Repotting a Snake plant is one way you can continue to provide great Snake plant care as this is necessary whenever your Sansevieria starts to outgrow it’s current pot.
Thankfully this is quite easy to perform and doesn’t require that much skill to get it done right.
So if you’re just wondering how to repot a Snake plant then you’re in the right place to learn how to do it with ease.
When to repot a Snake plant
The most ideal time to repot a Snake plant is during the spring as this is when your Sansevieria is actively growing, but not so much as the summer.
This gives your Snake plant time to adjust to the new growing environment before the summer and more growth occurs.
It’s also a good idea to perform a repot during a cloudy day or when the temperature isn’t too crazy to prevent the roots and plant overall from being exposed to intense heat.
This of course is only if you’re doing this outside which is up to preference as you can certainly do this inside.
You will just need to have some space and lay down a newspaper or something to prevent the soil from getting all over your floor.
Overall the spring will be the best time to repot your mother in laws tongue as you have active growth, without extreme temperatures happening during this time.
Now if your Snake plant is severely root bound or damaging the container then you can ignore what season it is and go ahead with a repot.
Signs your Snake plant needs repotting
Thankfully Snake plants don’t need to be repotted as often as other plants, but there are some tell tale signs it needs a good repot to continue growing and looking it’s best.
Some signs your Sansevieria is in serious need of one include the following.
- Roots are growing through the drainage holes or container
- The pot is cracking or showing signs of damage
- Water isn’t being absorbed into the soil no matter how often you water
- Your Snake plant is drooping (not being able to absorb water can cause this)
- Stunted growth or no new growth
- The pot is constantly falling over (your Snake plant is getting too big for the current pot)
If you are noticing any of those signs and you have either never repotted or haven’t for several years then it’s certainly time to get started.
How to repot a Snake plant
To get started on a repot there are a few things you will need to get the job done.
- New container that is 1 pot size bigger than the current
- Fresh well draining soil
- Space to work with
- Newspaper (optional)
Now that you have the required materials, here are the steps you should follow to successfully repot your Snake plant with minimal issues.
[1] Water your Snake plant in it’s current container to make it easier to remove as their won’t be as much friction between the roots and the soil which can cause tearing if it were too dry.
[2] Prepare the new container with some fresh well draining soil and fill it to be about 1/3 full.
[3] Moisten the new soil a bit to help ease the transition and make it easier for your Snake plant to grow new roots as soon as possible.
[4] Place newspaper or go outside and lay your Snake plant on it’s side.
[5] Squeeze the pot and or gently pull the plant to get it out of the container. Avoid just pulling on the leaves as you don’t want them to tear off.
[6] Once you have the plant out, now is a good time to inspect the roots and prune away any unhealthy ones which would be dark, mushy or easily fall apart. You don’t want those going in the new soil.
[7] Carefully untangle the root ball so that the roots will have an easier time branching out, growing more roots and breathing well. Avoid damaging or tearing roots as this will increase the likelihood of transplant shock occurring.
[8] Now place your Snake plant in the new container at roughly the same height as it was before and fill in around it with the new soil.
[9] Fill all around it but don’t pack in the soil too tight as you want the roots to be able to breathe and you want the soil to have an easier time draining.
[10] Add more materials for extra drainage such as perlite or coarse sand to the potting mix and keep your newly repotted Snake plant in bright indirect light.
[11] You can hold off on watering right after repotting, especially if you already moistened the soil before planting. Now just wait until the top 2 inches of the soil are dry each time before watering.
How often should you repot a Snake plant?
Snake plants surprisingly don’t want to be repotted all that often.
Depending on how fast your Sansevieria grows or how much fertilizer you are using, the timeframe for a repot can vary wildly.
In general you can expect to repot a Snake plant every 2 years or so but you may not need to repot for up to 5 or 6 years at a time.
Again it just varies.
The best way to know when it’s time for a good repotting is when you start seeing signs that it has become root bound, or if it just seems like it’s really outgrowing the current pot and causing issues.
Overall it’s not something you’re going to be doing very often and that’s a good thing because for a every repot performed, there is a high chance your Snake plant can experience transplant shock.
If you don’t know what that is then you can check out my article on Snake plant transplant shock so you can differentiate it from other issues.
Frequently asked questions
Below are some common questions you probably have when it comes to repotting your Sansevieria so you can do it right each time.
What type of container should I use?
Snake plants can be repotted into just about any container type, but you will find the general consensus to be using a terra cotta container since the material allows for great drainage.
You should also only select one that is 1 pot size bigger than the current one as having one that’s too large can cause water drainage issues.
Also since Snake plants can be quite top heavy, opt for a wider pot compared to a taller one for best results.
What kind of soil should I use?
Snake plants can be grown in many different types of soil as long as one thing is met.
The soil has to be well draining.
A lot of people prefer to use a succulent and cactus soil mix for growing Snake plants since it drains so well, especially when you add in perlite and or coarse sand.
Should I water a Snake plant after repotting?
You should hold off on watering a Snake plant immediately after repotting if you watered before you removed it from the old pot.
If you didn’t water before starting then you can moisten the soil after you complete the repot, but don’t go overboard so your Sansevieria can get acclimated to the new container.
Should I fertilize after repotting?
If you’re wondering if you should fertilize a Snake plant after repotting the answer is no you shouldn’t.
The fresh soil will already be full of nutrients for your Sansevieria to grow quite well and fertilizing right after a repot will actually do more harm than good.
Plus it would be a waste of money and nobody likes that!
Closing thoughts
By now you have everything you need to know to successfully repot your Snake plant with minimal effort so you can continue growing a happy and healthy one for years to come.
As always have fun and enjoy the overall experience!