How to Propagate Snake Plants by 4 Easy Propagation Methods

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Snake Plants are easily propagated by plant division or from leaf cuttings which can be rooted either in water or in soil.

Snake Plant propagation by plant division is far much faster than propagation from leaf cuttings. From experience, the leaf cuttings can take upto 2 months to root. Cuttings rooted in water take much longer to root. Variegated Snake Plants grown from leaf cuttings will lose variegation; the new plant will not resemble the mother plant.

The best time to propagate Snake Plants is in the beginning of the growing season (spring to early summer) when they are in active growth for a faster establishment.

Let's dive into some facts about these plants. Snake Plant also called Mother-in-law's Tongue, Devil's Tongue, Jinn's Tongue, Bow String Hemp and Snake Tongue is among the popular, low maintenance plants with air cleaning properties.

Dracaena trifasciata "Golden Hahnii"

Snake Plants are evergreen, flowering plants originally placed in the Sanseviera Genus but have recently been reclassified into the Dracaena Genus.

There are about 70 species of Snake Plants, many of which are favoured for their variegated foliage with yellow or silvery-white stripes on the leaf margins. Check out these popular Snake varieties that you can grow in you home.

Mother-in-law's Tongue Plants are some of the best hard to kill plants and can tolerate low light, dry air, drafts and periods of dryness. Their major drawback is root-rot especially in poorly drained soils.

However, Snake Plants are easy to grow when given bright light with 6-8 hours of direct sunlight, average warmth and moderately moist, loose, fertile, succulents soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season. Learn how to grow and care for Snake Plants (Sansevieria).

Now let's get into the gist of the propagation of these plants. Snake Plants are easy to propagate by the following 4 methods. Keep reading for a detailed account on these methods.

Dracaena trifasciata "Hahnii"

1. Propagating Snake Plants by plant division in soil

1. Water the plant thoroughly at least 1 day before to make it easier to divide and also hasten establishment as a well hydrated plant suffers less shock and takes a shorter time to take root.


2. Remove the plant from its pot and get rid of excess soil from the roots with your hands or wash it off with some water.


3. With a clean, sharp pair of pruning scissors, divide the into several sections. Ensure each sections has adequate roots to hasten rooting.


4. Select a 6 or 8 inches pot and ensure that the pot has adequate drainage to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to rotting.


5. Fill the pot with a succulents potting mix and make a hole in the center of the pot. Ensure that the hole is slightly wider than the root base of the section.


6. Place the section in the previously made hole and lightly firm the soil around the base while taking care not to bury it too deep; maintain the section at the same soil level it was in the previous pot.


7. Liberally water the soil until water comes out through the drainage holes.

8. Place the pots in a warm (21-27⁰C), well-lit place away from direct sunlight until new growth has emerged on the sections.


9. Maintain the soil moist until the new plants have shown substancial growth. Once well established, you can begin routine care.

2. Propagating Snake Plant by plant division in water

1. Water the plant thoroughly at least 1 day before to make it easier to divide and also hasten establishment.


2. Slip the plant out of its pot. Thoroughly wash the roots with plenty of water to get rid of the soil.


3. Divide the into several sections by cutting through the roots and rhizome with a sharp, sterilized pair of pruning scissors. Ensure each sections has adequate roots to encourage rooting.


4. Place each division in a jar of plain water or in a propagation station.


5. Position the set up in a warm, well-lit spot away from direct sunlight. Change the water every 5-7 days.


6. When a good amount of new roots have formed on the sections, transfer the sections into individual pots in moist, succulents potting soil.


7. Place the set up in a warm (21-27⁰C), well-lit spot away from direct sunlight to prevent scorching.


8. Maintain the soil moist until new growth has emerged and substantial growth has been observed.


9. Transfer the new plants into a pot 1 size larger than the current one in well-drained succulents soils. At this point you can begin routine care.

Dracaena trifasciata "Laurentii"

3. Propagating Snake Plant from leaf cuttings in soil

1. Take leaf cuttings of about 2-3 inches length from a healthy, mature plant. Notch the lower cut end with a v-shaped cut to increase surface area for rooting.


2. To prevent rotting, allow the cutting to dry out (callous) for a 1-3 days.


3. Dip the lower cut end (v-shaped) of the leaf cuttings in a rooting hormone to encourage rooting.


4. Select a rooting container and ensure that there is adequate drainage to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to rotting.


5. Fill the container with succulents potting mix and make a hole in the center.


6. Make sure that the hole is slightly wider than the base of the Snake Plant leaf cutting.


7. Insert about 2-3 inches of the lower cut end of the leaf cutting in the previously made hole and lightly firm the soil around the leaf cutting while taking care not to bury it too deep.


8. Water the soil thoroughly and cover the set up with clear polythene sheet to create a greenhouse effect to hasten rooting.


9. Place the set up in a well-lit, warm (21-27⁰C) spot. Adequate light and warmth are necessary for faster rooting.


10. Maintain the soil moist until rooting occurs; rooting will occur in about 3-6 weeks. When you observe new growth, the new plant can be transplanted to its own pot after which you can begin routine care.

Dracaena trifasciata "Bentels Sensation"

4. Propagating Snake Plant from leaf cuttings in water

1. Take leaf cuttings of about 2 inches length from a healthy, mature plant and notch the lower cut end with a v-shaped cut to increase surface area for rooting.


2. Allow the cutting to dry out (callous) for a 1-3 days to prevent rotting.


3. Dip the lower cut end (v-shaped) in a rooting hormone to hasten rooting.


4. Place the cuttings in a jar of plain water or in a propagation station.


5. Place the set up in a warm, well-lit spot away from direct sunlight. Change the water every 5-7 days.


6. When a good amount of roots have formed on the cuttings, transfer the cuttings into small pots (6-8 inches wide) in moist, quality, rooting soil.


7. Position the set up in a warm (21-27⁰C), well-lit place away from direct sunlight to prevent scorching.


8. Maintain the soil moist until new growth has emerged and substantial growth has been observed.


9. Transplant the new plant into a pot 1 size larger than the current one while ensuring that the soil is well-drained. You can begin routine care at this point.

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