Snake plants (also called mother-in-law’s tongue and viper’s bowstring hemp) are some of the toughest houseplants you can grow.
Botanists now file them in the genus Dracaena, so current references list Dracaena trifasciata, but the older name, Sansevieria trifasciata, is still widely used, as Iowa State Extension notes.
Tough doesn’t mean light doesn’t matter. Here’s what university extension sources say about how much light snake plants need, where to put them, and how to use a grow light when a window isn’t enough.
How Much Light Does a Snake Plant Need?
The short answer is bright, indirect light. Iowa State University Extension says sansevieria prefers bright, indirect light, and it defines that as light bright enough to cast a shadow but not directly in the sun’s rays.
Penn State Extension agrees, and adds that snake plants tolerate low-light areas very well.
The sources don’t line up perfectly. The University of Maryland Extension lists the snake plant as an example of a low-light plant, in a range of 25 to 100 foot-candles.
The Royal Horticultural Society says sansevierias ideally like a bright, lightly shaded position but most also cope in lower light. Treat it as a range: brighter indirect light is the best case.
Not sure what “bright, indirect” means in your room? Don’t trust your eyes. UF/IFAS explains that human eyes adjust so well that a desk by a window and a slightly darker workspace across the hall can both look like bright, indirect light, even though one may be about ten times brighter.
It suggests a handheld light meter, and says a phone app can give rough readings. Its guide puts low light at 25 to 100 foot-candles, medium at 100 to 500, high at 500 to 1000, and direct sunlight at over 1000.
Different Snake Plant Light Conditions
Low Light
A shady corner or a room lit mostly by overhead lights is survivable. UF/IFAS describes low-light areas as places with very little natural light, often far from windows.
You’ll see the difference in the plant, though. Iowa State says low light can lead to muted leaf coloration and patterns, and the RHS says plants in shade often grow taller leaves, while those in sun may stay more compact.
Mississippi State Extension says colorful types such as Laurentii tolerate low light, but their colors look best with a little extra light.
Low light has a limit. UConn‘s Dr. Matthew Lisy says people sometimes put snake plants in the darkest corner, where they hang on for a few months but eventually run out of stored resources and die. He reminds owners that the plants need some light to photosynthesize, which is why bright, indirect light is best.
Whatever the light level, go easy on the watering. Penn State says to water only when the plant is dry and warns that you can kill a snake plant by overwatering.
Bright, Indirect Light
Put the plant in a room with a bright window, but out of the sun’s rays. The University of Maryland Extension suggests increasing the distance from the window or using a light shade such as a sheer curtain to protect houseplants from too much direct summer sun.
Window direction helps, but it isn’t a guarantee. The University of Maryland Extension puts east- and west-facing windows in the medium-bright range (100 to 500 foot-candles) and south-facing or some west-facing windows in the high range, while UF/IFAS describes unshaded east or west windows as high light and unshaded south or southwest windows as direct sun.
The two guides sort windows a little differently, so a light meter beats guessing. Mississippi State says sansevierias can tolerate some morning sun, so an east-facing window is worth considering.
Two small habits help. The RHS suggests turning the pot a quarter turn every time you water, so the plant doesn’t lean toward the light. And keep it away from cold drafts and chilly windows in winter, as Mississippi State advises.
Direct Sun and High Light
A snake plant can take some direct sun, but not unlimited amounts. NC State Extension says to place it where it gets direct sunlight only part of the day, 2 to 6 hours. UF/IFAS Nassau County says it prefers warm, sunny locations but tolerates some shade, and to protect it from hot afternoon sun.
Other sources are more cautious. Penn State says to keep it out of direct sun, as it can burn, and the RHS says to keep sansevierias out of midday sun in summer, as it can scorch the leaves.
If you move your snake plant outdoors for the summer, the RHS says to do it once the plant is hardened off, and to bring it back inside well before any hint of frost.
Snake Plants Outdoors: Zones and Sun
Outdoors year-round, snake plants need a warm climate. NC State Extension lists USDA hardiness zones 10a through 12b, and UF/IFAS Nassau County lists zones 10 to 12.
Texas Tech lists zones 10 to 11 and rates the plant low in cold tolerance. Mississippi State says you can move sansevierias outdoors once temperatures are consistently warm and nighttime lows stay above 55 degrees, keeping them in bright shade or filtered sunlight.
One caution for Florida gardeners. The UF/IFAS Invasive Plant Assessment rates Sansevieria trifasciata a high invasion risk in north, central and south Florida, predicted to be invasive and not recommended by IFAS.
