have a window, supplemental LED grow lights will also work like a charm.
Also, avoid moving your snake plant around too often. Once it finds a cozy bright spot, constant relocation can confuse the plant and stunt its upward growth.
Note: If the afternoon sun is too harsh, hang a sheer curtain over the window to avoid scorching the leaves. Also, give your plant a quarter-turn every week so all sides get equal love.
2. Use a Good Soil Mix
Have you ever noticed how the root systems of snake plants are so small, even though the plant itself is big? This fact alone makes it very important to use a good soil mix. Now, what does that mean? First of all, the soil should be light and well-draining, meaning steer away from heavy, clay-like soils. These tend to hold in more moisture, increasing the chances of root rot.
For a DIY snake plant mix, you could combine chunky pieces of bark and perlite in regular potting mix. You could also opt for commercial potting mix, specifically designed for cacti and succulents.
And avoid peat-based mixes unless you’re sure the plant dries out completely between waterings. Peat tends to compact over time, choking the roots and limiting upward growth.
3. Use Water From the Fish Tank
Got an aquarium at home? Don’t pour that tank water down the drain next time! It’s loaded with organic nutrients from fish food and waste—basically liquid gold for your snake plants.
So, if you want to grow them super tall, feed your snake plants with fish tank water once or twice in the growing season and watch them take off!
If you do not have access to fish tank water, you must still fertilize them regularly. Granted, they are not heavy feeders, but a balanced liquid fertilizer during spring and summer can do a lot for their growth.
4. Keep the Leaves Clean
If you want your snake plant to reach new heights, then keep those leaves squeaky clean! If you let it sit untouched for weeks, it’ll collect dust, grime, and even that odd white powder. Not only does it look messy, but it also blocks light and slows down growth.
So, what you can do is take your snake plant pot outdoors and give it a good hose down. But won’t this lead to root rot or soil saturation? The answer is no! It’s actually not the amount of water that you give your plants, but the frequency. They do like to be watered deeply but very infrequently. And this step serves exactly this purpose!
As long as the excess water drains well and you wait for the soil to dry before the next watering, you’re golden.
5. Divide your Snake Plants
This is the best tip you can use to not only make your snake plant taller but also make it look bushier. You can follow this tip especially if you have a larger collection of snake plants. Gently pull them out of their pots and separate a snake with three or four tall leaves and a portion of the roots. Do the same for all the individual plants you have.
Plant all of these divided sections in a new pot, keeping a two-inch gap between each. This will give them room to grow. As mentioned before, you should be using a good soil mix and also choose a pot that is about an inch or two larger in diameter than all of the sections collectively. You’ll be able to see great results in no time!
So, there you go—your complete guide to growing a snake plant that can practically reach the ceiling. Give these tips a go, and don’t forget to tell us in the comments just how tall your green buddy grows!
