To keep the indoors of a house decorated yet green, there are no comparisons of plants. They make a place less toxic, greener, and peaceful.
While choosing ornamental plants, people love to grow snake plants. They are beautiful to keep, evergreen, and easy to grow. But are they only to be kept inside the house or they can be grown outside as well? Let’s know it all in detail!
Can a snake plant grow outside?
Snakes plants can grow outside. In fact, this ornamental plant prefers sunny and warmer weather most. Being tropical plants, snake plants find it tough to survive below 55° Fahrenheit. However, a snake plant can easily grow in an outdoor environment that has the proper temperature and light.
As a decorative plant, the snake plant has made its’ place into many plant lovers’ favorite lists. Also known as Sansevieria, this evergreen plant has beautifully patterned leaves which actually is one of the main reasons for its popularity.
The snake plant is a tropical plant. They love the sunlight and warmth of the outdoor environment. Many snake plants can live easily in shady areas. But they are not habituated to cold weather.
Snake plants are easy to grow and can be maintained even with less effort. So people who are mostly busy or gardening for the first time prefer snake plants over other indoor ones.
Though it’s usually kept a house plant, many people won’t grow snake plants outside to adorn their outdoor environment.
Well, that’s very much possible if you can offer them proper temperature and light. The standard temperature for snake plants is between 70° to 90°. Temperature above 55° is also a decent warmth for a snake plant to grow when outside.
Ensuring the ideal temperature and weather, you can grow snake plants in a pot or on the ground outside.
But since snake plants can’t tolerate cold, living outside in the winter might harm them. If the temperature drops below 55⁰F, there are chances the snake plants won’t survive.
So if you’re growing snake plants outdoor, keep them inside in the cooler months. However, by making proper arrangements you can grow snake plants outside your home in the winter too.
Can you put snake plants outside? Is snake plant outdoor?
You can surely put snake plants outside. In fact, you can put them in tubs as well as directly on the soil.
Snake plants grow in warmer areas, so if the outside temperature is warm enough for this plant, your snake plant is safe to grow there.
The outdoor temperature should generally be more than 55° Fahrenheit for snake plants to grow and live.
However, you can plant the snake plant both indoors and outdoors. With no or little extra care, snake plants can grow outdoor healthy.
The suitable temperature for snake plants to grow outdoors is between 55° to 90° Fahrenheit. The plant does not have a very rigid light requirement and can live in sunny and shady areas.
They do not require a lot of water; in fact, snake plants only require a small amount of water.
Three things to avoid when growing snake plants outdoors
If you want to add some decorative plants in the backyard or on the patio, a snake plant is an option you may like. They are evergreen and easy to maintain.
Snake plants can grow outdoor but that requires some extra care and concern. Here we’ve mentioned three things you’ll need to avoid when growing snake plants outside.
Avoid keeping them in the cold:
Snake plants cannot stand cold weather. They are at their best state when the temperature is between 55° to 90°. Being tropical plants, snow, frost, and temperature below 55° lower the chances of their survival.
So when growing them outdoor, make sure they are kept warm and move them inside the greenhouse if the weather is too chilled.
Avoid watering the leaves in the summer:
Snake plants don’t thirst for water like many other indoor or outdoor ornamental plants. Specifically, their leaves don’t require misting all the time.
The leaves of the snake plant hold water naturally in the summer and thus stay moist. Watering them again can cause them harm such as fungal issues, so you find it’s under watered, water the soil instead of the leaves.
Avoid keeping them in harsh sunlight:
Snake plants love hot weather. But they can’t be put in direct sunlight or when the light is too harsh.
This may burn their leaves and diminish their beauty. So when planted outside they shouldn’t be kept under direct sun.
How to grow a snake plant outside? How to care for snake plants outdoors?
Snake Plants are considered indoor plants, but these plants can easily survive outside if the weather is warm enough. To grow snake plants outside, you should make the following preparation-
Preparing soil mixture:
First of all, a proper soil mix should be ensured for the survival of snake plants. Snake plants prefer a dry environment. So proper drainage system should be ensured to keep the soil dry.
Besides, the soil should not be compact, and there should be enough space for the roots to breathe. Nutrient-rich soil helps the plants to grow.
Placing the plants:
After that, a hole should be dug in the soil to fit the roots. Then, the plant should be placed at the bottom of the hole.
Final preparation:
After placing, the roots should be covered with soil and watered adequately. If multiple plants are placed together, at least a 30 cm distance should be maintained to spread out.
Snake plants can survive in a hostile environment, but proper take care can help the plants to grow well and stay healthy. Following things should be taken care of to keep the plants nutritious –
Light:
snake plants prefer indirect sunlight. However, they also can survive in low light and too much sunlight.
Soil:
well-drained soil is mandatory for snake plants. Otherwise, the plants will rot gradually.
Temperature:
warm temperature, 55- 90⁰ F, is tolerable for snake plants. They cannot survive cold weather.
Can snake plants survive winter outside? What temperature can snake plants tolerate?
Being a tropical plant, it is difficult for snake plants to survive freezing temperatures. As a result, people tend to shift their snake plants indoors during the winter.
However, it would not be entirely true that snake plants cannot survive winter outside. There are many ways you can accommodate snake plants outside during the winter.
First of all, if you decide to leave your snake plant outside, choose a place where it does not get snow and has adequate access to light. Secondly, do not overwater the plant and not water the leaves.
Thirdly, you must avoid fertilizers during the winter. Winter might be hard for snake plants, but care can keep them safe even outside.
In general, snake plants can grow healthy between 55° to 90° Fahrenheit. This temperature gives the most suitable environment for the plant to perform.
However, harsh weather can be harmful to the snake plant. If the temperature gets as low as 5° Fahrenheit, it might cause the snake plant to face hardship.
Exposure to a long duration of low temperature can make snake plants not survive during the winter.
When can I put my snake plant outside?
Snake plants are able to grow both indoors and outdoors. In addition, snake plants do not require extra care for putting outside.
Snake plants require warmer weather to grow. Therefore, if the outdoor temperature is not less than 55° Fahrenheit, it is an excellent time to plant outdoor.
However, when the temperature is more than 90° Fahrenheit, you may need to take extra care of the additional temperature.
Another aspect of growing a snake plant outdoor is ensuring its required water. These plants need a minimal quantity of water.
So rainy season might be a little overwhelming for the growth of this plant. However, you must regularly water your plant in the drier season in small quantities.
Snake plants have no lighting requirement, so there is no concern for lighting. You may plant the tree when it is very bright or otherwise.
Final Thoughts
Snake plants are tropical plants. They prefer hot and bright weather to grow properly. So when kept outdoor, a snake plant will find the environment suitable for living only if the temperature is above 55° Fahrenheit. But they cannot tolerate cold weather that’s below their ideal temperature.