How to Transplant a Snake Plant [Signs You Need To] –ISBUZZLE

Repotting a snake plant is one way to continue providing excellent snake plant care, as it is needed when your Sansevieria begins to outgrow its current pot.

Luckily, this is fairly easy to do and doesn’t require a lot of skill to get it right.

So if you’re just wondering how to transplant a snake plant, you’ve come to the right place to learn how to do it easily.

When Should You Transplant a Snake Plant?

The most ideal time to transplant a snake plant is in the spring, as your Sansevieria is actively growing at this time, but not as much as in the summer.

This will give your snake plant time to adjust to the new growing environment before summer and new growth will occur.

It is also a good idea to transplant on cloudy days or when the temperature is not too high to avoid exposing the roots and the plant in general to intense heat.

Of course, that’s only if you do it outdoors, which is your preference, because you can certainly do it indoors.

You just need to have some space and place a newspaper or something similar to keep the dirt from spilling onto the floor.

In general, spring is the best time to transplant your mother-in-law’s tongue, as it will be actively growing, with no temperature extremes during this time.

If your snake plant is now severely root bound or the container is damaged, you can skip the season and proceed with the transplant.

Signs Your Snake Plant Needs Repotting

Fortunately, snake seedlings don’t need to be transplanted as often as other plants, but there are telltale signs that they need to be transplanted correctly to keep growing and looking their best.

Here are some signs that your Sansevieria is in desperate need of it.

• The roots will grow through the drainage holes or the container.
• The jar is cracked or shows signs of damage.
• Water is not absorbed by the soil, regardless of the frequency of watering
• Your snake plant is limp (it may be the cause if it can’t absorb water)
• Delayed growth or no new growth
• The pot is constantly falling (your snake plant will be too big for the current pot)

If you notice any of these signs and you have never transplanted or haven’t transplanted in several years, it’s definitely time to start.

How to Transplant a Snake Plant

To start transplanting, there are a few things you need to get the job done.

• New container that is 1 pot size larger than the current one
• Cool, well-drained soil
• space to work
• newspaper (optional)

Now that you have the necessary materials, here are the steps to successfully repot your snake plant with minimal fuss.

[1] Water your snake plant in its current container to make it easier to remove because there isn’t as much friction between the roots and the soil, which could lead to cracking if too dry.

[2] Prepare the new container with fresh, well-drained soil and fill it about 1/3 full.

[3] Lightly moisten the new soil to ease the transition and make it easier for your snake plant to grow new roots as quickly as possible.

[4] Lay down some newspaper or go outside and lay your snake on its side.

[5] Squeeze the pot or gently pull the plant out of the container. Don’t just tug on the leaves, because you don’t want them to tear off.

[6] Once you have the plant outdoors, it’s a good time to inspect the roots and prune out any unhealthy roots that are dark, mushy, or fall apart easily. You don’t want these to go to the new earth.

[7] Gently untangle the root ball so that the roots can branch more easily, grow more roots and breathe well. Avoid damaging or pulling out the roots, as this increases the risk of transplant shock.

[8] Now place your snake plant in the new container at about the same height as before and fill it with the new soil.

[9] Fill it in on all sides, but don’t pack the soil too much because you want the roots to breathe and the soil to drain more easily.

[10] Add more materials for additional drainage, such as perlite or coarse sand, to the potting mix and keep your newly transplanted snake plant in bright indirect light.

[11] You can wait to water immediately after transplanting, especially if you moistened the soil before planting. Now wait for the top 2 inches of soil to dry out each time before watering.

How often to repot a snake plant?

Surprisingly, snake seedlings don’t want to be transplanted as often.

Depending on how fast your Sansevieria grows or how much fertilizer you use, transplanting time can vary significantly.

In general, you can expect to transplant a snake plant every 2 years, but you may not need to transplant for 5 or 6 years at a time.

Again, this varies.

The best way to tell when it’s time to repot properly is when you start to see signs that it has taken root, or if it looks like it’s really outgrowing its current pot and causing trouble.

This isn’t usually something you’ll do very often and that’s a good thing because for every transplant done, there’s a good chance your snake seedling will experience transplant shock.

If you don’t know what it is, you can read my article on snake plant transplant shock to distinguish it from other problems.

frequently asked Questions

Below are some common questions you probably have when it comes to repotting your Sansevieria so it will always thrive.

What type of container should I use?

Snake plants can be transplanted into almost any type of container, but you’ll find the general consensus is to use a terracotta container, as the material allows for good drainage.

You should also only choose one that is 1 pot size larger than your current pot, as excessive water drainage can cause problems.

Also, as snake plants can be quite heavy, opt for a wider pot rather than a taller one for best results.

What type of soil should I use?

Snake plants can be grown in many different soil types as long as one thing is true.

The soil should be well drained.

Many people prefer to use a mix of succulents and cacti to grow snake plants because it drains so well, especially if you add perlite or coarse sand.

Should I water a snake plant after transplanting it?

You should wait to water a snake plant right after transplanting it if you watered it before removing it from its old pot.

If you didn’t water before you started, you can moisten the soil after transplanting, but don’t overdo it to get your Sansevieria used to the new container.

Should I fertilize after transplanting?

If you’re wondering if you should fertilize a snake plant after you transplant it, the answer is no, you shouldn’t.

Fresh soil is already full of nutrients for your Sansevieria to grow well, and fertilizing immediately after transplanting actually does more harm than good.

Besides, it would be a waste of money and nobody likes that!

final thoughts

Now you have everything you need to know to successfully transplant your snake plant with minimal effort, so you can continue to grow a happy, healthy plant for years to come.

As always, have fun and enjoy the overall experience!