Get familiar with the standard ways of propagation so that you can make the best decision on how to propagate your Snake plant. Based on my experience and research, there are five popular methods that I would like to explain.
In general, propagating snake plants is not very easy, and if it is not successful, please don’t get discouraged. This is a natural issue, and it sometimes happens.
If you encounter any specific issues, feel free to ask me in the comments. I’d be happy to help if I can.
Before anything else, I must say that a perfect snake plant propagation needs patience and care. Remember, clean and sharp tools prevent the snake plant from getting infected. Use soil with proper drainage, put the pot in a bright place with indirect sunlight, and let the soil dry between two waterings. It may take time, but it will grow eventually.
It doesn’t matter what kind; you can fast propagate all types of snake plants with the methods mentioned here, such as following snake plant care tips.
Propagate Snake Plant through Division
The most popular and reliable way to separate a Snake plant is by dividing it into parts that can grow. Typically, these parts will begin new growth after 2-4 weeks. Although this method requires a large and mature mother plant and can be messy if not done carefully, it maintains the main variety well, is less likely to spoil, and is faster than other methods.
Division steps
1. Remove the Snake plant
Carefully take the Snake plant out of the pot, lay it on its side, and loosen the soil around the roots.
2. Separate the root
After identifying the natural divisions of the root mass, cut the root system with a clean knife or scissors so that each part has at least one rhizome and one healthy leaf cluster.
3. Repot
Now plant each of the parts vertically in a pot with Snake Plant soil with proper drainage so that the roots are buried.
4. Follow-up care
Give it water and leave it in indirect light. Pay attention; all steps should be taken slowly so that the plant is not damaged.
Propagate Snake Plant through Leaf Cuttings
This is a simple method that helps you propagate several Snake plants from just one leaf, but you have to be patient because it takes too long. Leaf cuttings can be done both in water and in soil.
Leaf Cuttings in Soil Steps
This method works well for larger amounts of propagation. The parts grow directly in the soil, and after 6 to 10 weeks, the roots grow. But water them carefully because the cut sections might dry out.
1. Selecting a healthy leaf
It would help if you had a healthy and large leaf to start propagation. Cut it carefully from the base with scissors or a sharp knife.
2. Cutting the leaf
In the next step, cut out the leaf into 3-4 inches sections.
3. Callus over
It is better to leave them in the open air for a few days to dry completely.
4. Insert in soil
Plant each part in the suitable potting soil from the lower cutting area to a depth of one inch. Press the soil with your hand to hold each part firmly.
5. Follow-up care
It does not need a lot of water; wet the soil a little and put it in indirect sunlight.
6. Time to grow up
Be patient. Little by little, small new roots and shoots grow from the parts you put in water.
tip: Based on my experience, I recommend always using this method because it has a lower chance of error than other methods for propagating snake plants.
Leaf Cuttings in Water Steps
This method is similar to leaf cuttings in soil, with a slight difference. It would help if you placed the central snake plant leaf in a water vase. You can also check the growth of the roots. The new roots are more easily damaged in water compared to soil.
1. Choose a healthy leaf
2. Cut the leaf into sections
3. Place in water
Dip the leaf parts in water until they reach the roots of 1 to 2 inches. Ensure all the cut parts are upright. Place the container in indirect light and change the water every so often.
4. Plant them
4 to 8 weeks later, as soon as the roots grow, you can plant the sections in the soil. Usually, between 2 and 4 weeks, the plant grows in the soil.
Propagate Snake Plant through Rhizome Division
Rhizome division takes about 4 to 6 weeks to show results. Still, it maintains the central diversity of the mother snake plant. The main plant might be damaged, but if done with enough care and attention, there will be no problem.
Snake Plant through Rhizome Division Steps:
1. Remove the plant
Snake plant rhizomes are the thick underground horizontal stems that you have to remove the plant from the pot to see.
2. Locate rhizomes
With a sharp and clean knife, cut the rhizome in such a way that there must be a root and a bunch of leaves.
3. Repot
After a day or two, when the rhizomes are dry, plant them horizontally in suitable Snake plant soil. The root and base of the leaf should be completely covered with soil.
4. Follow-up care
Provide the Snake plant with water and place it in indirect light.
Propagate Snake Plant through Offshoots
By using this natural and fast method with a high chance of success, you can quickly produce the baby snake plant genetically similar to the mother snake plant after 2 to 4 weeks. Still, it depends on the number of offshoots or pups. Well, the fewer snake plant pups there are, the fewer new plants we will have. If you repeatedly remove the offsets of the mother plant, it will get stressed.
Snake Plant through Offshoots step
1. Identify offsets
Among the small branches that grew at the base of the plant, choose those that have roots and some leaves and separate them from the plant.
2. Remove the plant:
You can easily access the branches and offsets by removing the plant from the pot.
3. Separate offsets:
The health of the root is more important than anything else. You can use a clean and sharp knife to separate the attached roots.
4. Repot:
After preparing the pots with suitable soil, plant each branch in a pot.
5. Follow-up care:
Put it in indirect sunlight and water it a little.
Propagate Snake Plant through Tissue Culture
It is a modern method used by commercial breeders. In a sterile laboratory environment, small pieces of tissue are grown, and the snake plant is propagated.
Regular care Vs. After propagation
A snake plant that has just been propagated needs slightly different care compared to regular snake plant care, and there are several points that you should pay attention to until they grow well.
watering
Until the roots grow, the soil must be moist. But not waterlogged and wet.
Lighting
Just like the mature plant, you should leave them in a bright environment with indirect light and avoid direct sunlight. Because direct and robust light causes the leaves to burn.
fertilizing
A freshly propagated plant does not need to be fertilized. To fertilize, At least 6 to 10 weeks should pass, and the plant will grow.
Risk of pests
The new plant is more sensitive and likely to be hurt by pest and mold attacks. So it should be checked more carefully so as not to get into trouble.
Common snake plant propagation problems
Yellow Leaf propagation
Transplant shock or too much watering causes the leaves of the new parts to turn yellow.
Snake plant propagation in winter
Although Snake plants can grow all year round, in my opinion, spring and summer are the best growing seasons. In winter, the light and temperature are low, so reproduction slows down.
Cutting leaves incorrectly
When you do not cut the leaves properly, the knife you use is not sharp, or you do not identify the bases well, your snake plant propagation will fail.
source:
