Propagating A Snake Plant - Comprehensive Instructions

Knowing that you can generate new snake plants from your existing snake plant is just great. How you grow new plants indoor from existing ones is simply known as propagation. We have brought you a step-by-step guide to propagate a snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata). Here we will explore two of the many methods i.e. Division and leaf-cutting.

1. Division

It is one of the common methods used while propagating the plant. This method is mostly used in plants that produce suckers, stolons, bulbs, tubers, or rhizomes. This technique of propagation gives 100% of the result.

Materials:

1. Mature snake plants with lots of shoots and pups
2. Knife/ garden shears
3. New pot with fresh potting mix
4. Watering jar

Steps:

1. Choose mature plants with several shoots or pups growing alongside it. They later grow to be another snake plant.
2. Once you have chosen the right plant, remove the snake plant carefully from its pot without damaging its roots.
3. Start by using a knife to separate the pups from the parent plant without damaging them.
4. Let the recent cuttings dry for a day or two to allow the callus to arise. It minimizes the risk of plants rotting when you plant them back into the pots.
5. Fill a new pot with a potting mix suitable for snake plants in which the new cutting can be planted.
6. Plant the pup in the new pots with potting mix, burying them an inch deep.
7. Water the newly potted pups and keep them in the bright light.
8. Prevent over-watering by letting the soil dry. Over-watering may also lead to root rot.

2. Leaf Cuttings

Another easy way to have new snake plants in your indoor garden is leaf cuttings which can be easily done by reading the instructions thoroughly.

Materials:

1. Mature snake plant
2. Knife/ Scissors
3. A container or tray
4. Fresh potting mix
5. Watering jar

Steps:

1. Start by choosing a healthy leaf of your snake plant which you want to propagate. The leaf must be at least 2-3 inches long.
2. Cut the leaf into 2-3 inch sections with knife. Make sure to have each cut clean and straight.
3. Let the leaves to dry for two to three days which results in callus formation.
4. Place the bottom of the newly cut leaf in water covering 25% of your leaf cutting. Change the water of 2-3 times every week.
5. Once roots sprout, transfer the cutting to a container with fresh potting. Bury them about an inch deep.
6. Water the soil lightly and place the container or tray in a spot with indirect sunlight.
7. After a few weeks to a couple of  months, new shoots can be observed in the leaf cuttings.

Snake plants are slow growers, so it may take some time for newly propagated plants to reach  maturity. Provide them with care and soon you will have more snake plants in your newly started indoor garden.