The snake plant (a.k.a mother-in-law’s tongue) is a relatively resilient and hardy succulent that can thrive indoors and out. The no fuss, low maintenance nature of these aesthetically pleasing plants has allowed their popularity to soar in recent times.
However, like any plant, understanding the snake plant’s needs and preferences is important to ensure its longevity.
So, do snake plants like humidity? You must know about it, if you’re keen on growing them.
Keeping a balanced humidity level is crucial to the survival of a snake plant. Too much humidity won’t allow any water to dry away, leading to several dangerous issues. Too little humidity makes the rate of transpiration increase which causes the leaves to become damaged.
Snake plants also prefer bright, indirect light but can tolerate some direct sunlight. Furthermore, they don’t fare too well with excessive amounts of water.
In this article, we’ll go through all the warning signs and various methods to help control and regulate the humidity levels of your snake plant.
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Snake plant’s natural habitat
Snake plants are native to tropical West and Southern Africa rocky, dry areas. However, they have also been found in the wild in Florida and Hawaii. They grow in places that provide bright, indirect light, such as jungle floors, nestled between trees and bushes, or even neighboring rocks.
They are subject to mild humidity levels due to the covering tree canopies helping to regulate them. Their moisture is obtained sporadically. They can be drenched one day and then not receive any moisture for longer periods.
However, their soil composition is generally natural and untainted, which allows adequate drainage and aeration.
When simulating their natural environment in your home, all of these aspects must be kept in mind to help promote optimal growth.
One of the most important factors to regulate is the amount of humidity they receive. There are several ways that this can be achieved, but we’ll get to that a little further in this article.
Do Snake plants like humidity?
Snake plants are generally easy to both grow and maintain. However, their humidity levels are one aspect that needs to be monitored with a little extra care. The optimal humidity levels for a snake plant are between 30%-50%, the average humidity of most standard homes.
So growing them indoors, where the humidity levels are usually quite stable, is perfect for these succulents. If the humidity levels are too high, any water applied won’t be able to dry away fast enough. As a result, mold can form on the leaves (in the form of spotting) and around the roots.
When mold is present, it can spread through the whole plant and eventually kill it, especially when it attacks the roots (causing root rot). Furthermore, moldy plants invite unwanted pests such as aphids and spider mites, who pretty much suck the life out of the plant, leaving it to rot and die.
In contrast, low humidity levels restrict the plant’s ability to transpire. This is where a plant absorbs moisture from the soil and releases water vapor into the air via its leaves.
Consequently, they become dehydrated, leaving the leaves to turn yellow and brown around the edges, then eventually dry and crispy.
How Much Humidity Does a Snake Plant Need?
Even though snake plants are found in dry, arid environments in the wild, they can still absorb moisture from their surroundings. It can come from heavy rains or close-by puddles and streams. Consequently, growing them in the home requires a mid range level of humidity.
40% is optimal, but anywhere between 30%-50% is still good for long-term stability. The beauty of this figure is that the average humidity level of most homes is around the same.
Of course, the location, with its subsequent climate and weather conditions, plays a big part in humidity balance.
Snake plant’s tolerance for different humidity level
When the humidity levels in which a snake plant is grown aren’t in sync with the plant, there can be grave consequences, especially if the issues cannot be discovered.
Even if they are, leaving them untreated can slowly kill the plant. Let’s look at the snake plant’s tolerance to different humidity levels.
How does low humidity affect a snake plant?
When a snake plant is grown in lower humidity levels, the dryness doesn’t allow the plant to absorb moisture from the soil properly. Without moisture, it can’t release vapor into the leaves to keep them fresh and green.
As a result, the whole plant can suffer from dehydration. Some of the more prominent characteristics of a snake plant suffering under low levels of humidity include:
- Wilting of the Plant: The first thing you’ll notice when low humidity levels affect your snake plant is the overall wilting of the plant. It will start to look limp as it is losing its strength. The elongated leaves will begin to droop downwards.
