Why Is My Snake Plant Spreading Out?

The Dracaena trifasciata, commonly known as the Snake Plant or mother-in-law's tongue, is a prominent houseplant among those who own them.

Snake plants can transform the look of your home with their sleek, lustrous foliage.

These plants are the ideal houseplants because they are easy to take care of and have air-purifying abilities.

In the following guide, I have talked about one particular issue that this plant faces in its lifetime.

Well, it's about the excess growth in the Snake plant.

So, let's get to know more about it below.

Why Is My Snake Plant Spreading Out?

Snake plants grow up to 4 feet tall, and if allowed to, the rhizomes sprout from below the soil, making the plant spread out.

The plant spreads through underground rhizomes and reproduces.

The smaller varieties of the Snake plant do not spread out of their bounds.

However, the larger Snake plant varieties can spread too much and protrude out of their pots.

This can be prevented by planting the Snake plants in large concrete or clay pots and burying the pots in the soil.

Spread-out Snake plants can look unkempt and untidy if not maintained well.

Rhizomes are underground stems that grow horizontally and sprout lateral and adventitious shoots from time to time.

3 Tips To Prevent Snake Plant From Spreading Out

Here are the tips for you -

1. Regular Pruning

You can prevent your plant from spreading too much by pruning it regularly.

It is important to know how to correctly prune a plant so that it does not grow outside its pot.

You will have to do the following things to prune a Snake plant:

Check for signs of damage on the plant.
Use sharp and clean scissors or a knife to cut the leaves at the base, near the soil line.
Remove any damaged or old leaves to make space for new foliage.

Pruning will help restore the plant, reduce its size and enhance its general appearance.

To prevent spreading, start pruning from the edge of the plant and remove the leaves as close to the base as possible.

Removing the leaves that are close to the base will also improve the appearance of the plant.

Pruning the short stumps also helps the plant look tidier.

The best way to cut the leaf is to slightly tug it upward, which applies tight pressure and cutting it horizontally from its base.

The pruning needs to be smooth and straightforward.

Jagged leaves can get infected.

2. Pot size

Proper potting methods can help reduce the spreading of Snake plants.

Choosing the appropriate material and size for your plant is optimal.

Terra cotta pots are best suited for Snake plants as this material allows the soil to dry quicker.

3. Propagation

Instead of growing a single, spread-out Snake plant, you can have multiple attractive plants in your indoor garden.

Using sharp knives or shears, cut the base into sections, unless the plant is old, in which case you can just cut the base in half.

The ideal cutting would be three rhizomes and one fresh Snake plant leaf.

Each of these cuttings can be planted in a fresh pot and soil mix for new plants.

If you do not want to grow multiple Snake plants, consider gifting these new plants to friends and family!

5 Tips To Revive Your Snake Plant

Growing a Snake plant involves effort and patience, but the gorgeous plant is worth every bit of effort you spend on it.

Here are a few things you should keep in mind while growing it:

Water the plant until the soil surface is moist. Wait for the soil to dry until you water it again during spring to summer. In winters, wait for at least two weeks until you water the plant again. Ensure that the foliage does not receive any water.
The temperature of 70 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal for this plant. Temperatures below this can cause the leaves to curl.
The soil can affect how a plant grows. Even if you water it correctly and keep it at the right temperature, if the soil is not well-draining and too grainy, it can cause drooping and yellowing. Soil that is particularly formulated for succulents, especially cacti, is ideal for planting the Snake plant in. this type of soil will reduce the chances of leaves turning yellow, brown, or black.
Pots with drainage holes are essential for excess water to pass through. Moist soil can damage the plant. Snake plants need pots that are proportional to their size, as large pots contain too much soil that takes a longer time to dry completely.
Pruning benefits the Snake plant greatly. Spread out plants can be contained by pruning well. Even if your Snake is not spread out, pruning eliminated old, dead, and damaged leaves so that fresh foliage can grow in its place.

FAQs

1. Do Snake Plants Spread?

Yes, Snake plants spread through underground rhizomes that run just below the surface level of the soil.

2. Do Snake Plants Need Big Pots?

No, Snake plants need pots that are proportional to the size of the plant.

Big pots contain more soil, which makes it more difficult for the soil to dry.

Moist soil causes leaves to turn yellow, brown, and black.

These leaves can be revived if the damage is minimal; otherwise, pruning is recommended.

3. How Do I Get My Snake Plant To Stand Up?

Snake plants might droop due to a few reasons like overwatering, inadequate drainage, temperature issues, or repotting incorrectly.

None of these problems are too serious, and the damage can be reversed easily.

Allow the soil to dry completely, place it in 70-90 degrees Fahrenheit, and give it enough indirect sunlight.

As long as you fix the basics, the Snake plant will stand upright soon enough.

4. Should I Cut Off Dropping Snake Plant Leaves?

Make sure all the environmental conditions are optimal for the plant.

Wait for a week or so and observe the progress of the plant.

If some leaves are still drooping, you can prune them so that fresh leaves can grow in their place.

Some plant owners prefer repotting rather than pruning but repotting will not always revive the plant, and Snake plants benefit from being repotted every couple of years only.

5. Should I Mist My Snake Plant?

Snake plants are accustomed to arid and dry conditions.

Misting the plant may lead to an excess of moisture and damage the foliage.

Misting usually causes overwatering, which leads to several other issues.