Need a quick fix in your decor?
Or would you like to increase your indoor air quality?
How about reducing airborne allergies and cancer-causing pollutants? Sounds important right?
Well, the Snake Plant does it all. This little plant has so many benefits that we created 6 key areas in which it will improve your home or office environment. Plus we curated the best advice on how to use your Snake plant, from keeping it healthy to pro decor tips.
What is a Snake Plant?
The Snake plant, scientifically known as Sansevieria Trifasciata, has a much more funny name originating from Asian culture where it is commonly referred to as the ‘Mother-in-law’s tongue’.
Appearance
This plant has strong sword-like leaves that extend upwards in a show of strength and beautiful power. In Asian culture, colloquially, the leaves represent the strength of the mother-in-law, hence the name.
Folk law
Most of the original folk law comes from ancient Asian societies and traditions that considered the Snake Plant to be an ideal plant in the fight against evil spirits and negative Chi.
Modern benefits
Nowadays, the Snake Plant has much more power than anyone expected!
Snake plant medicinal benefits include removing indoor air pollutants (such as formaldehyde and benzene) and helping to filter out impurities such as xylene, trichloroethylene, toluene, and ammonia. The snake plant can remove up to 87% of these harmful toxins at night. It can also reduce the level of nitrate ions. According to NASA research, snake plants can improve indoor air quality and remove toxins in small or medium-sized areas.
Unlike other houseplants, the Snake plant continues to convert indoor air into usable oxygen at night! Overall this means the medicinal benefits from a snake plant are top tier and not to be ignored.
In this article, we will delve deeper into the Snake Plant’s incredible ability to reduce indoor air pollution, make impactful changes to your decor, and how to keep it healthy both indoors and in your garden.
1. Excellent for decoration
No one can deny the beauty of a Snake Plant. Its sword-like leaves give off a vibe of vitality. Its size, from 1 to 4 feet tall, along with the interesting pattern on its foliage can attract attention from every angle. Its aesthetic appearance makes the snake plant a natural, green sculpture for your house.
Interior design secrets
Draw attention
Interior designers have been using the Snake Plant’s natural straight lines and tall foliage to draw the gaze of onlookers upwards to other features of the room. This is particularly effective when there is a painting or mirror above that is a focal point of the room.
Well you can check out this project. Pretty sure you will be amazed with how we use snake plants and our planters to help our client!
Office Design With Jay Scotts Planters
The client was looking to find planters that would not only compliment the office space but also keep the plants healthy and not be a potential nuisance or safety hazard.
View Project
Planter arrangement
Straight lines suit a number of interior design trends including minimalism. Paired with a straight line plant pot such as our Lima Square Planter ensures that viewers are met with continuous movement as they begin to scan upwards in your room.
Reaching new heights
Like with any design that features upward lines, the Snake Plant also artificially increases the height of your room! Great for when you just need a few more meters of space to relax in!
2. Mental health booster
Like all houseplants, Snake Plants give you some mental support.
Science proves that growing a plant in your house makes you calmer and more content.
Moreover, Snake Plants produce oxygen in excessive amounts which helps improve the mood and energy of everyone in the room – great for a lifeless office!
There is also proof that caring for a plant benefits your sense of self-love and gives people a purpose, which in turn reduces anxiety and stress.
Watering your snake plant, or just simply watching it grow might be a temporary escape from your stressful and busy life.
3. Houseplant air purifier
The Snake Plant benefits are numerous and wide. In addition to mental health benefits, the Snake Plant is one of those indoor plants proved to have physical health benefits too.
Just a taste of their fantastic natural ability:
- The Snake Plant releases oxygen and will purify air around you
- Helps people with breathing problems who have airborne allergies
- Snake Plants remove toxic air pollutants and other toxins that are common in the home
- They target particularly harmful toxins such as formaldehyde and benzene
Unlike other plants, the Snake Plant produces oxygen at night. It does this by converting carbon dioxide with its wide long leaves into fresh breathable air. In fact, it is best known for producing the highest amount of oxygen among all houseplants.