- Wrinkled and Curled Leaves: Once the roots and base have weakened, the outer areas, such as the leaves, will lose their normal stable flair. You may notice the leaves starting to wrinkle and curl inwards as moisture cannot be obtained.
- Drooping or Falling Leaves: The next step is drooping leaves that fall off the plant. This is usually a last attempt for the plant to shed any weakness to focus its energy on keeping the rest of itself alive.
- Foliage becomes crispy: Finally, any remaining foliage that hasn’t fallen off the plant will become so dehydrated that it can be crunched between your fingers. This is the point where the plant cannot continue to grow and will most likely die.
How does high humidity affect a snake plant?
When a snake plant is grown in higher humidity levels, any water or moisture in its environment becomes stagnant and can become moldy. Some plants deal with this situation much better than others, but snakes have fragile leaves containing many small crevices.
When they get wet, the moisture binds itself to the leaves. Some of the more prominent characteristics of a snake plant suffering under high levels of humidity include:
Stunted Growth (Fungal)
Stunted growth is usually the first thing you’ll notice. When the plant is suffering from fungal diseases such as powdery mildew, or root rot, it will stop focusing its energy on overall growth and redirect it onto trying to heal from the disease.
If the disease becomes established and isn’t counteracted, the plant has little chance of survival.
Root Rot
Excess water around the roots restricts the plant from being able to absorb oxygen and nutrients. The water essentially suffocates them as the water is dense. When the roots cannot take in oxygen and nutrients, the plant cannot grow.
Furthermore, as the roots lie in stagnant water, they will eventually rot. If this condition is not corrected early on, the rot will spread up through the plant and kill it. In most plants, the roots are where all of the growth comes from; if they are hindered for whatever reason, the plant will suffer.
Disease & Pests
Once a snake plant becomes affected by one or multiple fungal diseases, they are more susceptible to pest infestations. Particularly mealybugs, thrips, aphids, spider mites, and fungus gnats who almost sense the plant’s weakness and latch on to them, sucking the life out of their leaves.
You will notice the bugs themselves crawling all over the affected areas. You will also see the aftermath of their existence, including honeydew, holes in the leaves, spotting on the topside of the leaves, yellowing around the edges, etc.
Ways to Control a Proper Humidity Level for Snake Plants?
Many negative side effects can arise from growing a snake plant in humidity levels that don’t suit it. The key to correcting them is by first distinguishing the root cause. Maintaining a proper level of humidity improves their overall growth and appearance.
Let’s look at some ways to mitigate any humidity issues and solve the problems if or when they present themselves.
Use a Humidifier or Dehumidifier
When obtaining an optimal humidity level naturally isn’t possible, other options can mechanically alter it. Firstly, humidifiers can speed up the process of natural evaporation.
They contain a fan that blows air through a damp filter. This makes any present water evaporate and converts it into vapor. This vapor is blown into the desired room, which increases the humidity.
In contrast, a dehumidifier works in reverse compared to a humidifier. They suck the air into the machine/device over the top of a coil that is extremely cold. The absorbed water vapor then condenses on this cold surface. Any remaining moisture surrounding the coil drips into a water collection container and is discarded or drained away.
Get an Aquarium
Aquariums or fish tanks tend to produce excess moisture in the air. Therefore, increasing the humidity. However, when installed in smaller rooms, the humidity might increase much more than the recommended 30%-50% in which snake plants thrive best.
Keep The Snake Plants Together
Snake plants can benefit from being grown or grouped. Instead of one plant transpiring (releasing moisture into the air), the whole group goes through the process together instead. The humidity increases much faster and at a higher volume when more than one plant is present.
Use the Right Type of Soil
Snake plants prefer soil blends that offer exceptional drainage and aeration. Using 2 parts sand, 1 part garden soil, and 1 part peat mix is adequate. However, soilless mixes are even more beneficial in mitigating the risk of root rot which snake plants are prone to suffer.
When the roots of a snake plant are surrounded by excess water, not only do they become suffocated and form root rot, but this issue also prevents the plant from transpiring. As a result, the humidity can rise significantly. As we know, snake plants do not receive high humidity levels well.
