The Best Places To Put A Snake Plant In Your Home

Snake plants are one of the easiest groups of houseplants to care for. They're one of the few houseplants that even beginners can grow because they don't require a green thumb to grow indoors, and they thrive off of infrequent watering. Snake plants can survive under a wide range of conditions, but they'll do best if you place them in a warm room a few feet away from a sunny window.

Caring for these hardy and handsome plants isn't just an easy way to decorate your home; it's also good for your health and well-being. According to Healthline, snake plants have been shown to convert carbon dioxide into fresh oxygen, eliminate airborne toxins like benzene and formaldehyde, and add moisture to the air. Growing snake plants in the right spot could do more than clean up the air in your home; they may also help you grow your wallet. Although they are mostly native to Africa and parts of South Asia, snake plants have some unique characteristics in Chinese feng shui and are good for attracting wealth, success, and positive energy. Here's how you can combine your snake plant's physical care needs with their feng shui styling tips to get the best of both worlds. 

While they commonly fall under one household name, there are actually over 70 species of snake plants. Every snake plant species may be slightly different, but most have similar care needs. Good plant health starts with the right soil, so make sure your snake plants have loose, well-draining soil. Cactus potting mix can be a good choice, as it's less prone to retaining moisture, and root rot from overwatering is just about the only thing that can kill a snake plant. Snake plants are related to succulents, so they only need to be watered about every two weeks and even less in winter. 

When it comes to placement for your snake plant, these little green guys are remarkably flexible. They can easily survive in dim conditions like bedrooms and offices. Of course, like most houseplants, they'll do best near a sunny window. Snake plants thrive without direct sunlight and prefer partial shade, so setting them about 6 to 10 feet from a bright window is ideal. Too much sunlight may burn their leaves, but they can benefit from the warmth of the sun as long as it stays between 70 and 90 degrees near the window. 

In feng shui, most live plants are associated with the wood element, which encourages stability, growth, and connection. Snake plants, in particular, are excellent for protection and boosting wealth and prosperity but will work best in balanced spaces where all of the feng shui elements harmonize. For this reason, you shouldn't put your snake plant in the living room if you already have other live plants or wood furniture. The bathroom isn't an ideal spot either because high humidity is harmful to the plant, and rushing water may drain its power away. A home office may seem like an obvious place to increase wealth, but be careful if you work in certain careers, as the plant may dull creativity. 

Where can you place a snake plant? The east or southeast area of the home is best for promoting wealth and success. Because snake plants send out a lot of chi energy, it's best not to put them by beds or cribs but keep them in high-energy spaces like the front entrance to your home, where they can protect your house and draw in good fortune. Of course, snake plants are also quite happy outdoors and on shady porches as long as the temperature stays above 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Remember that dead and sickly plants are one of the worst feng shui foibles of all, so wherever to put your snake plant, make sure that it's happy!