Sansevieria, popularly known as the snake plant or mother-in-law’s tongue, is a stunning and hardy houseplant adored for its sword-like leaves and air-purifying qualities.
Over time, snake plants can become root-bound or outgrow their pots, and propagation offers a way to refresh and rejuvenate them.
Plus, propagating is a fun and sustainable way to share your love of greenery with friends and family.
3 Methods to Propagate Sansevieria
1. Division
Division is the easiest method and provides instant results. This is ideal for mature snake plants that have multiple clumps or have become overcrowded in their pots.
How to Propagate by Division:
- Firstly, you gently remove the snake plant from its pot and shake off the soil to expose the roots.
- Now, you need to identify natural separations in the plant, where the leaves and roots form distinct clusters.
- Use a clean, sharp knife or pruning shears to separate these sections, ensuring each division has at least one healthy root and leaf cluster.
- Next, repot each division into a fresh pot with well-draining soil.
2. Leaf Cuttings
Leaf cuttings are a versatile method that allows you to propagate multiple plants from a single leaf. This approach takes more time but is perfect if you want to maximize your propagation efforts.
Propagating in Soil:
- First, you choose a healthy, mature leaf and cut it near the base using a clean knife.
- Divide the leaf into 4–6-inch sections, ensuring you remember which end is the bottom (the end that was closer to the roots).
- Next, let the cuttings dry for 1–2 days to form calluses, which help prevent rot.
- Finally, you plant the cuttings upright in well-draining soil, burying the bottom inch of each cutting.
3. Rhizome Propagation
Sansevieria grows from underground rhizomes, thick structures that produce new shoots or “pups.” Propagating from rhizomes is effective and works well for plants with lots of new growth.
How to Propagate from Rhizomes:
- Firstly, you carefully remove the plant from its pot and clean the soil off the roots to expose the rhizomes.
- Locate rhizomes with visible pups or small offshoots.
- Now you use a clean knife to cut the rhizomes into sections, ensuring each piece has roots and at least one shoot.
- Plant the rhizome sections in fresh soil, with the pup or shoot above the surface.
Caring for Newly Propagated Sansevieria
After propagating your snake plant, you need to place your plants in bright, indirect light. Direct sunlight can scorch the leaves, while low light slows growth.
In addition, allow the soil to dry out between waterings. Feed your plants with a balanced houseplant fertilizer during the growing season (spring and summer) to encourage healthy growth.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
If you’re using leaf cuttings, planting the wrong end will prevent root growth. Always plant the bottom end. Besides, ailing to let cuttings dry before planting can lead to rot.
While snake plants tolerate low light, new cuttings need bright, indirect light to grow roots.
