The snake plant is a popular houseplant, with good reason. It’s easy to care for and it has an interesting shape that makes it perfect for display in corners or on tabletops. However, most people don’t know much about the snake plant beyond this basic information. Here are some fast facts about the light, humidity, and temperature requirements of the snake plant.
How Much Light Do Snake Plants Need?
Snake plants come from a part of the world where there is not much light. It makes sense that they prefer to live in low-light conditions, but you can give them more than this if you want (or have) and it’s for your snake plant’s own good! The best range for snake plants is bright indirect sunlight or filtered natural light. Too much direct sunlight can burn the leaves, so if your snake plant is getting too much of it lower its location in the room or put a curtain over them to filter out some of that bright sun.
Low Light Conditions
If you can’t provide snake plants with bright indirect light, then they’ll be just fine if their area is dark. You should still put them somewhere that gets a little filtered sunlight every day or two and keep the temperature between 50-75 degrees Fahrenheit during most of the year.
Medium Light Conditions
The snake plant requires less light than most plants, but they still need some. If you can’t provide it with bright indirect sunlight then be sure to keep them in an area that has filtered natural light or a few hours of artificial lighting per day.
What about bright Light Conditions?
Snake plants require as much light as they can get. If you’re able to provide them with bright indirect sunlight or filtered natural light then do so! This is the best way for your snake plant to thrive, but if this isn’t possible try and give it at least a few hours of artificial lighting per day.
How To Grow Snake Plants With Artificial Light?
If you’re not able to provide your snake plant with bright indirect sunlight or filtered natural light, then try and give them at least a few hours of artificial lighting per day. You can use fluorescent lights as well because this will help the leaves stay green even if it’s just for a little while each day.
Fluorescent Lights
Fluorescent lights are a perfect option if you don’t have access to bright indirect sunlight or filtered natural light. They will help the leaves stay green, even if it’s just for a little while each day. This is helpful because snake plants need their leaves to produce food through photosynthesis and without them they can starve!
Incandescent Lights
Incandescent lights are not recommended for snake plants because they emit infrared light that can burn leaves.
Halogen Lights
Halogen lights emit infrared light that can burn leaves and so they are not recommended for snake plants.
How Much Humidity Is Needed for Snake Plants?
The proper humidity range for a healthy and happy snake plant is between 40% and 60%. If you’re in a dry climate the best thing to do is mist your snake plant every day. You can also place them next to moist surfaces such as plants or windowsills that are near running water, but be careful about when you do this because if it’s too often they could start to rot!
How Does Humidity Affect Snake Plants?
Humidity affects snake plants by helping to keep them healthy. If you’re in a dry climate then mist your plant every day or place it near moist surfaces like windowsills next to running water, but be careful about when you do this because if done too often the leaves could rot!
Over 50% Humidity
If there is more than 50% humidity in the air, then your snake plant will likely be too wet and could start to rot.
Under 40% Humidity
If the humidity is below 40%, then your snake plant can dry out. Provide a humidifier if this happens or mist it with water daily until the situation improves.
How to Measure Humidity in Your Home
There are many ways to measure humidity in your home. We recommend using a hygrometer, though you can also use the wet and dry bulb method or even just sticking your fingers into incense!
How to Use a Humidity Reader
There are many ways to measure humidity in your home. The most accurate way is with a hygrometer, though you can also use the wet and dry bulb method or just stick your fingers into incense!
Take two different types of thermometers: one that measures general room temperature (we recommend getting an indoor/outdoor thermometer) and one that measures the relative humidity in the air.
Place both on a flat surface, ideally at eye level or higher so you can easily see them while checking for changes. Check your thermometers every day to make sure they’re not off by more than +/- 0.25 degrees Fahrenheit (or +/-0.15 Celsius). If they are, you’ll need to adjust them.
What Is the Proper Temperature for Snake Plants?
The snake plant is a tropical plant that needs moderate temperatures. The best range is between 50-75 degrees Fahrenheit year-round, but they can survive in warmer or cooler conditions as long as the temperature doesn’t go below 40 degrees Fahrenheit and stay there too often. If you live somewhere with four seasons then your snake plants will need to be brought inside for the winter if you don’t want them to freeze.
What Happens if the Snake Plant Does Not Get Enough Light?
If the snake plant does not get enough light, then it will start to produce small “pups” or shoots that are growing on the edges of its leaves. These are called Keiki and they’re an indication that your snake plant is getting too little light so you’ll want to move it into a brighter location or put curtains up near their location to filter out some of that bright sun.
What Happens if the snake plant gets too much light?
If the snake plant gets too much light, then it will stop producing new leaves and start to droop. This means that you’ll need to move them somewhere where they’re getting less sun or replace their pot with one that has more dirt in order for them to grow well again!
How to protect snake plants in extreme weather?
If you live in an area with extreme heat or cold, then it’s important to protect your snake plant. The best way to do this is by choosing a pot that has plenty of drainage holes and planting it outside during the warmer months so they can get natural sunlight! Then bring them inside for the winter if you don’t want them to freeze.
Signs Your Snake Plant Needs More Light
If the snake plant is too small, it could be because they need more light. If you’re indoors and your plants are getting 12 hours of sunlight every day but still seem to be too small or even if you live in a house that doesn’t have any windows at all then consider using grow lights! Just make sure to turn them off when you’re not home or you’ll be wasting electricity!
If the leaves start to look like they are curling inward, then it could also mean that your snake plant needs more light. This is a natural response because this type of leaf shape blocks out sunlight and helps them conserve water so if you don’t want to use grow lights then consider moving them to a brighter location.
If the leaves start to look like they are curling inward, it could also mean that your snake plant needs more light. This is a natural response because this type of leaf shape blocks out sunlight and helps them conserve water so if you don’t want to use grow lights then consider moving them to a brighter location.
Avoid Excessive Watering
It’s important to avoid overwatering your snake plant because they don’t like wet roots. If the soil in their pot is always moist then consider switching out that pot with one that has more drainage holes or place them on a tray of gravel so it can drain water into the ground instead of sitting stagnant for too long.
Place Your Snake Plant Near Windows
If you place your snake plant near a window then they’ll get more sun exposure without having to worry about them overheating. This is important because if the temperature gets too hot for your snake plant, then it will start drooping and looking sad!
It’s best to put your snake plants in an area that receives at least 12-14 hours of sunlight every day, which is about one to two hours more than the average home.
The best way to make sure your snake plant has enough light exposure is by placing it near a window where it will get plenty of natural sun! If you live in an area with four seasons then your snake plants may need different locations for winter and summer depending on how much sunlight they will receive.
Conclusion
Snake plants are popular houseplants with really interesting shapes that make them perfect for display. If you want to keep your snake plant happy and healthy, then it’s important to know how much light, humidity, and temperature they need.