If you are wondering how to make snake plants grow tall, keep reading.
In this article, you will learn how to care for your snake plant properly, such as proper watering and pruning.
It also contains some tips for growing snake plants in the shade.
Continue reading to learn more about snake plants and how to grow them in the shade, how to prevent root rot, and general care tips.
We hope that you’ll find these tips helpful!
You can induce a snake plant to grow taller by dividing it, watering adequately, and repotting it in a 1-gallon container.
You can also use a 50/50 mix of compost and well-draining potting soil to grow it after repotting.
Growing Snake Plants in shade
Even though snake plants prefer moderate to bright indirect light, they can tolerate a small amount of direct sunlight.
This makes them great choices for low-light locations. If you plan on keeping your snake plants in a shady corner for long periods of time, it is important to transition them gradually to brighter light.
If you do plan to move them to a brighter location, make sure you do so over a period of a week or two.
The sudden switch to direct sunlight may cause your plants to experience a shock. In addition, you’ll need to protect them from cold or drafty windows.
Snake plants grow best in a slightly bigger pot. You don’t need to repot them often until they reach their busiest stage.
This can be as soon as three to six years after they’ve begun to overgrow. If you repot your snake plant as soon as you notice an overgrowth, make sure the pot is at least a couple of inches bigger than the previous one.
This will ensure that your snake plant stays healthy and happy.
Snake plants grow best in indirect light, with temperatures between 18 and 27 degC.
Avoid direct sunlight. Snake plants should not be exposed to freezing temperatures for extended periods, as prolonged exposure to cold temperatures will damage their foliage.
When planting snake plants, use a pot that is made for succulents or cacti. If you want to protect your plants from cold temperatures, make sure you plant them in pots made of terra cotta, which allows the soil to dry easily.
Snake plants can produce new plants besides their mother plant. Over time, they will fill the pot side by side.
You can also remove baby plants, called “plantlets,” from the soil when they are just a few leaves.
If you are growing snake plants in a pot with substantial lighting, it is best to place it close to a window where it gets lots of natural light.
Even if you live in a shady room, make sure you monitor the temperature of the pot to ensure the plant doesn’t suffer from cold.
Pruning snake plants
Before you begin pruning snake plants, you should disinfect your tools thoroughly.
Cut the outermost portion of the root mass to promote proper growth, concentrating on the thread roots. Do not remove more than a third of the root mass at a time.
After pruning, use fresh potting soil, preferably one with coarse particles. If you notice that your plant is growing too fast for its pot, you may need to add more potting soil.
To prune a snake plant to make it grow tall, you can cut off the tallest leaves from the base.
This will control the plant’s height and prevent it from spreading disease. The leaves should also be removed when you notice marred or damaged leaf tissue.
When pruning, be sure to keep a distance of at least one inch from the soil line. If you have a small space in your pot, trim only one-third of the leaves at a time.
To ensure that your snake plant is adequately watered, try sticking a finger in the soil. If the soil is moist, water it; if the soil is dry, hold it. Watering snake plants less often during the winter than in the summer will prevent their growth. Also, remember to water them from the bottom of the pot to encourage downward root growth. If you don’t plan to water them frequently, you should wait until the soil is completely dry.
Fertilizing snake plants can help them grow taller, but this is not necessary. Snake plants don’t respond well to nitrogen-based fertilizers, so they aren’t suitable for growing plants with large, lush leaves.
So, avoid nitrogen-based fertilizers when pruning snake plants to make them grow tall.
You can also use fertilizer in your snake plants to promote consistent growth. It’s best to use a balanced fertilizer such as a bone meal for consistent growth.
Snake plants grow slowly. It takes at least six to eight weeks for the plant to develop roots and begin flowering. Growth stalls once it begins to flower, and some species take four to 10 years to flower.
Unlike many houseplants, snake plants are low maintenance and require little pruning. But you can prune them when they reach the point where they are bushy or when their leaves begin to look diseased.
Proper watering
For optimal growth, you need to provide your snake plant with consistent humidity, good airflow, and consistent temperature. Proper watering makes the snake plant grow tall, but it also needs regular fertilization.
Watering your snake plant twice a week is sufficient. You can support its leaves with stakes or strings. Even though snake plants can reach three feet, they do not grow quickly. You must have the patience to allow them to grow.
To identify whether your Snake plant needs more water or less, you can use the finger dipping method.
A plant that is too dry needs less water. If it is overwatered, it will die. Watering too often can cause the rotting of roots and stunted growth. Make sure to dry your compost completely before adding it to your snake plant’s pot. Overwatering can also result in yellow leaves and wrinkling leaves.
Watering your snake plant properly is essential to its healthy growth. When growing snakes, make sure to provide the proper amount of sunlight.
Providing the proper amount of sunlight and adequate humidity can make your plant thrive.
Snake plants are best kept in sunny locations and should receive a consistent amount of sunlight. Proper watering will also encourage a thriving colony.
Snake plants should also be fertilized with fertilizer to ensure that their growth is consistent and healthy.
If you do not have a large plant container, consider repotting your snake plant. Replacing its pot is relatively simple. Simply break apart the roots and repot them in a larger pot.
Remember to repot your snake plant every two years so it can enjoy the benefits of fresh soil.
As its roots are quite strong, they will literally explode out of the pot and spread their roots all over.
Fertilize your snake plant with an organic cactus or succulent fertilizer. This type of fertilizer is suitable for snake plants, and you can find it at most garden stores or online.
Make sure to use the correct ratio of N-P-K. Snake plants prefer a nutrient solution with slightly more nitrogen than potassium, and make sure to dilute it to half strength. Snake plants will benefit from fertilizer once per season, so give it a try!
Preventing root rot
One of the most important factors in preventing root rot to make snake plants grow tall is watering.
Watering your snake plant often will help the plant maintain its healthy photosynthesis process.
But if you neglect to water your snake plant, it could cause the plant to shrivel and die. To avoid root rot, you should check the soil periodically, and water when it feels dry. Ideally, water the soil as close to the roots as possible.
If you’re worried about the plant getting pests, you can spray it with dilute hydrogen peroxide, neem oil, or isopropyl alcohol.
You can repeat this treatment every week to three weeks until you find no more pests. The treatment may take several months to work. If you don’t get rid of the pests, your snake plant may not grow as fast as it did before.
A sign of root rot is soft, mushy, or yellow leaves. Snake plants require more plant food than other plants do. However, if they’re growing in bright light, you’ll probably only need a single fertilizer feed a year.
Root rot spreads easily by touching moist soil or the tools used to prune the plants. So, before you prune your snake plant, always make sure to sterilize your tools.
Proper watering is another important factor in preventing snake plant root rot. Snake plants are sensitive to overwatering and will lean if they get too much water.
Make sure you water your plant only when the top two to three inches of soil is dry.
If you don’t do this, you risk the plants developing root rot and losing their height. If this happens, it’s time to repot them in a new pot with new soil.
Repotting is another way to prevent snake plant root rot. Repotting a snake plant after it becomes root-bound can lead to overwatering, and it can split plastic containers.
Repotting your snake plant every two to three years is a good idea to provide fresh nutrients and stimulate new growth.
But be careful: snake plants grow slowly in pots and will literally burst out of their pot when repotted.
Conclusion
Snake plants prefer well-draining potting soil and they grow well indoors. Adequate watering and a favorable growing environment will encourage the plant to grow taller.