If you’re wondering how to keep a snake plant small, pruning is of course the most logical choice, but there are still a few things you can do that you might not have thought of.
Luckily, these things are usually pretty easy to implement and don’t require too much effort on your part, so you can keep your snake plant compact.
Keep in mind that some types of sansevieria grow larger than others, so depending on which type you have, you can expect different results on average.
So here are some things you can do today to keep your snake plant small and prevent it from getting too big.
Size
Pruning is often a necessity when caring for snake plants and it really is the best way to keep a snake plant small and compact.
The advantage of pruning is that you can choose the leaves you want to get rid of or cut them a little to keep things uniform and aesthetically pleasing.
Pruning is not only a great way to limit the size of a snake plant, but it is also ideal for eliminating unhealthy growth or if the leaves are damaged or discolored, such as yellow leaves.
It also allows more energy to be used for new growth, rather than wasting it on unhealthy or irreparable growth.
In general, some of the benefits of pruning are as follows.
- Keeps your snake plant small and aesthetically pleasing
- You can remove unhealthy or long growths.
- Your snake plant can be placed in more places
- Your plant can use more energy for new growth.
- It can be very fun and satisfying.
how to prune
First, you’ll want to have a few sterile garden tools handy, such as a sharp knife, scissors, or pruning shears.
Any of these will work as long as they are sterile using rubbing alcohol or cleaning them with boiling water first so you don’t risk spreading disease between plants.
Once you have your favorite pruning tool, select a large blade and make a horizontal cut the full length of the blade as close to the ground as possible.
You can also tug gently on the blade while pruning to make it easier for you and the plant, and to ensure you get a clean cut and not a weird tear cut.
Keep in mind that you will have a piece of leaf that is only really visible when you look into the container, so you can be sure that your snake plant will still look good when you look at it normally.
Now repeat this simple step for each large leaf you want to remove, so your snake plant is as compact as you want it to be and everything stays pretty.
Once done, you can even propagate your snake plant from the removed leaf cuttings if you wish.
After all, it’s free and nothing beats free!
Rotate Your Snake Plant
One thing you can’t implement yet is to twist or rotate your snake plant.
Depending on where you are growing, one side of your snake plant may receive too much light while other parts may receive too little light.
If one side gets too much light, you can expect to see a lot more growth on one side than the rest of the plant.
If one side gets too small, it can lead to poor leg growth, as plants tend to stretch to the nearest light source they can find.
Leggy growth can also cause leaves to become unsupportive and sag (bend, wilt, or droop).
As you can see, an uneven amount of light can lead to uneven good growth that will keep your snake plant from looking its best.
By regularly turning your Snake plant, you can ensure that each side receives the same type and amount of light, resulting in more symmetrical growth.
The benefits of regular rotation can be as follows.
- Same growth everywhere
- You won’t see a game get too long
- You will not get elongated or elongated growth.
- You reduce the risk of sunburn (too much sun)
- You reduce the possibility of chlorosis (loss of chlorophyll due to low light)
- It can give you something active (fun) to do
How to Rotate Your Snake Plant
Generally, you should rotate your snake plant at least once a week, but you can do it every 10 days or you can do it several times a week.
It just depends on the look you’re going for and how much light your sansevieria is currently getting.
When turning, you should turn in quarter increments, such as clockwise or counterclockwise, 1/4 of the way at a time.
This will ensure that your plant receives the most even light possible each month, so you don’t have to worry about overgrowth or weak, unhealthy growth.
This is especially the case if you are using windows as a light source, as most of the light only comes from one direction, while the reverse receives very little.
You don’t want to neglect any part of your snake plant, do you?
Then it’s time to start spinning regularly.
Plus, it’s a great way to maximize aesthetic appeal and gives you the opportunity to actively work on your plant with your involvement.
Watch out for fertilizer
While fertilizing is a great way to ensure strong, healthy growth, it could also be the reason your snake plant is getting too tall than it wants.
Plus, most fertilizers are super potent and houseplants need a lot less to grow properly, so having too much can definitely lead to overgrowth.
Snake plants are no exception and will do just fine with less than you think.
Some benefits of using less fertilizer can be as follows.
- Reduce the risk of fertilizer burn
- Your Snake Plant Stays Small Much Easier
- You need to rinse the floor less often.
- You save time and money (very valuable)
how much to fertilize
Manufacturers have their recommended amount of fertilizer to use, but for snake plants you should use it at 1/4 to 1/2 of the recommended strength.
If you only want to keep your snake plant small but also want to fertilize it, I recommend using a well-balanced liquid fertilizer at 1/4 strength rather than 1/2 strength.
Generally, you’d like to fertilize once a month in the spring and summer, but you can certainly get away with much less, like once or twice a season.
It just depends on how much growth you are looking for and how your plant reacts to the fertilizer.
Less is more if you keep it small and compact.
In addition, it reduces the risk or duration of problems occurring when using any type of fertilizer.
frequently asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions on this topic that might be helpful and direct to you.
How to limit the growth of snake plants?
In general, if you want to limit the growth of your snake plant, you can prune when the leaves get too tall, rotate your plant to ensure even growth, and use less fertilizer than you normally would to control the rate. of growth.
How do I shorten my snake plant?
The best way to shorten your snake plant is to prune the leaves that are too tall by making a horizontal cut near the base of the leaf, as close to the ground as possible.
Can a snake plant stay small?
Most snake plants only grow between 1 and 3 feet tall, so depending on how small you are, you may never have to worry about them.
Some sansevieria varieties can grow up to 12 feet, so you’ll need pruning and other methods to keep your snake plant small and compact.
final thoughts
If you were wondering how to keep a snake plant small, now you know the best and easiest way to do it without too much time and effort.
As always, I hope you found this information helpful so you can start having fun again.