Propagating a Sansevieria (Snake Plant)

The Sansevieria – also known as the snake plant – is one of the easiest houseplants you can find. It barely needs water and grows happily in almost any spot. The good news? Propagating it is just as easy. All you really need is a bit of patience.

Want to grow new plants from your Sansevieria? Here's how to do it in four simple steps.

SHOP SANSEVIERIA

What do you need?

A healthy Sansevieria
Sharp knife or scissors
Disinfectant or pure alcohol
Glass of water or pot with soil
Optional: rooting powder

Propagating a Sansevieria in 4 steps

1. Clean your tools

Rinse your scissors or knife under hot water. Then disinfect them with alcohol to kill off any bacteria or fungi. This helps keep the cutting healthy from the start.

2. Gently remove the plant from the pot

You can propagate a Sansevieria by cutting off a full leaf just above the soil. Tearing is also possible, but cutting is safer for the mother plant.

Want more than one cutting? Cut the leaf into pieces of about 2.5 centimetres. Then cut a small upside-down V shape at the bottom of each piece – this helps you remember which side goes into the soil.

3. Divide the plant into cuttings

If you have rooting powder at home, apply it to the cut edges of the cutting and the mother plant. Let it dry well before moving on.

No powder? No worries. The Sansevieria usually roots well on its own, but powder may speed things up.

4. Choose your method: water or soil

Let the cuttings dry for at least three days. After that, you can choose between water and soil.

In water: place the cuttings in a glass of water and change the water weekly.
In soil: plant the cuttings in lightly moist soil and water thoroughly once.

Put the cuttings in a bright spot with some sun. After about a month, the first roots will start to appear.