Many houseplants are arranged in strategic locations to maintain feng shui and for decoration. However, did you know that a few of these same plants provide additional health advantages? The snake plant is well-known for its aesthetic appeal and ability to purify the air. Learn more about snake plant benefits, their health advantages, and how to take care of them by reading on.
A Snake Plant: What Is It?
Sansevieria Trifasciata is the botanical name for the snake plant, which is indigenous to Asia and Africa. The plant’s sword-shaped leaves grow erect, resembling fake foliage. Since snake plants require little maintenance, they are typically found in enclosed areas like homes and businesses.
When consumed in excessive quantities, the poisonous leaves of snake plants can cause swelling and numbness on the tongue. Snake plants should be kept out of the reach of children and animals.
5 Snake Plant Benefits
The snake plant, often called mother-in-law’s tongue, is a hardy succulent that can reach heights of several feet or six inches. Snake plants not only provide a touch of ambiance but also offer several health advantages; below are some of the best snake plant benefits:
1. Clean the Air Inside, Even at Night
Like other succulents around the house, Snake plants aid with air filtration. This particular plant is unique because it is one of the few to transform carbon dioxide (CO2) into oxygen at night. Because of its ability to promote healthy ventilation, this characteristic makes it the perfect plant for bedroom décor.
2. Eliminate Harmful Contaminants
Another well-known benefit of snake plants is their capacity to absorb harmful air pollutants. Snake plants can also absorb carcinogens in small amounts. Due to their capacity to absorb and eliminate harmful chemicals, snake plants have the potential to serve as an efficient defense against airborne allergies.
3. Mental Well-Being Enhancer
Although more scientific research is needed to fully understand indoor plants’ benefits on mental health, the idea that plants have a positive impact is widely established. Because of its therapeutic benefits, horticultural therapy is also utilized to treat mental health issues.
Adding indoor plants to offices, classrooms, and healthcare facilities is an inexpensive and low-risk way to improve these spaces.
4. Interior Design
There are numerous methods for using plants to beautify your home, especially snake plants. Because of their architectural design and long leaves, snake plants are ideal for nooks in the house and workplace. There are many types of snake plants; the smaller ones, such as bird’s nests or cylindrical ones, are good for a desk in the office or other darker parts of the house.
5. Signifying Virtues
The earliest snake plants are thought to have been grown in China, where their caretakers highly valued their symbolic meaning. The individual who looks after the plant is rewarded with eight virtues: lifespan, affluence, intelligence, beauty, art, health, and strength.
Varieties of Snake Plants
The leaves of the most common snake plant are thin green and have horizontal stripes of silver or gray. This plant thrives in low light conditions and can reach many feet in height. There are currently over 70 species in the Sansevieria genus. Among the more popular varieties of snake plants are the following:
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Bird’s Nest Snake Plant:
This plant, also known as the Hahnii, is comparatively small, reaching a height of only 6 inches. Like a bird’s nest, the leaf clusters form a close-to-cup shape.
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Cylinder Snake Plant:
The spherical leaves of the Sansevieria cylindrica can reach a length of several feet. This plant has outstretched leaves that resemble a crown.
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Laurentii Sansevieria:
Another well-liked snake plant is the Laurentii, distinguished by its yellow edges and green core.
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White Snake Plant:
One more distinct cultivar of Sansevieria trifasciata is called “Bantel’s Sensation.” Its leaves are a deep green color with vertical white streaks.
Maintenance and Care
The maintenance of a snake plant Snake plants are low-maintenance and require little care to thrive. It is one of the most common reasons individuals include them in their designs. These resistant, tenacious plants can withstand comparatively dry indoor and outdoor conditions.
Here are a few things to consider if you intend to have a snake plant in your house:
- Avoid overwatering. This plant’s weakness is an excess of water. To prevent rotting, keep a snake plant well-drained by not overwatering it. Water the soil only when it has dried thoroughly.
- Best of all is indirect sunlight. Snake plants grow best in partial sun, though they can tolerate brighter window spots or darker nooks. If they are fully shaded, the plant may grow bland and its leaves may become a little floppy.
- A healthy leaf should have its base chopped off, and the bottom should have an inverted V cut.
Final Words
Snake plants are as functional as beautiful. They require little to no care to flourish both indoors and outdoors. Other snake plant benefits are it can filter interior air, which helps keep you safe and healthy. Consider bringing a snake plant inside your house for aesthetic and health reasons.
