How to grow snake plant

What it needs

Light

Anything from bright indirect to genuinely dim. Avoid harsh direct midday sun.

Water

Every 2-6 weeks, only once the compost is completely dry. Far more of these are killed by kindness than by neglect.

Soil

Cactus or succulent compost, or ordinary compost mixed with grit or perlite.

Temperature

15-27C. Keep above 10C.

Container

A snug pot. It actually flowers more readily when slightly pot-bound.

Time to harvest

Not harvested — grown as a foliage plant.

Best season to start

Year-round — a houseplant, unbothered by the seasons.

Step by step

1. 1

   Day 0

   Choose a gritty mix

   Use free-draining compost in a pot with drainage holes. Getting drainage right at the start prevents the only real risk.

2. 2

   Day 0

   Position it

   Anywhere with some daylight. A north-facing room is perfectly acceptable.

3. 3

   Ongoing

   Water sparingly

   Water thoroughly, then wait until the compost is bone dry all the way through before watering again. In winter that can be six weeks.

4. 4

   Every 2-3 years

   Propagate by division

   When it fills the pot, tip it out and separate a rooted offset with its own roots into a new pot.

What usually goes wrong

• Soft, mushy, yellowing leaf bases

  Cause: Root rot from overwatering. This is the only common way to kill one.

  Fix: Stop watering, tip it out, cut away any soft brown root, and repot into dry gritty compost.

• Leaves creasing or folding lengthways

  Cause: Underwatering — unusual, but it happens after many months.

  Fix: Water thoroughly once and let it drain fully. Do not start watering frequently.