Snake plants are basically among the lowest-maintenance plants in the entire world of houseplants.
That’s why they’re often recommended to beginners or people who usually have difficulty with more fragile plants.
They don’t react badly, they don’t ask for much, and they thrive in practically any corner.
However, it doesn’t mean that they don’t need care at all. Which is exactly where so many people accidentally mess them up.
Because when a plant is too easy, it’s tempting to treat it like a plastic decoration.
You still need to be careful, especially with these common mistakes that you should always avoid.
1. Watering on a schedule (instead of checking the soil)
This is the big one. The mistake that everyone has made at least once.
You look at the plant, think that you haven’t watered it for a few days, and then you water it.
Or you water it on a fixed schedule, for example every Sunday.
It’s the worst thing you can do.
What to do instead:
You should ALWAYS stick a finger down into the soil.
If it’s dry all the way down a couple inches, then water. If it’s even slightly damp, leave it alone.
Sometimes snake plants can stay for weeks without water, and they’re perfectly happy.
2. Keeping it in a pot with no drainage holes
Snake plants are not demanding, but if there’s one thing they need, it’s drainage.
A pot without drainage holes is like wearing socks in the shower. Nothing good comes from it.
When water can’t escape, it collects at the bottom, and the roots sit in it.
That’s when rot starts, and with snake plants, root rot doesn’t always show up immediately.
One day it looks fine, and the next day the whole plant feels mushy.
What to do instead:
Simply use a pot with holes. Always.
And if you love a decorative cover pot, just keep the snake plant in a plastic nursery pot inside it.
3. Using the wrong soil (heavy potting mix that stays wet)
Snake plants aren’t picky, but they do have a soil preference.
They want soil that dries fast.
Regular potting soil on its own can stay moist for too long, especially indoors.
And that’s when the plant starts getting that soft, droopy, slightly rotting from the base vibe.
What to do instead:
You should use a cactus or succulent mix.
Or also regular potting mix + perlite (like 30 to 40 percent perlite). The goal is airflow; the roots need to breathe.
4. Giving it love by watering more when it looks dry
Another very interesting thing I wanna say is that snake plants like trick people.
Sometimes the leaves start to wrinkle a bit and you think, “Oh no, it needs water.”
But it could also be root rot. And when roots rot, they can’t absorb water properly. So the plant looks thirsty even though the soil is wet.
What to do instead:
A healthy snake plant is firm and upright. If it feels soft at the base or smells weird, it’s not thirsty, it’s drowning.
If you are experienced enough, you could also inspect the roots. Alternatively, simply follow this guide on how to water snake plants correctly.
5. Keeping it in low light forever and expecting fast growth
Snake plants tolerate low light. That doesn’t mean they love it.
This is where people get disappointed. They put a snake plant in a dark hallway and expect it to grow fast and tall.
What to do instead:
If you want it to actually thrive, give it bright indirect light. Near a window is perfect. Morning sun is usually fine too.
Sometimes it grows twice as fast when it’s closer to the light.
It’s also important for the plant to make pups. Check the article on why your snake plant isn’t making pups (and how to fix it).
6. Not rotating the plant
Related to the previous point, you should also consider that snake plants can lean.
If the light is coming from one side, the plant will slowly lean toward it, as if it’s trying to escape the room.
After a bit, it will start to look kind of crooked.
What to do instead:
Rotate the pot every couple of weeks. Just a little turn.
It keeps growth balanced and stops the whole plant from turning into the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
7. Ignoring early warning signs because snake plants are unkillable
As we’ve seen at the beginning of the article, snake plants are tough, but they’re not immortal.
There’s this myth that they survive anything, which leads people to ignore obvious warning signs.
| Healthy signs | Not so healthy signs |
|---|---|
| Firm leaves | Mushy base |
| Upright growth | Yellowing leaves that feel soft |
| Slow but steady new shoots | Leaves falling over suddenly |
| Soil drying out properly | Wrinkled leaves and damp soil |
| New pups | Weird smell |
Snake plants don’t usually randomly die; they give tiny signals first.
And did you know that when it’s treated really well, a snake plant can actually bloom
It produces a stunning flower with a soft vanilla-like scent. If you want to see it happen, you can follow this guide on how to make a snake plant flower.