The Best Soil For A Snake Plant (& Ones To Avoid)

Although snake plants (Dracaena trifasciata) are ridiculously easy to grow and ideal houseplants for beginners, using the right soil is vitally important. You'll find that there are numerous snake plant varieties that are perfect for growing in your home and garden. But, as they're succulents, they need really well-drained potting mix that can be allowed to dry out in between watering. To give you the absolute best advice on choosing the perfect soil for your snake plant, House Digest spoke exclusively to Tiffany Selvey, House Digest's Garden Editor and in-house Master Gardener, to get her expert tips on the type of potting medium she prefers to use for these plants and the ones to avoid.

When asked what ingredients are necessary for the best potting mix for a snake plant, Selvey responded, "Like most succulents, snake plants need soil that drains well and doesn't hold moisture around the plant's roots. All plants are susceptible to root rot if they're in soggy soil, but snake plants will start showing signs of root rot like yellowing, wilting, and browning leaves if they aren't allowed to dry out between waterings." This means that you need to use a soil blend that contains lots of gravelly ingredients to help the water flow through the mix easily because the grittier the mix, the more spaces there are for the fluid to seep through and out the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot.

If you're not all that confident in making your own potting soil for your snake plant, then selecting a proprietary mix is definitely your best choice. When speaking exclusively to House Digest, Tiffany Selvey explained, "If you're shopping for a pre-made soil blend for snake plants, consider a cacti and succulent option. These usually include a balance of perlite, vermiculite, sand, and some peat moss. Sometimes, they also include slow-release fertilizer to help your plant recover from repotting."

These types of potting mediums have been scientifically created specifically for succulent species, like snake plants, to ensure they allow exceptionally good drainage. Of course, you also have to be conscious of not overwatering your plant at the same time and never allowing water to sit in a saucer under the pot. But, if you do want to make your own mix, Selvey had some recommendations. "If you have some different types of potting soil and amendments on hand, you can easily turn standard potting soil into a blend that works well for snake plants," she said. "I like to use equal parts perlite and potting soil for my snake plants. I've also mixed about ⅓ orchid mix with potting soil to help improve drainage." If you get this right, you'll be delighted to know that snake plants are one of numerous houseplants with abnormally long lives. 

Using a standard potting mix for snake plants is not recommended, according to Tiffany Selvey, who spoke exclusively to House Digest. "Although specialty succulent blends often include a small amount of peat, you'll need to avoid general peat-based potting soil," she said. "Peat keeps the soil moist — a nice environment for many houseplants — but it takes a while to fully dry out." While this type of moisture retention might be ideal for other types of indoor plants, especially those from more tropical regions, it's a definite disadvantage for succulent species like snake plants, which prefer a much drier environment. If your plant's roots are allowed to sit in water, or even just consistently damp soil, they will rot and result in the demise of your plant.

As a final note, Selvey explained what you should consider when buying or mixing your own soil blend for your snake plant. "The primary consideration when you're making or buying soil for snake plants is how well it drains," she said. "You want to look for a more gritty blend with sand and perlite and avoid anything that boasts its ability to retain moisture." Now that you're fully aware of what makes the perfect soil for your plant, you'll want to know how to keep your snake plant happy with these helpful pruning tips.