Another planter base tip is to use a terracotta pot or container to assist drainage. They are generally much more porous and allow moisture to slowly seep out of the pot instead of trapping it.
Use a Mini Greenhouse
When indoor space is an issue, mini greenhouses can be a great option. They work by allowing the sun to enter all sides of the structure via transparent/translucent panels and trapping the heat inside.
Not everyone has the space for one of these, but surprisingly, some mini models require only the tiniest of footprints.
Maintain a Proper Watering Schedule (Don’t Overwater)
Snake plants don’t need a great deal of water to ensure they continue to grow. They can be watered as little as fortnightly. It’s best to allow the soil to dry out completely before each watering.
You can test this by simply sticking your finger into the soil and checking the soil’s consistency.
If it comes out dry, then you can go ahead and water it. Avoid overwatering, as this can easily lead to the root rotting, especially if the soil isn’t prepared to suit this type of plant. During the winter, they can be watered once a month (as long as the soil has been dry for at least 10-14 days).
Improve Air Circulation
Improving air circulation helps lower the humidity by drying up any stagnant moisture within the plant. This can be achieved by simply opening a window on each side of the room to allow the air to breeze. Air conditioning can also help to improve circulation.
It can push any stagnant air around and replace it with cooler, fresher air. Fans are another option that can improve air quality. Anything that can move the air around and stop it from sitting stagnant can help to reduce the humidity.
Place the Plants Near Windows
Simply relocating your snake plants to a window that can be opened at will can offer enough of a breeze to circulate air more efficiently. As a result, the humidity levels will decrease. Additionally, separating plants growing too close can significantly decrease humidity levels.
Use Grow Lights and Fans
Grow lights generally produce heat. They can be adjusted to pump out different amounts and types of heat. It’s common to use grow lights in conjunction with fans to create a humid environment and push that air around. This method is great for lower humidity rooms.
Repot the Plants If Needed
This kind of ties in with using the correct growing media, but quite often, if the soil is not performing its intended function, it might be worth pulling the plant up and repotting it. Sometimes doing so can see struggling plants thrive all of a sudden.
In general, the growing media characteristics are the main culprit. Getting a good quality foundation in the growing container is one of the easiest ways to ensure the longevity of any plant.
Place the Plants on a Pebble/Gravel Tray
If the humidity of your snake plant is on a bit of the lower side, you can place them on a tray with a base of pebbles or gravel. Once the water has evaporated, it will create a humidity bubble around the plant.
Once the water completely dries out, rinse and repeat. Add enough water to fill the tray, and enjoy the benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Too Much Humidity Bad For Snake Plants?
When a snake plant is grown in conditions where too much humidity is present, several problems can occur. The biggest issue is that they can sweat; given the way their leaves form, the excess moisture cannot drain away.
This makes them susceptible to fungal diseases. If left undiscovered or untreated, these diseases are an open invitation for pesky bugs to latch on and feed from the wounded plant. Snake plants do not favor so high humidity levels.
Do Snake Plants Like To Be Misted?
Snake plants don’t require misting as they store a lot of moisture within their leaves for later use. Furthermore, misting them creates unnecessary humidity. Snake plants thrive best when humidity is neither low nor high. 30%-50% humidity is optimal.
When snake plants are subject to higher humidity levels, they can suffer from various problems, including fungal disease, pest infestations, root rot, etc.
How long can snake plants go without water?
Since snake plants are native to arid regions of Southern and Western Africa, they are quite resilient to dry spells. They have been known to thrive fine without water or any other moisture for up to 2 weeks.
Conclusion:
Snake plants are pretty easy to grow and maintain. However, several issues can arise if the humidity levels creep too high.
Therefore, growing the plant in a controlled environment can greatly increase the chances of their long-term survival chances.
Always keep the levels at a mild 30%-50% to minimize any impending risks. We hope that this guide has been helpful. You can read about similar topics here on our website. Check back again soon for more.
