Can Snake plants attract snakes?
Like the Spider plants, many people get confused with the Snake plants too.
Since the names of these plants are related to common pests, new gardeners feel puzzled when buying these plants for their indoor gardens.
So, what's the truth behind it?
Does the Snake plant really have any such properties to attract snakes or bugs?
Let's dive deep into this topic and find out more about it in this guide.
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Do Snake Plants Attract Snakes?
No, Snake plants do not attract snakes.
It's just a myth around this plant that has no meaning to it.
The reason many people believe in this myth is because of the shape of the leaves.
The leaves of the Snake plant do look quite similar to snakes, though you will always find these leaves in green or yellow color.
Also, the snakes don't consider these plants as their primary source of food.
They often look for other insects and animals that generally hide in open spaces like gardens.
So, as you can see, there is no reason to fall for such myths.
In fact, the snakes don't prefer to roam around this type of plant, as the leaves of Snake plants have sharp edges.
These edges are also meant to protect the plant from predators.
Moreover, if you still get to hear about any such stories, it's likely because of the location of the plant.
If you keep the Snake plant or any other plant in the garden, you may come across different pests and animals that live in natural habitats.
This might also happen in places where there is a jungle or bushes around the house.
So, in general, there is no need to worry too much about it.
The plant will not attract any snakes or reptiles.
Moving on, now, let's address another important question related to this plant.
Do Snake Plants Attract Bugs?
The answer to this question is also no!
There is no way a Snake plant can attract bugs or insects.
It doesn't release any smell or substance that can make these creatures come toward the plant.
If someone tells you that the Snake plant does attract bugs, do not believe it.
Having said that, the plant is prone to several pest issues.
Once it turns weaker due to some reasons, it can surely invite more harmful bugs on its leaves.
In case you don't know, the common bugs that can cause damage to the plants are -
- Mealybugs
- Spider Mites
- Thrips
- Scale
- Whiteflies
If you see any such bugs on your Snake plant, you need to address the problem immediately.
Otherwise, it often does lead to permanent damage to the plant.
In the following section, let's learn about the ways through which you can avoid the appearance of these bugs on the plant.
5 Things You Can Do To Keep Insects Away From Snake Plants
Here's what you need to do -
1. Provide Sunlight To The Plant
Whether it's an indoor or outdoor plant, it needs sunlight for its growth.
Without sunlight, the plant may experience stunted growth and become weaker over the period.
Now, this rule also applies to your Snake plant.
If you have been keeping this plant in a shaded or dark room, it won't show the kind of results you'd expect from this plant.
When this situation arises, the plant will become an easy target for the common bugs in the garden.
Therefore, you should move this plant to a bright sunny location.
Even though the plant does well in direct sunlight, it's quite alright to keep it in a place with indirect sunlight.
This will keep your plant fresh for a long time, as there won't be much of a hindrance in its photosynthesis process.
2. Water Your Plant
Yes, water the plant!
Although the Snake plant is quite tolerant to underwatering, you shouldn't let the plant remain underwater for 10-15 days.
It will do the same thing to the plant, as the lack of sunlight does.
The plant will become weak when it doesn't get enough water supply.
The leaves will lose their shine and become thin during this period.
And as you might have already guessed, this is the perfect time for pests and bugs to attack such plants.
So, maintain a schedule to water the plant.
Also, make sure you don't overwater the plant, as it can also attract more issues.
3. Keep Your Snake Plant In Airy Place
The Snake plant is a hardy plant, but it doesn't need a lot of humidity.
Indoor plants don't thrive in places where the humidity levels are on the higher side.
To solve this problem, you can either place a dehumidifier in the room or move the plant to an airy place.
If you don't have any of these options, you can also keep it on the windowsill.
The other important reason why you need an airy place is the growth of fungus.
When you keep the plant dry for a long, the issues like fungal growth don't spread rapidly.
In some cases, the dryness may also stop such growth entirely.
Hence, it's quite important to select an apt location for your indoor plant.
4. Use Neem Oil Spray
Neem oil works best for many plant issues, and you can use it on any of your garden plants.
If you want to use this oil, you should prepare a dilute solution of water and neem oil.
You can also mix some dish soap in this solution if you want.
Later, spray the solution on your plant, and see how it keeps these issues at bay.
As for the application, you don't have to spray it too often.
You can simply spray it once a month, and that should be good for the plant.
Apart from the prevention, the same spray can also be used to stop the infestation.
Yes, it works both ways and is quite effective in solving problems like mealybugs infestation, spider mites infestation, etc.
5. Inspect The Plant Regularly
The last thing you can do to prevent the bugs on your plant is to inspect it regularly.
You can follow this simple activity while watering the plant or pruning the unwanted leaves from it.
You don't have to check it daily, though!
The inspection practice has helped me a lot in preventing many issues in my indoor plants.
It is important to detect them as early as possible.
This is absolutely crucial for indoor plants, as the plants can easily succumb to the damage caused by unwanted pests.
Now, let's get to the next section, where I have shared answers to some of the commonly asked questions related to this topic.
FAQs
As mentioned earlier in the guide, the Snake plant doesn't release anything from the leaves or stem to repel snakes or other predators. However, the sharp leaves can surely keep these reptiles away from the plant.
No, the Snake plant does not attract ants.
But if you see mealybugs infestation on the plant, you may also see ants on the leaves. Since mealybugs feed on the juices released from the plant, the ants may just take the opportunity to get their share as well.
There is another reason, though. The ants might also build colonies in the pot, as they generally like to reside in moist conditions.
No, it doesn't attract mosquitos.
Yes, vinegar can be effective in preventing snakes from your garden. You can pour white vinegar around the plants or any other places where you don't want the intrusion of these reptiles.
Note: It may not be very cost-effective if you want to spread it across a large area in the garden.
Not really! The Snake plants do not have anything special that can repel bugs for good. Still, it's one of those rare plants in the indoor garden that doesn't get affected by many bugs or other external issues.
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