Snake plants are famously tough, and the fastest way to lose one is with the watering can. Iowa State University Extension says overwatering is the quickest way to kill a sansevieria, and sometimes the only way.
So how often should you water one, and how do you know it has had enough? Here’s the short version: skip the calendar, check the soil, and water only once it has dried out.
One quick note if your plant tag says Dracaena. A 2018 study in Phytotaxa found that Sansevieria sits inside the Dracaena family tree, and UF/IFAS Extension says sansevieria is now included in the genus Dracaena.
NC State Extension lists the snake plant as Dracaena trifasciata, previously Sansevieria trifasciata. Same plant, new name, and Iowa State says it’s still widely called sansevieria. You can read more about how sansevierias became dracaenas.
How Often to Water a Snake Plant
There’s no set number of days. The extension and garden sources agree on one rule: water after the soil has dried out, then hold off again.
- Spring through autumn: NC State says to let the soil dry between waterings, and Iowa State says to water only after the soil has completely dried out.
- Winter: NC State says to water only every one to two months, and UConn says once a month, and sparingly at that.
- A long gap: Penn State Extension says you can go a month or so without watering and the plant will be no worse for wear.
Notice what’s missing: a weekly schedule. The Royal Horticultural Society advises erring on the side of minimal watering and checking the soil with your finger rather than watering on a routine schedule. How fast a pot dries out depends on your home, so a calendar can’t know when your plant is ready. Your soil can.
The Finger Test
You don’t need a fancy moisture meter. Push a finger straight down into the soil, the way the RHS suggests. If the soil is dry, it’s time to water. If it feels damp, wait.
Your finger only reaches so far down. If the top is dry but you’re not sure about deeper in the pot, waiting is the safer call, and Iowa State’s advice is to water only once the soil has completely dried out. If you’re curious how deep you’re testing, hold your fingertip against a ruler once.
How to Water Once the Soil Is Dry
Pour slowly and evenly around the plant. Aim at the soil, not into the center of the rosette: the RHS and the Missouri Botanical Garden both say to avoid the center.
Watch how the soil takes the water. If it stops soaking up water as fast as you pour, slow down. When water starts to run out of the drainage holes, stop.
Then empty the saucer. The RHS says to pour away any water that drains into the saucer or outer pot so the plant doesn’t sit in it for long, and UF/IFAS says the same about houseplants in general: never let your plant sit in water.
The pot and the soil matter too. Iowa State says wet conditions can come from frequent watering, from containers without drainage holes, or from water left to sit in saucers. Penn State recommends a well-drained soil, such as a cactus mix or a potting soil with perlite, and containers with drainage holes.
What Overwatering Does
Wet soil is where the trouble starts. Root rot is caused by soil fungi, and Clemson Cooperative Extension says too much water increases the occurrence of root rot.
The University of Wisconsin Extension adds that root rot fungi grow and reproduce best in wet soils. Iowa State describes what you’ll see: leaves turn yellow and collapse, and if the plant stays wet it can eventually die.
Soggy soil can also bring fungus gnats. NC Cooperative Extension says they thrive in the damp conditions often found in houseplant pots, and their larvae feed on organic matter, fungi and sometimes plant roots.
It also says established plants typically suffer little harm. Still, it’s one more reason to let the soil dry out. For what does and doesn’t work against them, see our guide to diatomaceous earth for fungus gnats.
What About Underwatering?
With a snake plant it’s the smaller worry. Iowa State says these plants can go weeks, sometimes months, without water, and the RHS calls them succulent, drought-tolerant plants. If yours looks unhappy, check whether the soil is soggy before you reach for the watering can.
Water Less in Winter
Growth slows in winter. The RHS says the plants then draw on the water stored in their fleshy leaves and barely need any water, unless they’re in a particularly warm spot. That’s why NC State suggests every one to two months and UConn suggests about once a month. When in doubt, wait.
How often do you end up watering yours? Tell us what your snake plant taught you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I water a snake plant?
Water it when the soil has dried out, not on a set number of days. Iowa State says to water only after the soil has completely dried out, and NC State says to let the soil dry between waterings from spring to autumn. In winter, NC State says only every one to two months, and UConn says about once a month.
How do I know when my snake plant needs water?
Push your finger into the soil and water only if it’s dry. The RHS advises checking the soil this way rather than watering routinely. Iowa State says to wait until the soil has completely dried out, so if you’re unsure how deep the dryness goes, hold off. Penn State says a month or so without water leaves a snake plant no worse for wear.
Can you overwater a snake plant?
Yes, and it’s the main risk. Iowa State says overwatering is the quickest way to kill a sansevieria: if the plant stays wet, root rot develops, causing leaves to turn yellow and collapse. Clemson says too much water increases the occurrence of root rot. Use a pot with drainage holes and empty the saucer.
Should I water a snake plant less in winter?
Yes, much less. The RHS says growth slows in winter and the plants draw on water stored in their fleshy leaves, so they barely need any unless they’re in a particularly warm spot. NC State says to water only every one to two months, and UConn says about once a month, and sparingly.
Is a snake plant labeled Dracaena watered differently?
It’s the same plant under a new name. NC State lists the snake plant as Dracaena trifasciata, previously Sansevieria trifasciata, and advises letting the soil dry between waterings from spring to autumn. Iowa State says the plants reclassified to Dracaena are still widely called sansevieria. Read more about how sansevierias became dracaenas.