After seeing snake plants in various homes, you probably think there’s nothing more about this houseplant that can surprise you. After all, their plant parents must’ve already bragged about their beauty and hardiness.
But these houseplants offer more benefits than you can imagine. These many benefits make snake plants the perfect candidate for a houseplant gift to your friend, lover, or family member.
We’ll uncover more of the benefits of having a snake plant at home in this article. You’ll be surprised at how these beautiful plants can transform your home and elevate your quality of living.
About Snake Plants
Botanical Name: Dracaena trifasciata
Family: Asparagaceae
Origin: West Africa
Plant Type: Perennial
Size: 12 to 36 inches indoors
Light: Prefers bright, indirect sunlight but can grow in low-light conditions
Water: Allow the surface of the soil to dry before watering it again
Toxicity: Mildly toxic to humans and animals
Dracaena trifasciata, commonly known as snake plant or mother-in-law’s tongue, is a succulent perennial plant that originated from West Africa. It’s from the Dracaena genus of the Asparagaceae plant family.
As one of the most popular houseplants worldwide, numerous cultivars have been created over the past years. Some of the most popular varieties include Laurentii, Compacta, Silbersee, and Compacta.
The plant was called Sansevieria trifasciata until 2017, so many plant parents may still refer to it as such.
Benefits You Can Get from Growing Snake Plants
Low Maintenance Greenery
Snake plants are one of the easiest plants to take care of because of how low maintenance they are. It’s extremely hard to kill them because of how hardy and resilient they are.
They can survive in various lighting conditions, from bright to low light, making them perfect for rooms with limited windows or natural light. They’re drought-tolerant, so they’ll survive even if you forget to water them at times.
Snake plants’ ability to thrive in less-than-ideal conditions, combined with their forgiving watering and lighting requirements and resistance to common plant problems, makes them a hassle-free addition to your indoor garden.
Beautiful Natural Decor
Snake plants’ tall and upright foliage can complement various interior design styles, from minimalist to maximalist. The dark green to grayish stripes or patterns on its sword-like leaves can add a touch of elegance to any room.
Various varieties of the plant can match your home’s color scheme. For example, Dracaena trifasciata ‘Laurentii’ has yellow-edged leaves, while Dracaena trifasciata ‘Moonshine’ has silver-gray leaves.
They can bring a touch of nature indoors and can make the atmosphere in your home more lively and inviting.
Air Filtering Ability
In 1989, NASA tested various house plants’ ability to filter the air in the NASA Clean Air study. The results of the study showed that the plants they tested, including snake plants, can remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the air.
Among the plants examined in the study, snake plants stand out as one of the few capable of effectively eliminating nearly all the tested compounds from the air except ammonia.
It’s worth noting, though, that NASA’s study was conducted in a small room. It’s best to grow a bunch of them if you want them in a larger room to get the most out of the plant’s air-purifying benefits.
Better Sleep
As we’ve said earlier, snake plants have amazing air-purifying properties. Toxins can negatively affect your sleep, so it can be a great idea to add the plant to your bedroom.
Another study also showed that snake plants are among the most effective plants in producing oxygen. Snake plants and other succulents are also more effective in reducing CO2 in the air at night time than other house plants.
With less carbon dioxide and more oxygen in the room, you can have a much better sleep than usual. So, if you’re having trouble sleeping at night, snake plants might be able to help you.
Allergy Relief
Nothing is more irritating than having a runny and stuffy nose, itchy eyes, and scratchy throat caused by airborne particles. If you also suffer from these symptoms, a snake plant may help alleviate them.
The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) notes poor indoor air quality as one of the main triggers of allergies. Since snake plants absorb toxins in the air, they can improve indoor air and alleviate allergies triggered by exposure to these pollutants.
Additionally, snake plants can capture dust and pollen, both of which are potential allergens. By reducing these allergens in the air, snake plants also reduce the chances of you suffering from allergy-related symptoms.
Mental Health Booster
Dealing with stress, anxiety, and poor mental health can be challenging. If you’re looking for a natural way to boost your mental well-being, consider introducing snake plants into your living space.
Research shows that the soothing presence of houseplants can significantly reduce stress and boost mood. Caring for houseplants, much like nurturing pets, also provides a sense of accomplishment that can help you feel better.
There’s even a special therapy called therapeutic horticulture that uses plants to improve patients’ mental, physical, and social health. While there’s no guarantee it will work for everyone, it’s worth giving a shot for your overall well-being.
Positive Energy and Luck
For avid believers of feng shui, snake plants might just be one of the best plants to grow in your home. It’s believed that they can bring in positive energy and protect your home from negative energies.
They’re best placed in rooms in the south, east, and southeast areas of your home. By adding them to these areas, it’s believed that you can make better decisions and become motivated, leading to a better life.
Feng shui experts also suggest putting snake plants in your dining room, as they believe the plants can bring you good luck and prosperity.
Better Productivity
You may have quite a lot of distractions that can be hard to ignore, causing you to be unproductive at times. If you’re having difficulty being productive and don’t know what to do, adding a snake plant to your office may be more helpful than you think.
A study done at the University of Exeter showed that plants can significantly impact a worker’s productivity and morale. The researchers found that adding plants, including snake plants, can improve the workers’ productivity by 15%.
While the research studies about this are limited, and it may not work with everyone, there’s nothing wrong with trying. Snake plants might be the solution you’ve been looking for.
Better Memory
It might be hard to believe, but just being in nature and interacting with various plants, including snake plants, can help improve your memory retention abilities. This is even proven by a study done at the University of Michigan.
According to the study, your memory retention and focus can be improved by up to 25% by just interacting with nature and plants. Introducing snake plants into your home can help bring nature indoors, which can result in better attention span and memory.
So, whether you’re studying for an important exam or simply trying to remember key details for a project at work, a snake plant can be your best friend. If it doesn’t work for you, at least you have a beautiful plant at home.