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You bought beautiful snake plants to decorate your house. Plus they’re easy to maintain. However, since then, you’re only hearing about their watering issue.
Some say that it’s not properly watered. Others say that overwatering will kill it. But no one confirms what the perfect amount is.
So you’re in a dilemma with how much water do snake plants need?
Snake plants need to be watered when the soil is dry. If it’s summer, then check the soil every 15days. If 1 inch of soil is dry, add ½ cup water for a small pot. Add 1 cup for a medium pot and 1.5 cups for a large pot. In winter water the plants once a month. And the water measurements should be the same.
So you got the answer. But the main concern for snake plants is how you water them. And that’s exactly what we described later on in the article. So be with us.
Contents
How Much Water Do Snake Plants Need?-Detailed Schedule
Snake plants are one of the low maintenance plants. They need little effort to thrive. But just like any other plant, watering is a major issue here.
Because 80% of problems related to snake plants are due to improper watering. Likewise, improper watering is the reason why Azalea leaves turn black.
But for snake plants, it’s more of a concern. Because there are no clear instructions on how much water is needed. So we came up with a watering schedule for your snake plant.
The schedule is different for both summer and winter. So let’s guide you through it.
Summer Watering Schedule
During summer, the snake plants mainly grow. It is their season to thrive. So you need to fasten the growth with extra effort.
That means you’ll need to be careful while watering them during summer. All together, snake plants need a little amount of water to grow. But comparatively the amount is higher in summer.
So before watering, check your soil. Put your finger on the soil about 1 inch deep. And see if the soil is dry. If about one inch feels completely dry, then water it. For a small pot add ½ water. For a medium pot, add 1 cup and a large pot will need 1.5 cups of water.
You can check once every 15days. If it feels dry, then add water.
Winter Watering Schedule
Unlike summer, snake plants are less of a headache in winter. So the watering schedule is a lot flexible in winter.
You need to check the soil once a month. See if the whole soil is dry or not. If it’s fully dry, only then water the plant. Add the same amount of water for winter as well.
If you’re using tap water, make sure it’s not too cold. During winter the tap water tends to be cold naturally. So don’t use it if it’s too cold. Because snake plants can’t stand cold.
So water that’s at room temperature will be fine for the plants.
How to Water Snake Plants? 2 Alternative Ways!
You know that snake plants need less watering. And we know the perfect way for it. Be with us as we describe the ways.
Way 1: Use A Glass Funnel
Take a glass funnel and fill half of it with water. We prefer medium-sized funnels with a pointy mouth.
Then just hang the funnel above the plant. Now take a cotton or jute rope. Soak it fully in water until all of it gets wet.
Then just put the rope on the hanging funnel. Attach it with a tape. But make sure that the tip of the rope is soaked in water. Then fix the funnel jar placement.
Hang it in a manner that creates an angle to the plant pot. Now stretch the rope and put it on the soil. You can put another tip of the rope inside the soil. For that insert a toothpick on the rope. Then just insert the same toothpick into the soil.
You’ll see that slowly the soil will be wet. The rope drips a drop of water every 15 seconds. After 10 minutes, look at the funnel level, see how much water has dropped.
As you know how much water your plants need. Stop it when the adequate amount reaches the roots. Now pull up the rope end from the soil. And just throw it away. Or you can save it for later use.
Now you might wonder why you have to follow this watering method. Because you can just directly pour water on the plant.
The answer is simple. If you pour water directly, there’s a high chance of water dropping on the leaves. For snake plants, it’s a big no. The leaves can’t be wet. If the leaves get wet, they’ll start rotting. That’s why we suggested a safer method.
Now there’s another way you can try.
Way 2: Use A Plastic Bottle
This method is what we need. Especially if you want to avoid the hassle of hanging a funnel. For this method, you’ll need-
- A plastic bottle
- A rope
- Driller
- Tweezer
Take any spare bottle, and drill two holes on the bottle’s belly. The gap between these holes needs to be 5-6 inches. Now pour an adequate amount of water on the bottle through the hole.
Now tie a pin with one end of the rope. Insert it into the bottle through the hole. Then use a thin tweezer to grab the pin. And just pull the pin out through the other hole.
You might need two or more tries. Then finally the other end of the rope will come off. You’ll have to attach this end to your plant pot.
Just tape the rope end to the soil. Or use the toothpick method just as before. When you see that the bottle is empty do remove it. Also, put away the rope from the soil.
So these are the two safest ways to water your snake plant. No matter which way you choose, the plant will get water.
And you’ll skip the risk of overwatering.
What to Do in Case of Overwatering?
The plant itself stores water. While planting, you’ve noticed that the roots are thick. So, when you water the plant, it reserves water in its root. Which makes the root even thicker.
Even the leaves contain a huge amount of water in themselves. So when you’re thinking that the plant might need water, they actually have enough.
Thus it needs less watering. The extra water means the plant is sucking water more than it’s needed.
And when it sucks excess water, the leaves cells get tired. As a result, it starts yellowing. So if you’ve encountered yellow leaves, the problem is overwatering. This is the same reason why your Alocasia leaves are curling.
But unlike Alocasia, snake plants gather the water on the root area. And this constant dampness damages the root growth. Then it starts to rot.
So this is how bad over-watering is for snake plants. And it’s the only way that can kill the entire plant.
So you’ve understood that overwatering is not an option. But what if you’ve already overwatered your plants?
In this case, the leaves might have started turning yellow. And it will be delicate and mushy. Eventually, the leaves will die and fall. So what you need to do is, remove the plants that are already affected.
Then uproot the plant. You’ll see extra fluffy roots. Search for rotten root strings. If you find some, just cut them off carefully with a sterilized scissor. Cutting it will ensure that the rotting doesn’t spread to the whole root.
Now just repot the plant. The reason behind repotting is, the plant is already soaked in excess water. And the previous soil is damp and wet. If the plant remains in that situation for long, it will die.
So it’s needed to transfer it in a pot with dry soil. After shifting it there, don’t water the plant for the next 15 days.
Then maintain the mentioned schedule to water them normally.
FAQs
Question: How to know if I have overwatered my snake plants?
Answer: To know that you’ll have to look for signs. See if the leaves are getting mushy. Or you might see brown or yellowish spots on the leaves. Then know that it’s due to overwatering.
Question: What to do if water splits into the leaves?
Answer: If this happens don’t panic in the first place. Just hurry up and bring a paper towel. Now put the paper towel over the water drop. And let it get soaked. Do not rub the leaves. Instead, dab and let it soak.
Question: Can I use a mist on the snake plant?
Answer: No, the mist is for tropical plants. To keep them hydrated and feel at home. But the snake plant is a desert plant. So misting it will do damage.
EndNote
You’re done knowing how much water do snake plants need. And we’re glad that you made it to the end. A round of applause for you.
If you still have queries, do let us know. We will try to reply back to you.
Thank you & best of luck.
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