Can you plant two snake plants together? This is one of the most common questions on bonsai care forums regarding snake plants. Is this also the question you are wondering about?
This question probably stems from the intense vitality of this plant when it can live in the harsh conditions of nature. Snake plants can survive in low light, with little water, and in drought.
Many people like to alternately plant different types of snake plants to create an eye-catching whole. Will intercropping or side-by-side planting affect this species? Let’s find the answer in this article.
Can You Plant Two Snake Plants Together? YES or NO
The answer is yes. You can completely grow two snake plants together without having to worry too much about this problem.
As you know, planting two ornamental plants or alternating them can create negative effects on plant growth. They may be competing for light, water, and subterranean space. Therefore, most ornamental plants are grown separately in each pot to ensure growth.
However, you can completely grow two snake plants together without having to worry about the above problems. Each type of snake plant has its beauty with different colors.
Many people love snake plants with tall stems and pointed leaves and a basic green color. However, many others prefer the type with dwarf stems and leave with many different color patches. Therefore, intercropping them is a comprehensive solution for an attractive whole.
You also don’t need to worry about competition for underground roots because the snake plant’s root system is only slightly attached to the soil and does not grow densely over time.
Some Notes When Growing Two Snake Plants Together
There are no fixed rules for growing two snake plants together. However, to ensure this plant grows quickly and is healthy, you still need to pay attention to some basic principles below.
Nutrient-rich soil
For plants, the soil is an important source of nutrients to support plants and provide many other essential minerals. When you plant two snake plants together, it means increasing nutrients in the soil.
Snake plants can live in nutrient-poor and arid soil conditions. However, loose, moist, and high-nutrient potting soil will be an ideal living space for this plant.
The snake plant is a succulent plant that resembles a cactus, so it doesn’t need too much water and a humid environment. Therefore, well-drained and dry soil is an important factor in determining the growth of snake plants when living together.
The pot is the right size for two snake plants
A common misconception that many people have is the matter of choosing the size of the pot for the snake plant. Many people have chosen pots that are much larger than two snake plants because that means they need a large space.
However, a pot that is too big means a lot of water and moisture. Meanwhile, a dry and well-drained environment is the ideal condition that a snake plant needs.
Therefore, you only need to choose pots that are a little larger than two snake plants so that they can grow comfortably without being too tight. In particular, if the pot is too large or has few vent holes, it also leads to the accumulation of salts and minerals. It will greatly affect the development of snake plants when living together.
If you use tap water to water the snake plant, excess salt and minerals from the fertilizer will accumulate. To solve this situation, you should choose a pot with some vent holes and use pebbles or gravel as the final layer.
Gravel and pebbles will work to remove excess water and create space for the roots to absorb oxygen more easily.
Proper and sufficient watering
The more snake plants in a pot, the more water you need to water. Is this true? Watering does not depend on the number of species of this plant in the pot, it depends on the actual needs of the plant.
Two snake plants or more will have different water needs and this should be checked regularly rather than watered on a schedule. You need to check the soil moisture using your finger or a moisture meter.
Water only when the ground is about 2 inches dry. You should water slowly to let the water seep into the soil and stop when the water has drained out of the vent. Do not water the leaves at night because fungi and pests can grow in wet conditions.
Daylight will dry the leaves and stems to prevent the growth of fungal spores (Fungal spores are white filaments that are always available in the air and soil and cling to leaves. When conditions are wet, they will grow vigorously and produce white spots on the leaves).
How To Care For Two Snake Plants Together?
The care of one or more snake plants needs to ensure the general principles. However, when you grow multiple snake plants together, you need to ensure the space, the light conditions they receive, and the amount of fertilizer.
Some basic notes when taking care of snake plants below that you need to pay attention to.
- Maintain temperature between 60 and 75 degrees F (15 to 24 degrees C)
- Provide at least 6 to 8 hours of direct or indirect light per day. Make sure both snake plants receive light instead of a fixed location.
- Place the potted plant near the window, 1 meter away to keep the snake plant dry
- Watering depends on the actual needs of the plants
- Summer can be watered once from 7 to 10 days. In winter, you water less because this time the plants are dormant and almost dormant
- Fertilize once a month in the fall and spring. Do not fertilize in winter
- Fertilize with the standard amount as recommended by the manufacturer. Do not arbitrarily increase the dosage due to the increase in the number of plants in the pot
- Clean leaves, clean mold or yellow plaque
- Prune old leaves or pests to avoid spreading to other leaves
- Choose an evaporator pot to avoid waterlogging
Epilogue
Snake plants can be grown together with different types if you want a different whole. This combination does not create negative effects if you know how to balance and take care of them.
Choosing the right pot size, watering as needed, and ensuring well-drained, nutrient-rich soil are all important factors in caring for two snake plants together.
In addition, you also need to make sure elements like both two snake plants receive light every day instead of a fixed location. Move the pot or rotate the directions frequently so that the entire plant absorbs light and dries out.