UF/IFAS Extension Orange County says any part of the plant can regenerate, that no herbicides are labeled for controlling it, and that it’s best kept in a pot indoors.
How To Grow Snake Plants With Artificial Light
Yes, you can grow snake plants under artificial light. UF/IFAS says plants can be grown entirely under artificial light if the light source is appropriate.
The University of Maryland Extension notes that sunlight is generally best, but artificial lighting can improve the quality of the light plants receive. For more, see our guide to growing plants indoors with artificial light.
Give the plant a day and a night. UF/IFAS notes that most plants need eight or more hours of light, and the University of Maryland Extension says most plants need a period of darkness, so illuminate them no more than 16 hours each day in total.
Light intensity drops off quickly with distance, according to the same source, so where you mount the light matters. Follow the fixture’s instructions for how close to place it.
Fluorescent Lights
UF/IFAS says fluorescent lights last longer than incandescent bulbs, are more energy efficient and produce less heat than traditional bulbs. It says bulbs labeled “cool white” work well as grow lights, and “warm white” and “daylight” bulbs may also work.
LED Lights
UF/IFAS says LEDs are currently the most expensive to buy, but they last much longer and use less electricity for the same amount of light. Check the spectrum: the University of Maryland Extension says red, far-red and blue wavelengths are most important for plant development, and UF/IFAS says plants grow better under a broad spectrum.
Incandescent Lights
UF/IFAS says incandescent bulbs can be used, but they are very inefficient at turning energy into light, which makes them expensive to run for long stretches, and they may produce too much heat and far-red light for some plants. Its verdict: fluorescents and LEDs are the best options.
Signs Your Snake Plant Needs More or Less Light
Too Little Light
Iowa State says low light can mute the leaf color and pattern. More broadly, the University of Maryland Extension lists fading leaf color and poor growth among the effects of too little light on indoor plants.
If your plant’s pattern looks washed out and growth has stalled, try a brighter spot or add a grow light.
What about drooping? It’s easy to blame light, but the extension sources tie collapsing leaves to water and weight. Iowa State says that if plants stay wet, root rot develops, causing leaves to turn yellow and collapse.
Penn State notes that a heavy pot suits taller varieties because the weight of the leaves can topple the plant. Our guide to snake plant leaves falling over goes through the causes.
Too Much Light
Too much direct light can cause pale or brown leaves, according to the University of Maryland Extension, which recommends protecting plants by moving them back from the window or using a sheer curtain. UF/IFAS Nassau County and Mississippi State both say to protect the plant from hot afternoon sun.
Wrap Up on Snake Plant Lighting
Snake plants forgive a lot, but good light pays off. Aim for bright, indirect light, keep them out of hot afternoon sun, and add a fluorescent or LED grow light if your room is dim. And if yours lives in a shadier spot, water only when the plant is dry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are snake plants low light plants?
They tolerate low light very well, according to Penn State Extension, and the University of Maryland Extension lists them among low-light plants. Bright, indirect light is still the best case. Iowa State says low light can mute leaf color and pattern, and UConn says a plant left in the darkest corner may last a few months before it runs out of stored resources and dies.
What is bright, indirect light for a snake plant?
Iowa State University Extension describes it as light bright enough to cast a shadow but not directly in the sun’s rays. Your eyes are a poor judge, though. UF/IFAS says people adjust so well to different light levels that a desk by a window and a slightly darker workspace can both look like bright, indirect light, and it suggests a light meter or a phone app for rough readings.
Can a snake plant take direct sun?
For part of the day, yes. NC State Extension says direct sunlight for 2 to 6 hours, and UF/IFAS Nassau County says to protect it from hot afternoon sun. Penn State says to keep it out of direct sun because it can burn, and the RHS says midday summer sun can scorch the leaves. Sources differ on how much direct sun is fine.
Can a snake plant live without sunlight?
Not with no light at all. UConn says snake plants need some light to photosynthesize, and a plant in the darkest corner eventually runs out of stored resources and dies. A grow light can stand in for a window, though: UF/IFAS says plants can be grown entirely under artificial light if the light source is appropriate.
What grow light should I use for a snake plant?
UF/IFAS’s houseplant guidance names fluorescent and LED lights as the best options, since incandescent bulbs are hot, short-lived and expensive to run. It says cool white bulbs work well, and warm white and daylight bulbs may also work. The University of Maryland Extension says to give plants no more than 16 hours of light a day in total. More on growing plants under artificial light.
