The Snake plant is a very popular plant. It is relatively easy to care for and is a species known for purifying the environments in which it is found (this part is more related to spirituality, but that’s what everyone says).
However, acquiring a new plant can be expensive. But we can solve this problem by multiplying your snake plant for free. To do this, there are very efficient methods that I will show throughout this article.
Below, see a step by step guide on how to make the Snake plant multiply. See how you can make your snake plant produce more pups, which you can then transplant to another pot, giving rise to a new plant!
What are Snake Plant Pups?
The so-called Snake plant pups are shoots that are born and grow from the mother plant. These pups can be separated to generate new plants.
As you know, a Snake plant seedling can be expensive. In some cases, it is even difficult to find the species being sold.
However, to solve this challenge for free, Snake plant pups can be generated using the step-by-step instructions below.
Essential Conditions for Stimulating Pups
Stimulating the development of Snake plant pups may seem difficult, but it is not. In reality, it is quite easy to do, we just need a little patience.
It all depends on a few factors, such as:
By following these tips, it is possible to build beautiful Snake plant pups without spending a lot in the process.
Easy Techniques to Force the Growth of Pups in Snake Plants
Making a Snake plant pup grow is easier with the right technique. See below how to perform these procedures.
1) Controlled stress
The controlled stress technique consists of, in fact, slightly stressing the plant. This way, it will be possible to make the Snake plant leave its comfort zone.
It is recommended to leave the soil a little drier than normal or, alternatively, to change the plant’s pot. From then on, the Snake plant will be able to generate pups more easily.
2) Division of rhizomes
Division of rhizomes involves cutting the rhizomes and separating them, in order to generate pups. It is recommended that the environment in which the rhizome will be placed is conducive to its development.
In addition, do not separate very young plants, because it simply will not work.
3) Increase the space between the roots
Another efficient technique involves increasing the space between the roots. This makes the rhizomes spread more.
This way, the production of pups becomes easier. Therefore, this technique differs slightly from the tradition of keeping Snake plants in small spaces.
Caring for Pups – It’s Essential!
A Snake plant pup requires a lot of care. Therefore, it is essential that you pay special attention to this little plant.
For example, when the pups are 2 to 3 inches long, you should separate them. To do this, use a sharp knife or special scissors, cutting the rhizome and replanting them in another pot.
Another important point is you need to use well-fertilized soil to plant the Snake plant pup. Fresh soil, which has not yet been used for other plants, is the best to use.
You should only spray the soil with water, never leaving it soaked or damp for too long. The plant prefers drier soils than moist ones.
In addition, extreme cold or heat are harmful to this species, especially when young.
With this care, it will be easier to see the Snake plant grow. But don’t be fooled, because you will still need to take care of this plant regularly even after you see it grow and become stronger.
Conclusion
It is highly beneficial to propagate the Snake plant. After all, it is an elegant, beautiful species with many fans around the world.
Using the techniques learned above, you will be able to propagate your Snake plant without spending almost any money. The ideal is to pay attention to details and not neglect the care of the plant, especially at the beginning of its life.
By following these tips and giving love to the plants, you will be able to have what you want so much. So, start multiplying your Snake plant right now. Enjoy a home full of life, with beautiful specimens of this unique species.
I found my snake plants at trader Joe’s in the floral decoration section. They were in the cut flowers. When I got them home I placed them in a pot of soil. They are 4 years old. They winterize in my bedroom window.
Hi Alton! That’s amazing! 🌿
Snake plants are so resilient, and it’s great that yours have thrived for four years! Keeping them in a bright window during winter is a great move. Have they produced any pups yet? 😊✨
Mine died that my son gave me last Mother’s Day. I’m heart broken. It has two stems left. I think I over watered them and didn’t realize it
Hi Linda! 😊 I’m so sorry, that’s heartbreaking when it’s a gift. ☹️ If there are two firm stems left, there’s still hope. Let the soil dry out completely, then keep it in bright, indirect light. Snake plants can surprise you and bounce back slowly.
Love ur advice I have my new green house finished in time to save all my house plants and yes I’m ready to propagate my snake plants I’m so excited for this spring to get here and I need all the help I can get thank u so much
Hi Shirley! 😊 That’s so exciting, a new greenhouse is a game changer! Snake plants are super easy to propagate, so you’ll have plenty of babies in no time. Spring is perfect timing to get started. So glad the article helped. Happy propagating!
Take it out of soil, get all the soil off and cut any dead stuff off leave as much of the leaf that is still green and plant in new soil. Just mist the leaves with water for a couple weeks. Then water small amount once a week. It might come back.
Hi Leroyn! 😊 That’s solid advice for trying to save a struggling plant! Cutting away the dead parts and giving it fresh soil can definitely help.
My Snakes are5 yrs old. Not only have the produced pups, the plants bloom every summer. The first time that happened I was shocked. Didn’t even know they would do that❤️I have separated and shared many.
