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Does this snake plant need a bigger pot
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Does this snake plant need a bigger pot


My mum inherited this sansevieria and it did well for about a year, despite it being in a fairly sunny room, (although with no direct sun on the leaves for all except mid summer). My mum mistakenly thinks plants are always thirsty so I've told her not to overwater and I don't think she has lately. But some leaves started bending and drooping in the middle ~past 6 months, and now the runners at the sides are barely supported by soil and just about tipping the whole thing over. To me this just obviously looks like the pot is tiny. But I've seen pictures of snake plants that happily clump in huge bunches of 12 stems in tiny pots. What's the go there? Is the pot's bowl shape not ideal, but why is it running instead of clumping? TIA.

by breadandlollies

18 Comments

  2. MaggieBarnes

    It needs a smaller pot. They want to be overcrowded. I also only water line once a month. They originated in a desert climate so they like it dry. Put it in a smaller pot. Toe a string around it at the base to help it stand up for a while.

  5. dreddit-one

    I think it’s etiolated. Looks like it needs more light to me. It definitely doesn’t need a larger pot.

  6. xMdot

    > despite it being in a fairly sunny room

    Common misconception here: they can survive in low light, but that doesn’t mean they don’t love the sun.

    This plant needs a smaller pot, less water and *more not less light.*

  7. Low-Stick-2958

    Pot is big and it really needs more light, shouldn’t be so skinny

  8. _MaZ_

    It needs light. The really tall ones aren’t going to get any thicker, I’d cut them off from the base, split them into multiple pieces and make props.

  9. ion-trapper

    For what it’s worth, these guys thrive in full summer sun in my area (South Africa). They can tolerate low light for a long time but they’ll grow very slowly if at all.

  10. tomayto_potayto

    It’s crumbling away to dust from lack of light, and it’s unsupported because the root system is all loose in wayyyy too much soil. Probably dealing with root rot due to inconsistent watering and not enough light to use the water or evaporate it from the soil.

    I’d clean the roots and report in a smaller, heavy pot with VERY WELL DRAINING substrate – add 2x what you think is necessary of perlite, sand, and pumice into a cactus potting soil. Then put it RIGHT next to the window and probably add a grow light. Turn it like 45 degrees each time you water.

    Also make sure your mom knows what overwatering means. It’s not the amount, but the frequency of watering. Many people make the mistake of thinking a little bit of water more often will be better for the plant, but that’s actually the exact opposite of what you want to do 99.9% of the time! Drench the soil once the top inch or so is completely dry, then let it fully dry out again. You need to have a snug pot for this indoors, because excess soil means excess water that the roots can’t use fast enough, and you can end up with root rot. But watering a little bit constantly also causes root rot IN ADDITION to your plant not getting enough water or developing a strong stem, because the roots/ soil NEVER dries and yet there’s never enough for a proper drink, and the plant doesn’t have enough to latch into within the soil (other roots) to be sturdy.

  11. pmsparks0

    Snake plants like to be a little root bound. Looks like it could use more sunlight. Good luck.

  12. kiorh

    Needs a smaller pot and direct full afternoon sun.

  13. editorgrrl

    >Does this snake plant need a bigger pot?

    No. Soil holds moisture. If there aren’t enough roots to drink it all, the roots will rot. (And wet soil is the perfect breeding ground for fungus gnats.) New pots should be one inch larger all around than the root ball. (So when the plant is completely rootbound, get a pot 5cm larger.)

    >My mum mistakenly thinks plants are always thirsty, so I’ve told her not to overwater and I don’t think she has lately.

    Tell your mum to let the pot dry out so thoroughly it feels very light when lifted. Drench the pot (or set it in a basin of water until the topsoil is wet), and drain well. Do not water again until the soil is bone dry. Never water frequently with small amounts. Let it dry, then drench and drain, let it dry, then drench and drain.

    >Some leaves started bending and drooping. To me, this just obviously looks like the pot is tiny.

    No. The leaves grew wide when the plant was getting enough light, but the new growth is narrow and cannot support the ends.

    Tl;dr More light, thorough but infrequent waterings. (Never water on a schedule. Only when the soil is bone dry.)

    >Why is it running instead of clumping?

    Cut the leaf at the far left of photo 1 at the base. Remove and discard the tough narrow portion.

    Cut a “v” into the bottom to maximize surface area. Allow it to callous over for several days (to prevent rot). Place in a small glass of water (just enough to cover the “v”), and wait for ages, topping off the water as needed.

    Remove the pups when viable and add to the pot. (I’ve been propagating the same leaf for years.) Then you can do the same with the other floppy leaves.

    If the new growth is narrow, the plant needs even more light.

  14. ReliefZealousideal84

    It needs a lot more light but no, don’t repot it. These plants love to be crowded and will do better with a bit less space.

  18. KeyOption3548

    Mine goes outside in summer where it gets full sun for about 4 hours a day. And I drench it with water a couple times. In the winter I may water it once lightly, or not at all, and it has a plant light for a couple hours. This summer I slid the whole thing out of the pot to check roots, and it’s not even close to pot bound. I put a fresh inch of chunky compost mixed with perlite in the bottom & slid it back into the pot. So no, it probably just needs more light.

    https://preview.redd.it/ylfnqwh7ubvf1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1419ce827c25ba6756357169803aada1e8283c30

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