Did you hear the Snake plant can keep snakes and other insects at bay? If you plan to have one or already have one in your garden, this article is for you!
In this post, we’ll learn about the Snake plant’s best companion plants and their growing needs. You will also learn about some pests and diseases and tips to avoid them.
Let’s move on to the article and learn more!
Why Does Snake Plant Need Companion Plants?
Companion planting is the easiest way to improve the healthy development of plants. They enhance each other’s growth in many ways.
Now let’s see how Snake plants can boost companion plants’ growth.
The Snake plants’ need for companion planting is necessary for thriving vegetation. Planting them together keep moisture and soil nutrients, provide shelter, declines pest and disease, and improves the flavor.
Check out the companion plants that can flourish when planted with Snake plants!
8 Best Snake Plant Companion Plants
The best companion plants help in many ways. When grown with similar plant needs, it maintains plant and soil health.
Let’s look at the companion plants that work best with the Snake plant.
1. Succulents
Succulents are a group of beautiful, fleshy, thick, and hardy plants. Keeping them with Snake plants can give a desirable look to the garden.
Succulents are drought-resistant plants that can retain water within. Thus, they can survive in very little water. Both plants need less water with well-draining soil.
Both the plants’ Succulents, along with Snake, can purify the air. They are easy-to-maintain plants; therefore, they are considered good companion plants.
2. Bird of Paradise
Birds of Paradise are hardy plants extensively used as ornamental garden plants. Planting it with Snake plants can provide beautiful landscaping.
Bird of Paradise and Snake plants have similar air-purifying qualities. You can have them as indoor plants, which improves sleep quality.
Both are easy-to-maintain plants and are considered good companion plants.
3. Peace Lily
Peace Lilies are popular perennial plants. You can have them with your snake plant, which looks outstanding.
Both Peace Lily and Snake plants have similar sunlight needs. They can grow well in indirect light. They bloom even with less amount of sunlight.
Peace Lily and Snake plants have air-refreshing qualities. They are easy-to-maintain plants; hence, they are good companion plants.
4. Rubber Plant
Rubber is another beautiful glossy evergreen plant. You can have them with Snake plants which supplement your garden for better landscaping.
Both plants have similar requirements for sunlight, water, and soil. They grow in partial sunlight and keep the soil moist. When grown with the Snake plant also benefits equally.
Both Rubber and Snake plants are air-freshening plants. Hence, they are considered good companion plants.
5. Fittona
Fittona is another beautiful evergreen perennial plant. Plant them with Snake plants that can visually add fun to the garden.
Both plants can thrive with similar sunlight, water, and soil. They can withstand partial sunlight and semi-dry conditions and grow well in sandy, well-drain soil for healthy growth.
Both the plants Fittona and Snake plants can clean the air. They are easy-to-maintain plants; hence, they are considered good companion plants.
6. Mandevilla
Mandevilla, also known as rock trumpet, is a beautiful ornamental plant. Getting them along with Snake plants can add texture to the landscape.
Both plants can bear each other regarding sunlight, water, and soil. They can even thrive with partial sunlight and semi-dry conditions and grow well in sandy, well-drain soil.
Mandevilla attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees as they are beneficial pollinators for nectar. Like other garden plants, Snake plants benefit from Mandevilla and are considered friendly plants.
7. Spider Plant
Spider Plants with white-green leaves are notable when planted with Snake plant for delightful gardening.
Both Spider and Snake plants have similar air-purifying qualities. You can have them as indoor plants, which improves sleep.
Spiders, along with Snake plants, need easy maintenance and are considered good companion plants.
8. Calibrachoa
Calibrachoa is an eye-captivating herbaceous perennial plant. Growing them alongside Snake plants can display beautiful landscaping.
Snake and Calibrachoa plants have similar growing needs, such as sunlight, water, and soil. Featuring Calibrachoa in your garden can also provide ground cover, which makes them the best companion plants.
You can place Snake plants beside Calibrachoa, which attracts beneficial insects, including butterflies and hummingbirds, to keep Snakes and other garden plants lively.
The 5 Worst Companion Plants For Snake Plant
You may have observed few plants are challenging to others when placed disorderly. Here are the four worst companion plants not to be considered to plant with the Snake plant.
1. Elephants’ Ear
Elephants’ Ear are herbaceous perennial plants. Though they can thrive in partial light, the color becomes darker when introduced to full sunlight. The plant needs pH acidic to neutral, with moist, fertile, and well-drained soil.
Avoid planting Elephants’ Ear with Snake plants because their light, soil, and water needs differ. Growing them together can kill the Snake plant. Hence the growing differences make them bad companions.
2. Irises
Irises are perennial plants found in varying shades. The need for full sunlight exposure is essential for their growth. The plant Iries needs rich, moist, well-drained soil with neutral to slightly acidic pH.
