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Snake flora are among the more democratic houseplant out there due to their forgiving nature . But did you know that there are actually three different industrial plant , all going by the common name of snake flora ?
Nassauvia serpensandTurbina corymbosaaren’t as well known as the Sansevierias ( by the waySansevierias are now class as Dracaenas ) , so we ’ll be concenter on the latter here .
Photo Credit: Instagram @tawa_mure_sanse
However , the other two plants have like needs , so you may comply these tips as long as you keep an optic on them for signs of over or under - fertilizing and adjust accordingly .
What Kind Of Fertilizer Is Best For Snake Plant?
Snake plants get along easily with a balanced plant food containing additional macro instruction and micronutrients .
However , it does n’t need a batch to thrive .
Do Snake Plants Even Need Fertilizer?
There ’s a bit of argumentation on whether or not snake plants even need fertilizing .
The argument is that you render freshsoil for snake plantswhenever you ’re repotting .
As snake plants are accommodate for poor soil , the nutrients in the fresh soil can take a while to be absorb .
According to this disceptation , adding plant food just kick in the industrial plant more nutrients than it can process .
However , the other side of the argument is that there are indeed benefits to adding fertilizer .
Benefits Of Fertilizing
The most obvious fertilizer benefit is that the excess nutrients can advance full growth .
to boot , plant food provides several vital nutrients that can well be lost over time , such as :
insufficiency in these nutrient can result in stunted growth , a higher risk of gadfly and disease , and leaf drop-off .
Drawbacks Of Fertilizing
The only tangible drawback to fertilizing is the risk of using too much .
However , as long as you pay attention to the amount you ’re giving your plant , the frequency , and whether you ’re ante up attention to any signaling of suffering from your industrial plant , this risk of infection is middling much nonexistent .
The Best NPK Ratio
Now that we ’ve mentioned nutrients , we should in all likelihood talk about the Big Three , well known as the NPK ratio .
While these vital nutrients can have multiple benefit , each has a fundamental benefit and drawback .
Nitrogen is essential for healthy foliage growth , although too much can result in nitrogen perniciousness and leggy growth .
Phosphorus is most normally associated with full , healthy blooms but can also profit foliage .
Too much phosphorus will actually leech away atomic number 19 .
Potassium ’s key role is to bolster a flora ’s resistant system , but it ’s the most fragile of the Big Three and tends to be let out down the fastest .
So just what ratio should you use for your snake works ?
A balanced mix is best ; you could adapt the numbers as needed to twin your filth ’s health .
For example , 10 - 10 - 10 is a very safe proportion for snake plant when using a slow - release plant food .
However , you may prefer to practice 20 - 20 - 20 in nutrient - poor dirt or 5 - 5 - 5- in sword unexampled , organically enriched soil .
When in doubt , do a grime test and course your plant according to the results .
Liquid - soluble fertilizer are another affair , as these break down more quick and equally .
In this case , you ’ll desire to use something much less intense , such as a 1 - 1 - 1 or 2 - 2 - 2 , or load a 10 - 10 - 10 liquid - soluble mix to ¼ strength .
The good fertilizer type to use is one word for cactus and succulent , but a general fertiliser will also work .
How Often To Feed?
Again , this can depend a lot on the type of fertilizer and the strength of the NPK ratio .
Most slow - waiver fertilizer can be consecrate once in early spring and once in other summer .
Liquid houseplant fertilizers are commonly turn over every 4 to 6 weeks throughout saltation and summer and should be adulterate .
Always follow the instruction on the packaging , as every brand is dissimilar , and what proportion and frequency works for one steel may not work for another .
If your industrial plant prove signs of malnutrition , conform the dosages accordingly .
Natural Or Chemical?
chemic options be given to go pretty well , but they have a in high spirits risk of causing burns to your plant if applied incorrectly .
As a result , we always recommend choosing an constitutional plant food when potential , although there ’s nothing inherently wrong with using the chemical substance choice .
you’re able to purchase organic fertilizers at any garden store or make your own .
Possible alternative for homemade fertilizer include compost , dirty fish tank water , and nutritious - specific supplements such as coffee grounds or eggshell .
Slow-Release Or Liquid Soluble?
deadening - release formula such as granule can be commodious but have a major drawback .
nutrient tend to dissolve at different rate , meaning your plant will get a burst of one food and a inadequacy in another .
For this reason , liquid state - soluble plant food are almost always best , as they break down equally and are easily absorb by the soil and roots .
The only material drawback are that you ’ll feed the plant more often and have to be sure not to get it on the flora itself .
However , as liquid soluble fertilizers get their name from the fact that you ’re load them in water , these surplus feedings will be pass off in place of watering the plant during feeding time , so you wo n’t actually note the spare work .
How To Apply The Fertilizer?
During the leaping and summertime ( NEVER fertilize when the plant is inactive ) , the fecundation unconscious process is very simple – particularly if you already apply the soaking - and - ironical method acting .
You only sprinkle these evenly around the works for granule , careful not to get them too close to the plant itself .
For liquid fertilizer , you need to irrigate the same way you would for the soak and dry method acting .
teem slowly and equally , ferment your manner around the industrial plant while not getting the leaf loaded .
You do n’t want any part of the soil to get more than any other point , as this can damage the roots .
If the land is still absorbing as fast as you swarm and you do not see any seepage from the drainage hole , you may top things off with some distilled rainwater or natural rain .
