You might have heard that Snake Plants ( Dracaena trifasciata , AKA Mother in Law ’s Tongue)are almost durable . While this is true , it ’s important to think of that ‘ almost ’ ! There is one certain - ardor way to kill your Snake Plant , and that is to let its root molder .
If you keep your Snake Plant in a pot with no drainage holes , you require to be very careful not to overwater your plant as the spare water will stay put in your flora ’s potentiometer and cause its roots to moulder .
Snake Plants keep in containers do not needs need drain gob in their pot , but they will be much easier to look after in a pot with holes . Using a locoweed with drain holes for your Snake Plant will help annul the biggest killer whale for these plants – root putrefaction .
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Why Is Drainage Important?
right drainage is all-important for most container works , including Snake Plants . Drainage hole in the bottom of the container appropriate extra water to flow out of the container and assist to annul a waterlogged potting mix .
Additionally , water moving through your plant ’s potting mix serve prevent the build - up of chemical from fertilizer and pat water that can damage your plant ’s rootage system .
If water is allowed to collect in your plant ’s container , as it does in slew with no drainage holes , it could make trouble for your Snake Plant .
Problems Caused by Lack of Drainage
grow your Snake Plant in a pot without drainage kettle of fish could cause several issues for your plant . permit ’s look at these return in detail :
Root Rot
When the potting mix of a container plant life is constantly wet , it provides the perfect post for fungous organisms to live and stock . Many types of fungi cause root putrefaction , the most common being extremity of the Pythium , Phytophthora , Fusarium , and Rhizoctonia sept .
These fungi take advantage of the pie-eyed conditions in waterlogged container to multiply and eat aside at the roots of your works , quickly causing massive amount of damage .
symptom of root rot can front similar to those of desiccation – teetotal , curling leaf , and drooping . It is essential to crack the water level of your Snake Plant ’s potting mix before watering it , as adding more water to a plant stick out from root rot will make the job bad .
If your plant has source rot , it ’s not necessary to determine which fungi are causing the job , the symptoms , and treatments similar for all of them .
Oxygen Starvation
We usually think of plant needing carbon dioxide to hold out . While this is true , it is a lesser - know fact that they also involve oxygen .
Plants take in carbon dioxide and oxygen through their foliage through pore called stomata , and they take in oxygen through their roots .
If your plant ’s roots are surrounded by water , as they are in waterlogged soil , they ca n’t absorb enough atomic number 8 and get to suffocate .
The symptoms of Oxygen deficiency are poor , stunted growth and yellow leave-taking which finally swing off , and the eventual death of your plant .
Oxygen deficiency and root rot go hand in paw , so if your plant is suffering from one of these issues , it is probable to be suffering from both .
Root Burn from Excess Salts and Minerals
When you keep your Snake Plant in a tummy without drainage holes , it makes the problem of chemic build - up and tooth root burn much more potential .
Tap water and fertilizers moderate table salt and minerals , which may be beneficial for your plant in very belittled doses but can be very harmful in larger quantities .
When H2O ca n’t escape from your flora ’s lot , these meat build up and roll up around your works ’s antecedent . This burn the roots and stops them from serve correctly . symptom of root burn include embrown leaves and roots and stunted growth .
Weak Root System Development
Your Snake Plant take a robust root arrangement to survive . If your plant ’s root are surrounded by water , not only with your industrial plant be susceptible to the trouble listed above , but it wo n’t be able to spring up new potent , healthy roots .
Without a healthy ancestor organization , your plant wo n’t be able-bodied to take in nutrient through its roots , and its ontogeny will slow or even stop . It may recede leaves , droop , or even croak .
How to Treat Problems Caused by Lack of Drainage
If you suspect any of these problems , it is vital to tackle them direct away . All of these offspring could kill your flora in a matter of weeks , so as shortly as you think there might be an issue , see your plant ’s roots and the water level in your plant ’s pot mix . For all the matter hand above , here ’s how to deal them :
Be aware that these problem can be very severe , and it is not always potential to deliver a works with mischievously damage roots . Hydra Plants are very tough , though , so it ’s worth a effort !
Growing Your Snake Plant in a Container Without Drainage Holes
It is potential to grow your Snake Plant in a container without drainage holes ; it just takes a bit more care than in a pot with them . Here are a few techniques that you’re able to use to improve the drainage in pots without holes :
Placing a layer of gravel, charcoal, or pebbles in the bottom of your plant’s pot
By placing a thick layer ( at least 2 inches ) of gravel , pebbles , or charcoal in the bottom of the hatful , you ’ll make it possible for water to move down into this level , forth from your flora ’s roots .