Hi Melissa! That’s amazing! 🌿
Snake plants blooming is such a special surprise, and it’s wonderful that yours are thriving and producing so many pups. Sharing them must be so rewarding! Thanks for sharing your experience. Your plants sound truly happy! ❤️😊
What is the recommended fertilizer?
Hi Kerri! Great question! 😊
Snake plants do best with a balanced, diluted fertilizer, like a 10-10-10 or 20-20-20 houseplant fertilizer, applied once a month during spring and summer. Avoid over-fertilizing, especially in fall and winter when growth slows. A cactus or succulent fertilizer also works well! 🌿✨
Hello Melissa
What fertilizer do you use , I just got one.. wish me luck I’m so nervous.
Greetings
Hi Melissa, what do you do to your snake plants to cause them to flower? Or do every snake able to flower?
I am not a beginner but also not a pro. I have 2 snake plants but I want more. One of my snake plants just lost 2 leaves. Those leaves turned yellow pretty quickly. I am careful to not overwater. But I am not really good about fertilizing. So thanks for that reminder.
Hi Johnnie! Sounds like you’re doing a great job with your snake plants! 🌿
Yellowing leaves can happen for a few reasons, even with careful watering, sometimes due to old age, inconsistent light, or even temperature changes. Fertilizing once in spring and summer can definitely help encourage pups and keep the plant strong. Hope you get lots more snake plants soon! 😊
I have my mother’s snake plant that I remember her always having. So we can say it is 50 to 60 years old. The leaves average 24 to 36 inches long. Not a big plant around by any means though.
Hi Cathy! 😊 Wow, that’s amazing, what a special plant to have from your mom! Old snake plants like that are treasures. If it’s still healthy, you can gently divide it or remove a leaf or two to root and grow new pups.
I have my grandmas plant it is over 100 years old and still growing strong
Hi Evelyn! 😊 Wow, over 100 years old, that’s incredible! What a treasure to have your grandma’s plant still going strong. Those old plants really prove how tough they are!
Thank you so much for this wonderful advice!!!
Hi! You’re so welcome! 😊 I’m so glad it was helpful. Wishing you lots of happy little snake plant pups! 🌿✨
Rescued last year from underneath an inside under stairwell..very very dried out and on the way to trash.
Took them home, re-potted into stone pots in West window.
We water lightly, growing very well. Lush and babies.
Hi! What a rescue story! 😍 Sounds like they found the perfect new home. West window, light watering, and now thriving with babies? You’re doing an amazing job! 🪴🌿 So glad they got a second chance! ✨
Rita hello I have a snake plant that was left out in the winter and it froze.Will it come back to life?
Hi Jeanne! Oh no, poor snake plant! 🥺 If it froze, it depends on how much damage it took.
🌿 Check the roots. If they’re still firm and white or light green inside, there’s a chance it can recover.
✂️ Cut away any mushy, black, or frozen leaves and keep the healthy parts.
💧 Let it dry out a bit, and place it in a warm spot with bright, indirect light.
Snake plants are tough, so if any part survived, it might bounce back slowly! Sending plant hugs! 💚🪴
I didn’t know snake plants had leaves
Hi! 😊 Yes, what we often call “pups” on a snake plant are actually young leaves growing from the base of the plant. They start small and gradually grow upright just like the mature leaves. It’s always fun to spot those baby leaves popping up. Definitely a sign your plant is happy! 🪴💚
Thanks for the tips. They’re very helpful.
Hi Jim! You’re so welcome! 😊 I’m really glad the tips helped. Wishing you lots of happy pups and thriving snake plants! 🪴💚
How do I know how much fertilizer to put on my snake plant? I’m loving having 2 of them and I do so want them to thrive…unfortunately I have a reputation of killing plants. 😢
Hi Terries! No worries, you’ve got this! 😊 Snake plants are pretty forgiving, but when it comes to fertilizer, less is more. Use a diluted, balanced fertilizer (like 10-10-10) at about ¼ strength once a month during spring and summer. Too much fertilizer can actually harm them, so keep it light and they’ll thrive! And hey, loving your plants is already half the battle, they pick up on that care! 🫶
I have many snake plants…. I have made new plants from babies but no flowers. what do I need to do to get them to flower?
Hi Mari! 😊 That’s awesome that you’ve propagated so many! As for flowers, snake plants can bloom, but they’re a bit picky! To encourage flowering, try giving them a bit of mild stress: bright indirect light, slightly root-bound, and let the soil dry out more between waterings. A small dose of bloom-boosting fertilizer in spring can help too. It’s rare, but when it happens, such a treat!
What sun direction is best for snake plants? ie. North, East…. Thanks.
