Dwarf Snake Plant: Everything You Need to Know!

Dwarf Snake Plants are tiny succulents almost similar in attribute to a full-sized Snake Plant.

You might be curious about what a tiny plant has in store for you. Continue reading the article for an in-depth understanding.

Overview 

Dwarf Snake Plants, native to western Africa, are gaining popularity for their adaptable nature to most conditions.

Dwarf Snake Plant Care

Care requirements of dwarf varieties are pretty similar to any regular snake plant; undemanding and easy-going.

Let’s have an in-depth about its basic requirements, shall we?

1. Sunlight and Temperature

Mini or not, Snake Plants adore 8-10 hours of bright filtered light with temperatures ranging from 55-85°F. Their light requirement may vary depending on the type.

You should place the Dwarf snake plants at the north-facing window to prevent sunburn damage due to harsh sunlight.

While excessive warmth may not do as bad, they suffer from cold drafts and dingy light.

Foliage turns darker, thinner, and etiolate under low-light conditions.

2. Water & Humidity

The Dwarf Snake Plant is drought-tolerant and thrives in low humidity, around 40-50%.

It is only suitable to water them about once every 10-12 days during the growing season after an inch of the topsoil is dry.

Bottom watering could be easier when you do not want to opt for deep and thorough watering. 

But winter demands less watering, only when the soil is completely dry. The more you drown the plants, the roots will rot, turning mushy and stinky.

The regular fingertip test, pushing the finger to an inch into the soil, checks the dryness of the soil.

And the last thing you would do during dry days is mist your snake plant. Water drop facilitates pest and fungal infection. 

Further, get a humidifier if the humidity level drops beyond 40%, and a simple dehumidifier works to gulp moist air.

3. Soil & Fertilizer 

No matter the size of your snake plant, soil and nutrient requirements for all are the same.

For mini snake plants, a slow-releasing fertilizer or standard 20-20-20 liquid fertilizer does wonder. Feed them twice a year, once in spring and again in summer.

Overfertilization leads to brown edges, discolored curling leaves, and signs of root burn.

By any chance, if you overfeed the plant, place the pot under running water and let the water drain out to help them bounce back.

While doing so, you might end up with soggy compact soil. The roots of dwarf snake plants loathe wetness as root rot follows soon after.

Further, use a succulent mix or simply DIY potting soil by mixing one-part coco coir and two-part perlite with one-part standard potting soil to favor happy roots and faster growth.

4. Potting And Repotting

Dwarf snake plants are slow growers and require repotting only after 2-3 years in normal circumstances.

Apart from the root-bound condition, water running straight down through the drain holes and compact soil are significant indications to refresh the substrate.

Many gardeners gravitate towards fancy colorful pots to use little snake plants as decoration.

However, it is essential to choose a pot a few inches bigger than the old ones with few drain holes. 

5. Occasional Pruning

Dwarf Snake Plants are already in perfect table decore size, so pruning them for height or size doesn’t quite make sense. 

Pruning the faded droopy parts make it difficult for the fungal infections to bloom. It also discourages pest invasion like aphids, thrips, and bugs.

Try using fungicide or neem oil on the infected parts. Pruning becomes mandatory when chemicals fail to halt the spread of infections and diseases.

Moreover, regular pruning encourages new growth of the plant.

Dwarf Snake Plant: All about Growth Rate

Similar to a full-sized Snake Plant, mini plants are evergreen tropical, rarely extending above a foot.

The foliage of these plants has stripped patterns of different thicknesses and shapes, resembling the appearance of an exotic snake. 

You might get lucky to witness the rare bloom varying in color from creamy white to greenish-grey to sometimes yellow. 

The flower resembles Lillies in a tiny version with some pleasant fragrance, small reddish berries, and beautiful contrast to its variegated leaves.

Toxicity of Dwarf Snake Plant

Dwarf snake plants are toxic for pets and humans when ingested due to saponin. 

Let me tell you, the numbing effect of saponin causes swelling of your tongue and throat. 

We strongly recommend you “Do Not Try” consuming any varieties of Snake Plant following random online trends.

Immediately contact the poison care hotlines or visit a vet nearby if by any means you or your pet happen to ingest the Snake Plant.

• ASPCA: (800) 426-4435
• America’s Poison Centres: (800) 222-1222

Propagation Methods for Dwarf Snake Plant

Dwarf Snake Plant can be propagated via root division or leaf cutting. Also, these little plants’ market price is not so low, so propagating Snake plants at home helps you save a little.

All you need is a garden knife or blade, and you are good to go.

1. Root Divison

This is one of the easiest methods of growing the Dwarf Snake Plant colony by separating the root clump.

• Take your Snake plant out of the pot and brush off excess soil.
• Carefully divide the mother plant’s root using a sterilized garden knife or scissors.
• Make sure that each division has roots and a few leaves intact.

• Plant them individually in a pot with a well-draining potting mix.
• New growth will start in about 2 to 3 weeks.

2. Leaf Cutting in Water/Soil

Leaf-cutting in Snake plants is very to propagating any succulents. However, you might find it a little hectic compared to root divisions.

• Cut a healthy leaf, not less than 6 inches, from near its base using a disinfected garden knife. 
• Make an inverted V-shape cut in the bottom of the leaf.
• Place the cutting in a glass of distilled water or rainwater. Avoid the use of tap water to protect the cutting from chlorine damage. 
• Instead, you can directly plant the leaf-cutting, cut side up, into a pot. Make sure to use easy-draining soil.

  

• Place the pot or water glass in a partially sunny location.
• New root growth should be visible in two months.
• Transplant the rooted leaf to a new pot.

You might find it amusing to watch the roots grow in water, but your leaves are always in rotting danger. 

Make sure to change the water weekly to prevent the ends from slimming. 

These cuttings will grow into a new plant in about three to four months under proper care. 

Dwarf Snake Plant Varieties

Dwarf Snake Plant is a collective name for all the small Snake plants, which might have your head spinning with confusion. 

With so much to choose from, here I have a list of some tiny Snake plants preferred by gardeners.

Where to buy Dwarf Snake Plant?

You can get your hands on Dwarf Snake Plant from any nursery nearby. Or you can visit the links below to order it online.