Snake plants are one of the easiest plants to grow and care for due to their resilient nature and ability to tolerate droughts by storing water in their leaves.
They aren’t too picky on things like light or humidity, but one thing they do require is well draining soil since they absolutely do not like wet feet.
Thankfully there are plenty of soil mixes out there that can provide adequate drainage and you won’t go wrong if you know what to look for.
When it comes to finding the best Snake plant soil, there are some things you will want to have a look at such as if it drains well, what the soil ph is, if it’s organic (personal preference) and if it’s affordable for your budget.
So here are some top picks, why they’ve been selected and more information on Snake plant soil requirements so you can grow a happy and healthy Sansevieria.
- Best overall – Perfect plants Organic Snake plant soil
- Best drainage – Miracle-gro succulent potting mix
- Organic choice – FoxFarm Ocean Forest Potting soil
Snake plant soil requirements
Snake plants also known as sansevieria or mother-in-laws-tongue require a variety of components to any given soil mixture for them to grow well and stay healthy.
Some things to look for when selecting your Snake plant soil mix include the following.
Slightly acidic soil ph
Snake plants require a soil ph somewhere in the range between 5.5 and 7.0 which goes from slightly acidic to neutral.
The reason why this is important is due to the fact that Snake plants will have a hard time receiving nutrients from the soil if it’s too alkaline (above 7.0) so they prefer slightly acidic soil instead.
Well balanced nutrients
A good Snake plant soil mix will be well balanced on the primary nutrients needed such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K).
Having a good NPK balance in soil will ensure that you get the healthiest and balanced growth since having too much of one and not enough of the other can lead to issues.
For example if too much nitrogen is given to plants, they can experience weak leggy growth which means thin or stretched out growth.
However, if the soil isn’t well balanced at first, it’s not the end of the world since you can balance it out later with some good fertilizer.
Great drainage
One of the most important things to know when selecting the best snake plant soil is how good the soil actually drains.
Snake plants are drought tolerant plants which makes them more prone to being overwatered which can clog the roots and eventually lead to root rot.
You really don’t want to deal with that and neither does your Snake plant.
So it’s imperative that the soil you decide to use drains well naturally, or has the potential too when extra materials are added such as perlite.
Also it’s a good idea to add a layer or pebbles or gravel in your container before you add soil so that the water has a safe place to go and not have standing water for too long.
Simply add a layer 1 inch high at the bottom and ideally drainage holes are included with your container so that the water can then go into a tray or saucer after passing through the pebbles.
Slight moisture retention
Although Snake plants love to have great drainage, you don’t really want them to be bone dry at all times as they require at least some moisture retention to grow properly.
Look for soils containing peat moss and coconut coir for that sweet moisture retention in addition to the materials that provide excellent drainage such as coarse sand, composted bark or perlite.
It’s important to note that when you’re watering, check to see that the top inch or two of the soil has fully dried out before giving your Snake plant a drink.
This will ensure that the majority of the soil has dried up, but that the lower levels still have some moisture being provided to the roots.
Top Snake plant soil choices
Below are the top choices of Snake plant soil mixes based on a variety of factors such as ingredients, soil ph, drainage capability, moisture retention, affordability and if it’s organic.
Perfect Plants Organic Snake plant soil
Specifically designed for Snake plants, you can’t go wrong with Perfect Plants variety of organic Snake plant soil. This soil mix is packed with all natural materials such as coco coir and pine bark chips. It also has sand and perlite for that extra drainage that Snake plants deserve.
Due to the materials used in the mix, you can also expect the soil to have great aeration so you don’t have to worry about clumped up soil causing issues. Plus all materials are organically sourced and no chemical fertilizers are used.
Pros
- Great drainage
- Organic
- Resealable bag
- Designed specifically for Snake plants
- Light moisture retention
Cons
- A bit pricey
- Soil ph isn’t specified (On the acidic side though)
FoxFarm Ocean Forest Potting Soil
If you’re looking for a soil mix that is super organic and has optimized ph for your Snake plant then FoxFarm ocean forest potting soil is a top tier choice. This potting mix contains sphagnum peat moss to provide nutrients and good moisture retention as well as sandy loam and perlite for extra drainage.
It also contains a variety of other materials such as crab meal, earthworm castings and forest humus.
The soil ph is slightly acidic between 6.3 and 6.8 which is a good spot to be in and allows for great nutrient consumption for your Sansevieria.
Pros
- Organic
- Optimized ph
- Good drainage
- Moisture retention
Cons
- A bit pricey
- NPK is unbalanced
Miracle-Gro Succulent Potting Mix
When it comes to providing great drainage, succulent soil is often the way to go and Snake plants will do just fine with Miracle-gro succulent mix. This potting mix is largely sphagnum peat moss for nutrition and moisture retention and also has forest products for that extra needed drainage.
This succulent soil is also pretty well NPK balanced with only slightly more nitrogen than potassium and phosphorous. Unfortunately if you’re looking for organic only, this one would not quality. It is more affordable though and gets the job done either way.
Pros
- Excellent drainage
- Balanced NPK
- Good moisture retention
- Affordable
- Has been fertilized
Cons
- Not organic
- Ph not specified (On the acidic side though)
Questions about Snake plant soil
Now that you know the requirements to have the best Snake plant soil and some solid options, it’s time to answer some common questions you probably have.
Can I use regular potting soil for Snake plant?
As long as the “regular potting soil” can provide good drainage, is slightly acidic in ph and can retain some moisture then you can certainly use a default potting mix for your Snake plant. If you find out it’s lacking in one area or another then you can always add or remove materials and optimize the ph on your own.
How can I optimize NPK ratio?
If your Snake plant soil NPK ratio isn’t well balanced from the start then all you have to do is fertilize with a well balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) which will even things out. You should wait at least a few months after planting in fresh soil so it can use the nutrients already provided though.
Can I use cactus soil for a Snake plant?
You can certainly use cactus soil for your Snake plants as this type of soil provides great drainage which is much needed. If you find the soil is actually draining too well then you can always add some peat moss to retain some moisture for longer and even things out.
Can I use orchid mix for Snake plants?
Some materials used in an orchid mix can be suitable for Snake plants in addition to Snake plant soil such as pine bark chips and or coconut chips to increase aeration.