This makes the Snake Plant very friendly for your bedroom. Removing carbon dioxide also improves your sleep quality at night and mental state in the day.
Besides producing fresh oxygen, the snake plant can also absorb mold and cancer-causing toxins from the air like benzene, formaldehyde, xylene, carbon monoxide, and toluene.
With outdoor air pollution kept under control by your Snake Plants, it’s very easy to relax and know you have the best environment to live in.
4. Feng shui benefits
There are many powerful plants in Feng Shui, but the Snake Plant is one of the most important.
Beliefs
The sword-like leaves resemble strength in the face of adversity, which in turn, brings wealth and fortune to the owner. That’s why many business owners in the East still use the Snake Plant today in their commercial property to boost their income.
Placement
In Feng Shui, this plant is considered to be quite aggressive, and not a good plant to place indoors. However, according to Eastern tradition, when you put your Snake Plants in a suitable place, preferably in Southeastern, Southern, and Eastern corners, its shiny foliage will protect you from negative Chi.
5. Low maintenance
The hidden benefit of a snake plant is its low-maintenance nature.
The so-called mother-in-law’s tongue can stand some neglect, this quality makes it perfect for beginners, busy owners, or those desiring indoor plant relaxation.
Most dry climate plants like the Snake Pant are drought tolerant and can survive for a long time with very little water.
The plant is highly pest resistant to common household insects like spider mites. You don’t need to worry that your plant will get sick!
Snake plant care tips
Light
The snake plant is also incredibly versatile. It can thrive in a wide range of light conditions ranging from full sun to full shade. However, it still prefers indirect light so place it in low-light areas of the house away from direct sun light.
Water
If you keep your plant in a planter, avoid overwatering it or you will risk the health of its roots.
Watering the plant once every two weeks in the hot summer, and once in 6 weeks in winter is enough for your snake plant to stay healthy.
Soil
The Snake Plant can be grown outdoors or inside as a houseplant. Because of its drought-tolerant nature, it prefers cactus potting mix or well-draining soil. This will ensure enough water loss and good drainage before further watering.
6. Easy to propagate
So you love your snake plant so much and want to continue its legacy? Don’t worry! There are two ways to do this:
How to propagate using leaf cuttings
To propagate your plant with its leaf, make sure your leaf is healthy, shiny, and not too old. Cut off the leaf, then put it in a tall container for your leaf to stand straight.
Keep the cut end of the leaf in water. You only need enough water to cover the bottom quarter of the tissues. Then place the container under indirect light.
Remember to change the water regularly. After the root develops from the leaf, you can place it in sand and take care of it normally.
How to propagate using a rhizome
Another way is to use the under-soil organs of the plant called rhizomes.
To make healthy offspring, it is recommended to have three rhizomes and one healthy leaf per new plant. After cutting them off, leave the new plant underwater for a month so that it can develop enough roots.
You can also plant the offset directly in a small pot and put it in an airtight jar. This way the new plant will grow faster.
Considering the Snake Plant benefits listed above, it is a valuable plant for your home.
Snake Plants benefit not only your health but also your decoration.
What other houseplant is as versatile, excellent for decoration, reduces your stress, provides you with high air quality, protects your energy, and is very low maintenance?
As a houseplant, it is important to choose a good planter for your Snake Plant. To suit its stunning visual, our fiberglass planters are the best option. If you want to see them in action, be sure to check this project out:
Office Design With Jay Scotts Planters
The client was looking to find planters that would not only compliment the office space but also keep the plants healthy and not be a potential nuisance or safety hazard.
View ProjectOur planter’s elegant design not only helps your Snake Plants stand out but also easily fits in your interior design. Take a look and get ready to grow some Snake Plants!
If you’re still looking for that perfect plant, you need this expert guide on the best indoor houseplants to suit any kind of gardener.