10 Benefits of Snake Plant
You may have a lot of plants indoors and outdoors strategically placed for beauty and Feng Shui. But if your home doesn’t have a snake plant, you might get FOMO vibes. Why is Snake Plant a must-have in the household?
Read more about the Snake Plant, types, its benefits, and care tips below:
What is a Snake Plant?
The botanical name of the snake plant is Sansevieria Trifasciata, native to Asia and Africa. The plant has distinct sword-like leaves that grow upright, having an uncanny resemblance to artificial foliage. Snake plants are easy to care for and maintain; hence are greatly found in closed spaces like homes and offices.
The leaves of the snake plants are poisonous that causes swelling and numbness on the tongue if eaten in large doses. It is advisable to keep the snake plant out of reach of children and pets.
Types of Snake plants:
The most common type of snake plant has foliage representing slender, long leaves with silver streaks that can grow upto several feet long. Other common varieties include:
- Bird’s nest snake plant:
The other name of the bird’s snake plant is Hahnii. It is small and grows upto 6 feet. The leaves of the plant resemble a cup, similar to a bird’s nest shape.
- Cylindrical snake plant:
This kind of snake plant has round leaves, which grows several feet in length. The leaves of the plant resemble a crown.
- Laurentii snake plant:
It is highly popular of its green-coloured centre and yellow borders.
Care Tips:
One of the popular reasons why snake plant is found in most houses is its easy-to-care requirements. It’s a hardy, resilient plant that can withstand low-light conditions, fewer water requirements, and dry environments, both indoors and outdoors.
- Provide Bright, Indirect Sunlight:
Though it can grow in dark corners, the leaves become dull and floppy. Bright, indirect sunlight is the best for its optimal growth as direct sunlight will burn the leaves.
- Watering between soil drying:
Too much water will rot the plant. Grow snake plant in a well-drained pot and water in between the soil drying
Snake Plant Benefits:
1. Air-Purifiers:
Snake plants are NASA recommended air-purifiers, one of the best. They clean the air from toxic substances, particularly benzene, formaldehyde, xylene and trichloroethylene. While cleaning the air, it also provides high levels of humidity and oxygen to the room. These properties of snake plants keep the surroundings clean and fresh.
2. Home Decor:
There are ways to decorate your home with plants, but with snake plants, there are so many. The architectural and tall shaped leaves of the snake plant make it perfect for corners of the home and office. There are various kinds of snake plants; smaller ones like cylindrical or bird’s nests are appropriate for an office desk or darker areas of the house.
3. Drought Tolerant:
Snake plants require very less water. Overwatering is the major cause of its death. It is a high drought-resilient plant, even in summers. Snake plants are ideal to have, even if you are facing scarcity of water or in offices where regular watering can be difficult.
4. Grows in a Wide Range of Humid Conditions:
Snake plants can grow in a wide range of humid conditions. They do well in humid climates such as bathrooms and drier ones in the office. When placed in a humid environment, waterless and have extra drainage to reduce stagnant water. In dry areas, water deeply and more but only between soil drying.
5. Easy To Propagate:
Every species of snake plant is easy to propagate. There are two ways of propagating the plant: leaf cut/rhizome cut. Cut the rhizomes (offset) as close to the stem as possible. Leave them in a glass jar with water to develop bigger roots, and then plant them in a pot with good drainage. Similarly, you can place the leaf-cutting in the glass jar to develop roots and then plant it or plant the leaf directly in the pot.
6. Symbolic of Good Virtues:
It is believed that the first snake plant was cultivated in China and was greatly treasured by the nurturers for its symbolism. The one who cares for the plant is granted eight virtues of longevity, prosperity, intelligence, beauty, art, health and strength.
7. Effective for Allergies:
Snake plants absorb carbon dioxide and toxin particles from the air while releasing oxygen into the air. When you breathe fresh air, there are fewer chances of developing allergies and airborne diseases. Thus snake plant naturally decreases the onset of allergies.
8. Low-Maintenance:
Snake plants are low-maintenance plants. They can thrive without water and sunlight. They are the best low-maintenance plants you could nurture. Place them in any condition, and it would bless you with its rare beauty and air-purifying properties.
9. Absorbs CO2 at Night:
Snake plants reduce Co2 levels at night by absorbing it. It is because of Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM), the capability to perform a certain type of photosynthesis that drought-tolerant, succulent plants like Sansevieria Trifasciata perform.
10. Anti-Cancer plant:
As you have come to know that snake plants clean the environments of cancer-causing agents like toluene, xylene, benzene, formaldehyde make it an effective anti-cancer plant.
Takeaway
With so many health, beauty, and FengShui benefits to offer, snake plants make a great addition to the home and office. You will love having this low-maintenance plant in your surroundings. Other than this, order plants online and make your life a green paradise.