Keep Irises and Snake plants away, as their light, water, and soil needs differ. Further, having them closely can cause drought and result in plant decline. Therefore they are not good companion plants.
3. Monkey Flowers
Monkey Flowers are herbaceous perennial plants. Though they can thrive in partial light, yet performs best when introduced to full sunlight. The plant needs moist and well-drained acidic soil for healthy growth.
Avoid having Monkey Flowers and Snake plants together, for their light, water, and soil needs are dissimilar. Further, having them closely can result in root rot and finally decline the plants’ life. For that reason, they are not considered good companion plants.
4. Carolina Jessamine
Carolina Jessamine is evergreen long-bloomers. They can thrive in partial light but need plenty of sunlight for maximum blooms. The plant needs rich soil and regular water to retain moisture in the soil for healthy growth.
Do not plant Carolina Jessamine and Snake plants together for their different light, water, and soil needs. Additionally, placing them alongside can result in root rots causing pests and diseases, finally declining the plants’ life. They are not considered to be good companion plants.
5. Ferns
Ferns are herbaceous plants containing a beautiful lush green texture. They grow in plenty of indirect sunlight for healthy growth. The plant needs moist and well-draining soil with a pH slightly acidic to neutral.
Ferns and Snake plants have varying light, soil, and water needs. Granting them in the same place can limit the growth of the Snake plants, declining their life. As a result, they are not considered good companion plants.
What Are Snake Plant’s Growing Requirements?
Take care of your Snake plant and understand their growing requirements for successful gardening. Here are the following growing demands:
1. Sun Need
Sunlight is an essential energy source for all plants. Thus plants rely on light energy to produce their food and the nutrients they need. The plant Snake also needs some source of light for proper growth.
They need morning sunlight, for about 2 hours from the sun’s rise. After that, they continue with indirect sunlight for about eight to ten hours daily.
Here sunlight plays a vital role in photosynthesis, healthy growth, and discoloration. Proper light can protect the Snake plants and drive away harmful pests and diseases.
2. Water Need
Water is essential for plants’ survival. The moisture allows the plant roots to absorb the necessary nutrients from the soil.
The Snake plant does not need plenty of water to survive. But it does require some amount of water when the soil feels dry.
Overwatering can break the cellular structure of leaves, damaging the plant and causing root rot. Waterlogging decreases the circulation of oxygen the plant requires at the root level. Water them twice during the spring and summer seasons.
3. Soil Need
Soil is an essential factor for plant growth. They provide all the necessary nutrients, water, and minerals the plants need for healthy growth.
The Snake plant needs sandy and well-drained soil for good growth. It works best in slightly acidic to slightly alkaline soil.
Proper soil care is necessary for healthy development. Avoid using excessive peat as it accumulates water, damaging the plant.
4. Fertilizer Need
Fertilizer allows the soil to stay healthy. It ensures healthy produce with balanced nutrients, holding the soil fertile. In the absence of necessary fertilizer, the soil can deplete, thereby competing for healthy growth.
The Snake plants need fertilizer during the growing seasons. Add organic compost or slow-release of 10-10-10 fertilizer to improve soil health. Feed the plant once in spring and last summer. Do not fertilize in frost months.
5. Growing Season
The plant’s successful growth specifies its growing season. You may plant them indoors and outdoors with little maintenance; they can prove visually appealing.
Snake plants are evergreen perennial plants that live up to 10 years. The seed germination growth rate is low and can take up to 2 months to reach maturity. But once soiled, they can quickly spread.
Grass Diseases And Pests
Here, I’m sharing plant Snakes’ diseases and pests that can take hold. We have also mentioned a few ways to deal with them. Using these easy tips, you can prevent such diseases from snapping back.
1. The List of Diseases Includes
- Gnats
- Root Rot
- Sun Blight
- Powdery Mildew
- Rust
2. The List of Pests Includes
- Aphids
- Thrips
- Whiteflies
- Scales
- Spider Mites
- Mealybugs
- Nematodes
Here are some Easy Tips that can help protect the Snake plant by limiting the spread of diseases and pests. Let’s look at them
- Herbal treatments such as neem oil can help treat garden pests.
- Apply fungicide or insecticide sprays if you come across leaf spots.
- If you detect the affected stems or leaves, you should remove them immediately.
- Proper drainage and composting are necessary for healthy growth; avoid too much water as it may damage the plant.
- Add companion plants to attract beneficial insects for successful gardening and avoid the bad companions that can deplete the plant growth.
Conclusion
In this article, we have discussed the Snake plant’s eight best companion plants. We’ve also mentioned the growing requirements for its healthy survival. You will also find some easy tips for treating the plant to help deter some pests and diseases.
But, to enjoy healthy gardening, you must know which plants to avoid pairing with the Snake plant. I hope you enjoyed reading this article!
Happy planting!