Hi Belinda!That’s a great question actually! 😊 Snake plants do best in bright, indirect light, and an east-facing window is usually ideal, gentle morning sun without too much heat. They can also tolerate north-facing light, though growth will be slower. Avoid direct harsh sun from south or west windows unless it’s filtered (too much can scorch the leaves).
My snake plants are getting floppy leaves. When I look that up it says it’s too much water or not enough. How do I know which?
Hi! 😊 That’s a common one! Gently check the soil, if it’s damp or the roots feel soft, it’s overwatered. If it’s bone dry and the leaves feel thin or wrinkly, it needs a drink.
Hello! I have a snake plant that produced a pup. Do I take it out of the soil and cut the pup from the other rhizome and plant in a separate pot? Thank you.
Hi Margaret! 😊 Yep, once the pup has its own little roots, you can gently separate it from the mother rhizome and pot it up on its own. I usually wait until the pup is a few inches tall so it handles the move better.
I enjoy growing Snake Plants and have found it very easy to do. I started off with two plants and now have over 30 plants because of them having so many pups!!
Hi Petra! 😊 That’s amazing, once they’re happy, snake plants really do multiply like crazy! It’s so fun watching all those little pups pop up.
Always love to learn !
My snake plant was my propagated from Grandmothers. It was shared with me by my uncle who estimated it to be at least 50 years old. ☀️ Imbso greatful to see pups already, and i’m hoping for a bloom or two in the next few years🌷
Hi Athena! 😊 That’s such a special plant to have, those old family snake plants are tough as nails.😅 If you’re already seeing pups, you’re doing everything right. And yes, older ones do bloom sometimes… it’s such a treat when they do!
Wanting to have a fuller pot of plants, is it still best to cut pups off and space away from mother plant. Or not a recommended method to having a larger plant.
Hi Julie! 😊 If you want a fuller pot, you can actually leave the pups attached, that’s the easiest way to get a bigger, bushier plant. I only separate them when I want new individual plants.
Hi any idea why mine are tall skinny & ganglie? The leaves are so tall & skinny that they break
Hi Anne! 😊 That usually happens when they’re not getting quite enough light, snake plants stretch and get tall and flimsy. Try moving yours to a brighter spot (still indirect light), and the new leaves should grow thicker and sturdier.
If I keep mine in a basement with no windows will it survive with artificial light?
Hi! 😊 Snake plants can handle artificial light, but they won’t thrive long-term without some natural light. If you have to keep it in the basement, use a good grow light and keep it on for about 12-14 hours a day. They’re tough plants, but they do need some kind of light source to stay healthy!
Thank you Rita. What’s the best kind of soil for a snake plant? Also, can I propagate by putting green leaves in filtered water?
Thank you again for all the great advice!
Hi Maria! 😊 You’re welcome! For snake plants, I use a well-draining cactus or succulent mix, they hate sitting in moisture. And yes, you can absolutely propagate them in water! Just cut a healthy leaf, stick it in water, and change the water every few days. It’ll root, though it takes a few weeks. Happy growing!
Can you spray the plants with peroxide
Hi Debbie 😊 I wouldn’t spray the whole plant with peroxide. It’s mainly useful as a very diluted soil drench if you’re dealing with rot or fungus gnats. If you think you’ve got rot, the real fix is letting the soil dry, trimming mushy roots, and switching to a fast-draining mix.
Hi Rita, great info here. It sounds like my plant might be in too large a pot. My tallest leaves are 3 feet high. A couple days ago I saw the leaves were falling outward. I watered and tied the upright. Today I dug my hand way down into the soil and it’s bone dry. I’ve watered again about a cup. How deep should the root be planted? When repotting can I plant the whole plant deeper so it has better support? The leaves themselves look and feel very healthy. Thank you. Kate
Hi Kate 😊 For repotting, keep the plant at the same depth it was before. Don’t bury the leaves or crown deeper, that’s where rot starts. If it’s floppy, I’d use a smaller pot, a gritty mix, and you can stake it temporarily until the roots re-anchor 🙂
I found my snake plant thrown out by the trash. It was an ugly plant. Yellow leaves and dying. I trimmed all the bad roots (over watered rot) trimmed the leaves. But I put it in a lg container. Didn’t know it likes the opposite. I also probably overwatered but now don’t. I will repot it soon. My leaves are now 2 feet or more tall. Didn’t know they could grow so long. Your advice is well received and thanks for sharing it.
Hi Robin 😊 That’s an awesome rescue. Snake plants love being a bit snug in the pot, so downsizing when you repot usually helps a lot. Sounds like you nailed the biggest fix by backing off watering.
Loved reading all your comments on snake plants, I am new to this and hope I do not mess up with mine!
Hi Phyllis 😊 You’ve got this. The biggest “don’t mess up” rule with snake plants is honestly just don’t overwater. Bright indirect light helps them grow faster, but they’re happy even with less light as long as the soil dries out between waterings 🙂
Very helpful!! Thanks