Do n’t use broken clayware for this purpose – the shape of the shards does n’t well let water through and will often halt water in the potting mix , increasing the job of waterlogging .
Adding a layer of activated charcoal to your plant’s potting mix
Activated charcoal absorbs water and so it a great option to improve drainage for your Snake Plant . It make water from your plant ’s potting mix and have it forth from your plant life ’s etymon .
Layer the fusain in with the potting mix as you pot your plant . Note that activated charcoal is not the same as ‘ barbecue ’ charcoal which may be treat with chemical substance . you may buy activated charcoal grey from garden sum , aquarium supplier , or online .
Mixing perlite or vermiculite in with the potting mix
Perlite and vermiculate are types of volcanic rock that absorb water and hold it by from your plant ’s roots in a similar way to charcoal .
Additionally , the porous nature of these substances means that they also halt air , which your industrial plant ’s beginning can get at to take in O .
Mix one - third perlite or vermiculite with your potting compost when potting your plant . you’re able to buy perlite and vermiculite at garden heart and soul or online .
If you ’re going to keep your Snake Plant in a muckle without drain holes , it is of import to apply an appropriately sized container .
The container should be small enough that water wo n’t string up around in the bottom of the pot for too long ; for a medium - sized works , a pot around six inch in diameter should be fine .
To aid the vaporisation of water supply from your Snake Plant ’s container , make certain that you keep your plant in a reasonably quick place ( 55 – 85 ℉ , 13 – 29 ° coke ) where it getsplenty of brilliant , collateral twinkle . A position a foot or two forth from a window will do nicely .
If you keep your Snake Plant in a container without drainage pickle , it ’s a good approximation to repot it once a year so that you’re able to assess the condition of your industrial plant ’s root system .
If you notice any problems with your plant ’s origin , such as sections turning black or chocolate-brown , regard repotting your plant life in a batch with drainage holes .
How To Water Your Snake Plant Without Drainage Holes
If you decide to keep your plant in a container without drainage golf hole , it is important to adapt your watering technique .
Snake River Plants are very drought tolerant and do n’t call for a mint of pee to outlive , and are much more likely to be damaged by overwatering than underwatering .
look on the conditions in which you keep it , your works will need tearing once a calendar month to once every three month .
During the summertime , when temperatures are higher , your works will probably involve lacrimation once a month , possibly less . During the autumn and wintertime , you might only need to water your plant every two or three calendar month .
Here are some tips for watering your Snake Plant if you keep it in a potbelly without drain hole :
Check the moisture content of potting mix before watering
Only irrigate your Snake Plant when its potting intermixture is wholly dry . you could ensure the wet level of your plant ’s potting commixture by stick to your fingerbreadth a few in down into the mix – if it feels at all damp , your plant does not need any more urine . You could also use a gravimeter for this purpose .
Use a syringe or spray bottle to water your plant
This is a great way to insure how much water system you give your plant . apply a syringe to interject the water directly into the potting mix , or utilise a spray bottle to spray piddle onto the top layer .
Remove excess water when possible
If you ’ve watered your Snake Plant and you think you ’ve overdone it , for example , if piss is sit around on top of the potting commixture , mildly tip your plant so that the water can hightail it from the top of the pot .
Never water you plant on a schedule or ‘just in case’
Giving your Snake Plant water when it does n’t need it is the easiest way to kill it . If you ’re tempted to top it up without checking first , baulk the itch !
Even if your plant could do with some water and you leave , Snake plant can cope amazingly well without body of water and wo n’t suffer from a miss lachrymation or two .
Is It Better to Grow Snake Plants in Pots With or Without Drainage Holes?
It ’s up to you whether you plant your Snake Plant in a kitty with or without drainage holes . Your plant will be much less susceptible to trouble make by overwatering or waterlogged filth in a plant with drainage holes , but it is possible to keep a Snake Plant happy in a container without them .
Just bear in mind that you will have to pay a lot more attention to your plant and be on the observation post for root trouble .
If you are a beginner gardener or often overwater your plants , it might be best to stray on the dependable side and expend a pot with plenty of drain holes .
AFinalTip
If you love the look of decorative containers without drainage trap but are worried about harm your works , there is an sluttish solution .
Simply pot your Snake Plant in a good deal with muckle of drainage trap , place a stratum of gravel or pebble inside your container without holes , then drink down your works inside . Water will drain out through drainage pickle of your works ’s quite a little and into the other container .
You ’ll still require to make certain you do n’t overwater your flora , but with this proficiency , it is much well-heeled to take supernumerary water should you exaggerate it .
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