How to Propagate Snake Plant at Home?

Once you get obsessed with Snake Plant, there is no doubt that you need more of them around your house and in your life, and what better way than propagating them at home.

The good news is that you don’t have to buy new snake plants and spend your hard-earned money.

Meanwhile, you can propagate new plants from cuttings as I did.

I even gifted one of them to my friend who was working remotely. He had never been so happy with the blend of work and some greenery on his desk.

Houseplants like snake plants, or sansevieria, are one of the most common and easy houseplants that can be propagated in water, soil, and through rhizome and division at home with little love and effort.

The best part is this beautiful plant can even survive for months without water so that you can stay months away from a home without worrying about it.

Here are some tips on growing snake plants in your home and around your friends. Once you are familiar with all of these options, you will choose one that works best for you.

• Snake plant propagation in water: You can propagate a freshly cut healthy leaf in water.
• Snake plant propagation in soil: You can place a freshly cut leaf into the ground to propagate.
• Propagation of Snake plant by division: Propagation of snake plants by division. These plants are
  easily divided in half.
• Propagation through the rhizome: Rhizomes can form new snake plants under the right
  conditions.

Let’s go through it briefly. I want you to get the results you wanted.

When is the Best Time to Propagate Snake Plant?

Snake Plant is a stemless evergreen perennial that grows mostly within its growing season, spring to summer. 

The active season is when you fertilize and water the plant for it to have good growth.

During the active growth period, root generation is vigorous, and the cut ends readily develop roots.

This enables the plant to have a better chance of growth and establishment.

Step-by-Step Guide to Propagate Snake Plant

Snake plants are easy to propagate the plant, but not every Snake plant is easily available in the market. 

Even for those available, the price nearly gives you a stroke. 

Snake plant propagation in water

Root cuttings in water are the easiest but most prolonged method of propagating snake plants. That’s why you must have patience.

If you have some wonky leaves you want to snip off, this method is a great use.

Furthermore, if you ever had an idea of how the plant should look, you’re optimistic. The extra leftover leaves can be of great help.

Materials you will Need

• Sharp knife or scissors for cutting,
• Heavy glass, a jar or vase
• Water
• Rooting Hormone (optional)

Prune the leaf you wish to propagate with a sharp knife or scissors near the soil. Be careful; a cleaner and more brilliant cut will yield better results.

You may also add a Rooting hormone which helps to develop roots quickly. Now, cover about 25% of the bottom portion of the leaf inside the jar.

If your snake plant leaves are large, you can cut them into sections and place each of them into water.

Do not forget; you should keep the edge of these leaves in the same orientation as when it was in the soil.

These leaves are highly polar and develop roots only one way from the nearest edge to the soil. That’s why you won’t get the results if you place it upside down.

If you are wondering how to cut the leaf, I have an idea. Cutting the leaf in a V shape at the bottom can help in many ways.

The cut increases the leaf’s surface area to the water, which eventually prevents friction against the vessel’s bottom. Hence, the roots grow with joy from the v-surface within about two months.

Moreover, you might get mismatched with the top and bottom. A V-shaped bottom might help you with this confusion.

As soon as the roots of the cutting sprouts, you can plant them in soil and keep them moist. Putting a little pressure on the leaf-cutting with a gentle pull will cause some resistance.

Roots are beginning to spread from the cutting! It won’t be long before new growth sprouts.

Notes:

• Generally, it would take two months for roots to sprout from your cuttings.
• Keep changing the water in your vase once a week.
• Don’t put your snake plant in direct sunlight. Your plant needs a lot of indirect sunlight.

Snake plant propagation in soil

Alternatively, you can propagate snake plants in the soil with a single leaf.

Choose the leaf you want to snip off and cut it off near the soil line with a clean and sharp scissor so that you will have more of it.

Now, cut the leaf into a couple of inches long pieces, as shown in the video.

Do not forget to cut the bottom end on V-shape. Because you need to wait a couple of days for the leaf pieces to callous over, this will keep soil bacteria from getting into the leaf and causing rot. Otherwise, it can get hard to track the bottom end of the leaf.

Finally, put the bottom end into the soil and leave the rest of the work to mother nature.

