Need a houseplant that thrives on neglect and can survive challenging growing conditions? Look no further than snake plants. These resilient houseplants are popular for their eye-catching vertical growth and often variegated foliage. They are easy to care for, but occasionally you’ll need to divide your plant. Dividing snake plant not only encourages healthy growth for pot-bound plants, it’s also is the best way to get more plants for free. In this article you’ll learn all about when and how to divide your snake plants as well as get tips on other methods of snake plant propagation. 

What is a snake plant?

I don’t think there’s a room in my house that doesn’t have a snake plant (or three!). Snake plants are also called mother-in-law’s tongue (Dracaena trifasciata, formerly Sansevieria trifasciata) and are native to parts of Western Africa. They thrive where the soil is very rocky and dry, and because of this, they’re very forgiving indoor plants. Snake plants grow by producing pups, or new shoots which expand the plant into a larger clump.

Snake plant propagation

Propagation is the process of getting new plants. There are various ways of propagating snake plants, but here are 3 of the most common techniques:

• Division – As snake plants grow, their fleshy rhizomes spread and produce new pups, or shoots. Dividing a snake plant means splitting the plant into several sections. This is typically done with a knife and the divisions are then repotted into new containers. This is my go-to way to propagate snake plants because it’s quick and easy and results in instant new plants (no waiting for cuttings to root).
• Water cuttings – Another method is to root snake plant leaves in a jar or glass of water. This is also an easy way to get more snake plants, but it does take about 8 weeks for the leaves to root so it’s not super quick. 
• Soil cuttings – Or you can root leaf cuttings in growing mix. Snake plant leaves are cut into smaller pieces and then inserted into potting soil and left to root. It can take a month or two for leaf cuttings to form roots and longer for the new plants to grow.

The best time for dividing

Snake plants are pretty forgiving, but to ensure uninterrupted healthy growth, there is an ideal time for dividing as well as taking cuttings. It’s best to propagate the plants when they are actively growing; anytime from early spring through late summer.

As for how often to divide snake plants, plan on splitting them every 4 to 5 years as needed. I divide my plants when I want more or when they’ve filled the available space in their containers. 

Dividing snake plant

Start by gathering the necessary supplies. You’ll need these items:

• Sharp knife, garden knife, or hand pruners. This is for splitting the plants into smaller pieces.
• Growing mix. Because snake plants like a well-draining growing medium, I use a cactus mix or a 50-50 blend of all-purpose potting mix and cactus mix. These contain materials like peat moss, perlite, and vermiculate.
• Containers. Terra cotta pots are ideal for snake plants, but you can also use plastic or ceramic pots. Whatever type of container you choose to use, it should have drainage holes on the bottom and be large enough to accommodate the newly divided plants. I usually pot the new divisions into 4 or 6 inch diameter containers.
• A protective sheet, tarp, or tray. This keeps the work surface tidy and dirt-free. Dividing plants is messy!

A step-by-step guide to dividing snake plant

Now that you have your supplies close at hand, let’s learn all about dividing snake plant. Here are the 5 basic steps:

• Step 1 – Lay the plant on its side and carefully slip it from the pot. If it’s very root-bound you may need to use a butter knife to help pry it from the container. 
• Step 2 – With your fingers, remove much of the soil from the root ball so you can get a good look at the root system, rhizomes, and pups. 
• Step 3 – Using a sharp knife, garden knife, or hand pruners, remove a pup, or shoot, from the outside of the main plant. This piece should have its own clump of roots which will help it establish well after transplanting. Continue to remove pups as desired, taking no more than one-third of the entire plant.
• Step 4 – Fill the new containers with potting mix so they’re about three-quarters full. Plant the pups individually in the pots or in clumps of three, spacing them several inches apart. Add more soil as needed, but don’t plant them too deeply. They should be at the same level they were growing in their original containers. Replant the parent plant back in it’s original container or a new pot, if desired. 
• Step 5 – Water the newly planted snake plant pups and the main plant.

Propagating new plants from cuttings

Snake plant cuttings can be rooted in water or soil. There are benefits and drawbacks to each method. Water propagation is easy to do and less messy, but the leaves may rot before they have a chance to form roots. As well, rooted water cuttings may fail to thrive once they’re planted in growing mix. Rooting snake plant cuttings in soil isn’t difficult but it is a little messier. However, if you start the leaf cuttings in pots of growing mix, there’s no need to transplant them once they’ve rooted. Here’s more information on how to take snake plant cuttings.

How to root water cuttings:

• Using clean scissors or pruning shears cut a snake plant leaf from the main plant. Cut it at the base where it meets the soil. 
• You can use a whole leaf or cut a tall leaf into 4 inch tall sections – but be sure to keep track of which end of the cutting is the top and which is the bottom (I make a little mark with a sharpie).
• Using the scissors or shears, make little notches at the bottom of the leaf cutting. This increases the surface area for root growth. 
• Lay the notched leaf cuttings on newspaper or a tray for a few days to callus over. 
• Place the cuttings – bottom side down – into wide jars or glasses of water. Check to make sure the bottoms of the cuttings are completely under the water. The rest of the leaf will be above the water line. 
• Keep the water cuttings in a spot with bright, indirect light and change the water once or twice a week.
• Roots should form in 6 to 8 weeks. When the roots are an inch or two long, pot up the cuttings into containers of cactus mix.

How to root soil cuttings:

• Again, using clean scissors or pruning shears cut a snake plant leaf from the main plant. Cut it at the base where it meets the soil. 
• Cut each leaf into 4 inch tall pieces and keep track of which side is the top and which is the bottom. 
• Notch the bottom of the leaf cutting to increase the surface area for root development. 
• Lay the notched cuttings on newspaper or a tray for a few days to callus over. 
• Insert the cuttings, bottom side down, into 1020 seeding trays or pots filled with cactus potting mix. If you are taking a lot of cuttings, then it makes sense to use a tray. For just a few, you can use 4 inch diameter clay pots. 
• Keep the cuttings in a site with bright, indirect light. And keep the growing mix lightly damp – not wet. 
• Every few weeks, give the cuttings a gentle tug to see if roots have formed. If you feel resistance when you tug, you’ll know you’ve been successful. For cuttings growing in trays, carefully remove them from the tray and pot them into their own container. Eventually new growths will form at the base of the leaf and develop into new plants.

With certain plant cuttings, it’s a good idea to keep humidity high and cover the pots with a clear plastic bag or large humidity dome. I don’t do this for snake plant cuttings as they are prone to rot if given too much moisture. 

Snake plant growing tips:

The best spot for a snake plant offers bright indirect light. Too much direct sun can burn the leaves. They can also be placed in low light, which makes them a perfect plant for an office, but be aware that their growth rate will slow down. That means they won’t need to be repotted or divided as often.

As for moisture, snake plants should be watered sparingly, especially in winter. As succulent plants they have shallow root systems that are prone to root rot when given too much water. I water when the soil is dry an inch down – just stick your finger into the growing mix to gauge soil moisture.

For more articles on propagating houseplants, be sure to check out these articles:

• How to propagate Chinese money plant
• Learn all about propagating geraniums
• How to grow more Christmas cactus plants from cuttings

Did we answer your questions about dividing snake plant?