Love your snake plant and don’t want to trim it due to a lack of space? Here are some ways you can style your snake plant to fit in tight corners!
The snake plant, every gardener’s favorite, is famous for its tall, sword-like leaves. But in small apartments or compact rooms, fitting it in can be a real puzzle. Instead of cutting it down to size, try these tricks to let it shine even in cramped spaces.
How to Style a Snake Plant to Fit in Tight Corners Without Cutting Leaves
1. Choose the Right Variety
No two snake plant varieties are alike. They display different color palettes, sizes, and forms. That makes it obvious that particular species or varieties will have a more linear form than others. This makes it easier for them to grow vertically in tight corners.
For example, Dracaena ‘Laurentii,’ Dracaena ‘Cylindrica,’ and Dracaena ‘Moonshine’ tend to have a more columnar form, perfect for our case!
2. Use Plant Stands or Specific Platforms
When you don’t get space, you have to make it! In a cramped corner, use a specifically designed plant stand, stool, or any other apparatus that places your snake plant on a pedestal, creating more space. You won’t have to cut off any leaves and you’ll also put visual emphasis on your plant!
3. Manipulate using Sunlight
Did you know that plants lean towards the source of light? This trait is called phototropism. You can use it to your advantage to help manipulate your snake plant’s form and prevent it from pressing against the corner walls.
Arrange reflective surfaces such as mirrors at an angle so that your succulent slightly bends towards them and therefore away from the wall.
Note: Ensure that the lean is not too much, as this will hamper the overall health of the plant.
4. Pot Shape and Size Matter
In most cases, the wider the pot, the more your snake plant is allowed to spread. So why not constrain its growth area by using a narrow pot? This will ensure that there is emphasis on only vertical growth and not horizontal. You can easily place the slender pot and subsequently the snake plant in any corner without cutting out excess foliage.
5. Train your Plant to Stay Upright
If you thought only climbers and trailing vines could be trained, you are mistaken! By erecting trellises, using plant ties and ring collars, you can force the plant to grow in the shape of your choice. Simply attach the base of the leaves to an upright trellis with plant ties, and it will adapt the shape of its frame! Plant collars are like mini cages that prevent the plant from spreading unnaturally.
6. Use an Angled Platform
This hack is simple and effective! You don’t have to do much; simply place your snake plant pot on an angled platform away from the corner (which can be created by a leaning book), and the plant will not press against the walls again!
Note: Make sure that the tilt is minimal, as it can lead to pooling of water on one side of the pot.
7. Surround with Plant-Friendly Barriers
Too much space in a pot gives your snake plant freedom to fan out, and therefore makes it unsuitable for tight corners. You will have to fill up the excess space to create a natural boundary. For this, you can use pebbles, moss, or coir. Not only does it keep your plant narrow, but it also improves the overall stability of the plant.
8. Use the Wall
Finally, if you can’t beat it, join it! In our case, if the wall isn’t giving your snake plant enough room to grow, you can use floating platforms to place your snake plant on. This creative solution not only solves the problem but is also visually appealing.
Using shelves, removable planks of wood, or hook containers are all great ways to tackle the lack of space!
Now that you can grow your favorite succulent without cutting its leaves even in the tiniest of corners, tell us which other plants are giving you a headache so that we can make a dedicated article for them!