Now in a month or so, the leaf will develop some roots. However, you can’t see the progress made inside the mud, which might disappoint you. Finally, in another month, new growth will sprout.

Leaf cuttings cannot propagate a variegated snake plant. To be specific, the margins of the leaf with yellow margins lose their variegation.

To maintain variegation, propagation by rhizomes or division is needed. So, let’s go through them.

Snake Plant Propagation By Division

In general, propagation by division is the fasted way to propagate any plant simply by dividing the root mass of a plant into two or many different plants.

If you have a huge snake plant, you might like the propagation of the snake plant by division. A huge snake plant can be lovely in the living room; however, the plant stops growing. Therefore, why not take advantage of its size.

The division is the process of separating a single plant into two or more plants. Propagation by division is also the fastest way to propagate and grow the plant.

For this, gently take the entire plant out of the pot. Meanwhile, you might not like your living room covered with dirt. Simply put down some paper or do this process in your backyard.

Now, you will find out the plant is connected by rhizomes. A very large rhizome can even yield more divisions.

You may need a handsaw to cut the plant into sections as per your need. And each section must contain some good healthy leaves and roots to survive.

Do not forget; a small snake plant cannot grab attention in the living room as it did before.

Subsequently, put each separate snake plant into a fresh pot with succulent soil. Water your plants one by one, then wait until the soil has completely dried off.

Propagating Snake Plants By Rhizome

Rhizomes are underground stems that grow horizontally. Rhizomes of snake plants produce new shoots called pups, which can develop into new plants.

In case you do not see these young pups, don’t worry! You can still use the rhizome to grow snake plants.

So now slide off your snake plant out of its pot. You will see some rhizomes near the root system. They look pretty broad and white like garlic cloves.

Make a clean, sharp cut on the rhizome from the plant’s base. Ensure that the roots around the plant are not damaged. Let the rhizome callus over for a few days.

Finally, the callus might have formed. You can plant the rhizome in a brand-new vase.

Take a deep breath! Your work is over.

What To Do When you Can’t See Any growth?

You cannot see any visible growth of roots and shoots till months. You might be wondering whether the plant is dead or alive even after following the ideal procedures.

Do not forget the old proverb,’ The fruit of patience is sweet.’ You will dance with joy once you see some signs the plant is growing.

Occasionally, snake plants and their cuttings will go dormant after being transplanted. Unless you are sure that it is dead, could you not throw it away? Just be patient and make sure you provide the best conditions for your cuttings.

Unless the leaves have all turned yellow and mushy, you still have hope. If there is green on the plant, it may still be viable if you cut off the dying portions and replant them.

Growing roots beneath the soil can also prevent the plant from growing. Before you see growth above the soil, snake plant cuttings form a root system, which is essential.

You may want to check for root growth if your cuttings have been stalled for several months. Otherwise, you just have to wait.

Snake plants grow slowly. Last but not least, snake plants grow very slowly compared to many other plants.

Improper lighting and watering, poor soil conditions, and temperature can retard the plant’s normal growth rather than die.

Feel free to check the conditions of your plant if it doesn’t grow fast enough. Unless you notice new sprouts emerging out of the soil, you have not successfully propagated it.

Watching the cuttings develop roots and begin to grow into young plants is fascinating. You can grow as many new snake plants as you like.

You can buy the plant on Amazon.

Tips to Care for Snake Plant after Propagation

Your job as a plant parent doesn’t stop after propagation.

For your effort to get a positive result, you need to provide the Snake plant with some basic care. 

• Place the propagated Snake Plant in an area receiving 8-10 hours of dappled sunlight to prevent excess light that could fade the variegation. Use a grow light to suffice the light requirement on dark days.
• Maintain the temperature around the plant within 60℉-85℉. 
• Water the plant only after 1-2 inches of the top soil is dry to prevent overwatering and underwatering.
• Make sure to group your Snake Plant with another houseplant to maintain average humidity of 40-50% or get a humidifier for the same.
• Adding fertilizers to the propagated plant is not necessary, but a little dose of houseplant fertilizer or worm casting twice a year can enhance foliar growth.
• To provide an equal amount of light, rotate the pot every once in a while.