Snake plants are one of if not the most popular houseplant in the world, and for good reason.
They are beginner friendly and easy to take care of, plus they look very cool in just about any room or garden.
If you want to provide the best Snake plant care possible then it’s wise to know about things such as humidity since it’s a big part of plant care.
So here is what you should know.
Do Snake plants like humidity?
Snake plants aren’t all that picky about humidity and will thrive in a humidity range between 30% and 60% relative humidity.
This can easily be provided when growing indoors since most homes or living spaces stay around 40% humidity on average.
This can vary though, especially on a room to room basis as places with water sources have a higher humidity level than those without.
For example bathrooms would have the highest humidity level in the house and kitchens would be a close second.
So to answer the question, do Snake plants like humidity?
The answer is yes, but you don’t have to go overboard and you shouldn’t as too much can cause as many problems as having too little.
On average if you’re growing your Sansevieria indoors, it will most likely be just fine.
Signs the humidity level is low
- Curling leaves – Snake plants leaves will begin to curl when it’s starving of moisture as this is a response to hold onto any moisture it can.
- Brown leaf tips – A Snake plant with brown tips can be caused by many things one of which is low humidity as it needs some moisture to operate effectively and provide nutrients to the plant.
- Drooping leaves – If your Snake plant is drooping, it could be the humidity isn’t as high as it should be, but this can also be caused by improper watering whether it’s underwatered or overwatered.
- Cracking leaves – If the humidity is much lower than the recommended range, you may see the leaves becoming so dry that they begin to crack or tear.
Signs the humidity level is too high
- The leaves are constantly wet – When humidity levels are too high, your Snake plant will start to sweat constantly and the leaves may remain wet as it can’t dry in time.
- Fungus has formed – Fungal spores such as powdery mildew can take form on the plant if the leaves are wet as it needs moisture to survive. One of the many reasons you really shouldn’t mist a Snake plant.
- Pests have arrived – If your Snake plant is attracting bugs, it could be the humidity is too high as they are drawn to moisture.
- Root rot – If your Snake plant is exposed to high humidity for too long, it will have trouble not only drying off, but using nutrients from the soil and it can develop root rot. Learn how to deal with that here.
How to check humidity levels
One popular and effective way to check local humidity levels is to use a hygrometer which can be bought online such as this one.
If you don’t feel like you need one then you can just use a rough estimate knowing that most living spaces tend to be around 40% humidity.
Just remember that rooms with water sources, smaller spaces or higher temperatures can all have an effect on raising the local humidity.
For example living rooms will have the lowest level since they don’t usually have water sources and are often the largest room of the house.
Bathrooms are often the most humid since they have water sources and are some of the smallest rooms in a house.
Kitchens will be somewhere in the middle since they have sinks and are more spacious than bathrooms with better airflow.
In any case, your Snake plant can thrive in most rooms as long as the air isn’t stagnant and the temperature is at a comfortable level.
How to increase humidity for Snake plants
There are a few different ways you can increase the relative humidity indoors for your Snake plant if you find out or suspect it’s too low.
Group plants
Grouping your plants together will allow the transpiration from each plant to be shared with the others, thus increasing local humidity quite a bit.
Just make sure none of the plants have bugs or pests since this can cause them to spread much easier.
Learn how to get rid of bugs on Snake plants here.
Use a pebble tray
A water pebble tray is a simple way to increase humidity for your Snake plant.
All you have to do is fill a tray with pebbles and water then place it underneath your plant container and the water will slowly evaporate which also increases the moisture in the area.
Just make sure the water in the tray isn’t actually touching the soil or roots in any way as that’s a recipe for disaster if left there too long.
Move locations
If you find the humidity to be too low indoors or outdoors, consider moving your Sansevieria to a new location such as kitchens or bathrooms.
Use a humidifier
Lastly a very simple and effective way to increase humidity in any room is to just use a decent humidifier.
I like this one since it’s made for plants, but you can certainly use it for other reasons if you want to.
How to lower humidity levels
If the humidity is above 60% in your growing area, consider trying some of the following.
Switch growing location
If the outdoor humidity is more ideal than indoors then you can simply switch growing locations or vice versa.
Maintain good airflow
If your Snake plant is in a room without adequate airflow, the air could become stagnant and thus have a higher than normal humidity level than it should.
Make sure all rooms have solid airflow, but also keep your Snake plant far enough away from any vents as this can stress the plant out if too close.
If the temperature is nice outside, consider opening a window or two to lower the temperature and often the humidity indoors.
Use a dehumidifier
If the humidity is just out of control then you can always opt for a dehumidifier to get things to a much more comfortable level.
Closing thoughts
When it comes back to the question of do Snake plants like humidity, the answer is yes they need humidity to grow well and most homes can provide the optimal level easily.
So thank you for reading and I hope that this was of use so you can continue enjoying the experience!