When it comes to a snake plant and its light needs, there are a few things to consider, such as hours needed and intensity.
Keep in mind that snake plants are very resilient and can’t tolerate not having the right kind of light, so putting them in the wrong place isn’t the end of the world, at least for a while.
So here’s what you need to know about your snake plant and the light it needs to grow and be at its best.
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Do snake plants need light?
While snake plants do better in lots of light, snake plants can actually grow well in low light conditions because they are hardy plants.
However, permanent placement in low light conditions is not recommended.
If for some reason you temporarily place it in a dark or dimly lit area, your Sansevieria will be fine.
That being said, if you keep a snake plant in low light or no light for too long, you may experience some of the following issues.
- Hanging leaves (bend, fall)
- Your snake plant may turn yellow (chlorosa)
- Poor leggy growth (abnormal stretching of leaves)
- Slow or delayed overall growth
As you can see, placing a snake plant in dim or no light for a long time is certainly not ideal and should only be done temporarily.
If you want your snake plant to grow well and have the least chance of problems, it needs lots of light!
How Much Light Does a Snake Plant Need?
In general, the recommended amount of light to grow a healthy snake plant is 8-10 hours of bright indirect light per day.
You can certainly offer more if possible or you can even get away with just under 8 hours.
The key is to provide your Sansevieria with bright, indirect or medium light for most of the day.
You don’t want to give as much light in full sun as this can scorch the leaves.
Snake plants can really only withstand a few hours of full sun a day before they run into problems.
That being said, the more indirect light you give it, the faster your Snake plant will grow, as this plant loves lots of light and will reward you with a fantastic look.
Where to Place Your Snake Plant
Snake plants can grow well both indoors and outdoors and it really depends on your personal preference or available space.
Here are some places you can use to ensure your snake plant gets the light it needs to grow optimally.
Inside
I have to say that the safest place to grow your Snake plant indoors is near an east-facing window.
This provides a small amount of full sun in the morning and bright indirect light for the rest of the day, which is perfect.
For east-facing windows, you can hold your snake directly against the window or a few feet away and it will be protected from harsh light while receiving the required amount of average light.
You can also use south or west facing windows for lots of light, but they will be more intense than an east facing window.
South-facing windows generally provide the most light, but full sun will be present throughout the day, so if you opt for a south-facing window, keep your snake plant a few feet from the window to reduce the possibility of leaf scorch. .
A north-facing window can provide some light, but that’s not really ideal because there’s very little light compared to all the other options, but it’s an option.
Finally, if all else fails, you can certainly use an indoor grow light to provide exact amounts of light if it suits your living space.
Outdoors
If you are growing your snake outdoors, you should also try to place it in a location where it will receive the same type of light as indoors.
For example, you should plant in a location that receives the most light from the east, west, or south while still having some protection from the strong midday sun.
When growing outdoors, it’s recommended to plant in a container that you can easily move around, at least until you know exactly where you want to grow so it doesn’t get stuck in a bad spot in the garden. floor.
Make it easy for you and your snake factory!
In general, you’ll want to grow in a location that gets more than 8 hours of bright indirect light and a few hours of full sun at most.
You can grow it under a porch, under trees, or anywhere you can find that can protect your snake plant when the sun is at its peak during the day.
If you really want to grow outdoors and don’t have a suitable spot, you can try a shade cloth directly over your plants.
This provides medium light throughout the day and protection from the bright afternoon sun.
Keep in mind that if you are growing outdoors, the temperature should be between 60 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
Snake plants don’t survive very long in cooler temperatures, so that’s something to keep in mind.
Personally, I think it’s best to grow indoors because you never have to worry about it.
How do I know if my Snake plant needs more light?
If you have been growing in low light conditions for a while, your Snake plant may react in one way or another.
This can take the form of leggy or sprawling growth, as the leaves of the plants stretch towards the nearest light source they can find.
You may also experience the problem of leaf drop or leaves may lose color or even turn yellow due to chlorosis, a loss of chlorophyll due to very low light.
If you notice any of these signs, your snake plant probably needs more light!
final thoughts
If you have made it this far, thank you for reading and I hope this article has helped you determine the light needs of your snake plant so that you can grow one to be as healthy and happy. as possible.
If you want to learn how to provide better care, check out my article on snake plant care so you can get it all right as soon as possible.
As always, have fun and enjoy the experience!