22 September 2009
Today I helped a friend re-pot his snake plant. Actually, he potted up two smaller plants together in a 14″ glazed ceramic container. Here is the “before” picture of the snake plants.
It is important to remember that snake plants are succulents, water-storing plants like cacti, and that proper drainage in the new container is necessary in order to avoid rot. Snake plants like to dry out completely between waterings. They also take much less water in the winter than in the summer, so it is important to water less frequently during the winter months.
I would also recommend using succulent soil:
This will promote good drainage and make all your cacti and succulents very happy.
The container that we used DOES have a good-sized hole in it, but we also put in a layer or rocks to ensure good drainage… If it sounds like I am repeating myself, I am, but I don’t know how else to stress the importance of drainage when it comes to succulent plants… Drainage.
So we take the plants out of their old containers and notice how the roots are potbound– they have grown into the shape of the former container).
You must open the rootball before placing the plant in it’s new container. Don’t be gentle, your doing this so that the roots grow into the new container. If the rootball isn’t properly loosened, the plant won’t grow into it’s new container. I should have taken a picture of this…oops. (Don’t worry, there will be another re-potting soon.)
Here is the finished product from today’s repotting session:
