Can Snake Plant Survive Winter for Long

Snake plants are plants with thick and leathery leaves which have green colour and grey in some parts. Since these plants are low maintenance, so they are suitable for a beginner who wants to have a houseplant at their home. Snake plants are tolerant to low light and drought, but how about winter? Can this plant survive winter for long?

Taking Care of Snake Plants during Winter to Make It Survive

When winter comes, you need to give a little bit of attention to your snake plants to make them survive for long. During winter, your snake plants can live for a month and a half without water. Even you do not need to feed them. Nevertheless, there are several things that you need to be concerned about to make your snake plants survive in winter.

Don’t Overwatering Your Snake Plant

Snake plants are plants which do not need to be watered often. If you overwater your snake plants, they will not thrive for long. Snake plants have the ability to store water in its leaves so that if they are overwatering, the leaves will absorb more water then they need and it may damage their cells. Even it can split the leaves. So, how often do we have to water a snake plant in winter?

Since snake plants can live without water for a month and even more, you do not need to water them often in winter. To know when you have to water them, you are able to check the soil by using a skewer or moisture meter. If you find that the top two inches of soil is dry, it means that you have to water your snake plants. If you water them often without seeing the condition of the soil, it can lead to issues such as root rot and pest infestation.

There are several things to do to avoid overwatering as you are able to see from the list below.

• You need to choose a well-draining potting soil.
• Feeling the soil before watering the snake plant is a must.
• Make sure that the soil is dry and not moist.
• If you find that the soil of your snake plant is moist or even wet, you have to wait for a few days before watering.
• You have to check for the drainage holes and the tray.
• If you find that the tray is filled with excess water, you have to empty the tray.
• Make sure that your snake plant does not sit on still water for too long.
• You can make a watering regime.
• If necessary, you can use reminders or notes to help you know when to water your snake plant.

Don’t Give Your Snake Plants Excess Fertilization

Fertilizer is important for plants including snake plants. These plants need a very diluted feed. However, there is a regime for the feed. Same as other houseplant, snake plants need to be fed only during the growing season. It means that during the dormancy period which is in winter, they do not need it because they do not grow during this time. So, you do not need to fertilize your snake plants during winter.

The fertilization can be done in summer and spring. In the fall, you can fertilize them but the portion of the fertilizer is reduced to half. In winter, you do not need to fertilize them. If you give fertilizer too often including in winter, your snake plant can have leggy growth and stunted growth.

Below, there are several things that you can do to avoid overfertilization.

• You only need to fertilize your snake plants in the summer and spring.
• When feeding them, a very diluted feed and well balanced fertilizer are needed.
• During the fall, you can reduce the portion of the feed to half.
• It is enough for you to feed your snake plants with 10:10:10 or 20:20:20 fertilizer.
• During winter, avoid fertilizing your snake plants.

Move Your Snake Plants to Appropriate Area

When winter comes, you need to think of moving your snake plants to the right location to make them survive. If you put them near a window, then you have to move them to avoid getting a cold draft. Alternatively, you are able to close the windows to keep your snake plants safe.

Snake plants do not have a problem with heat, but they cannot survive with a very cold condition. They do not like temperatures below 50°F. So, during winter, you have to maintain the temperature around them. But, don’t put them near the radiators since the heat can affect the snake plants. If you put your snake plants in a very low light location, then you can give them artificial lights during winter.

Maintain The Suitable Humidity Levels for Your Snake Plants

Extra humidity in winter will not affect your snake plants. However, if the air is too dry, you can help it by using a humidifier of a plant to check the humidity level. If the temperature during winter reaches below 50°F, it is dangerous for your snake plants. So, you have to make sure that the temperature is warm around your snake plants. During winter, you can also put your snake plants in your bathrooms.

Some neem oil can also be sprayed on your snake plants by adding neem oil solution to the water and spray it using a spray bottle. This oil will prevent pets and insects and also will keep your snake plants safe.

Avoid Your Snake Plants from Stress

When snake plants experience a condition change drastically, they can be stressed. For example, you usually put your snake plants outside where they get high levels of sunlight and then in winter suddenly you put them inside specifically in your bathroom. If you do this, it can make your snake plants stressed. So, to avoid stress, you have to prepare in advance.

When fall begins, you can put your snake plants in the low light area for some time and then put it back to the same place. By doing it, you allow them to adapt to the condition that they will face. If your snake plants get stressed, they will have stunted or leggy growth, become droopy and even wilt.