How to Propagate a Snake Plant So You Can Share It with Friends

Snake plants are among the easiest houseplants to grow. Learning how to propagate a snake plant is simple and allows you to add new plants to your collection at no cost or share them with others. The sword-like leaves of this tropical houseplant root easily in water or soil, and division is a great option for large plants.

All you need to multiply your snake plant is time, a sharp knife or pair of pruners, potting soil, and water. A few simple tips will ensure the young plants thrive, providing plenty of new plants to add to your indoor jungle, or you can share with friends. Rooting new snake plants takes a couple of months, but the wait is worth it, especially when you start seeing new shoots appearing.

Know what you're going to get.

Unique foliage patterns, such as mottled leaves or gold leaf margins, are usually lost when a snake plant is multiplied by cuttings. A variegated leaf cutting will root, and new shoots (or pups) that emerge are generally solid green. A solid green snake plant makes a great houseplant, but you should know that a cutting won't produce a replica of the parent plant. Division is how to propagate a snake plant that looks exactly like the parent plant. Dividing your snake plant will give you new plants with the same leaf coloring as the original plant.

1. Divide a snake plant.

Division involves breaking the plant into sections and is the best way to propagate snake plants that have grown very big. Begin by removing the entire snake plant, roots and all, from its pot. Use a sharp knife or pruner to cut the tightly tangled root ball apart. Aim to create divisions with at least three leaves and accompanying roots.

Plant each division in moist potting mix in a container with drainage holes. Water the divisions well, allowing them to drain thoroughly. Place the newly potted plants in bright but indirect light. Water when soil is dry to the touch.

2. Root cuttings in water.

Rooting snake plant cuttings is as easy as placing a leaf into a jar of clean water. Begin by cutting a mature-sized leaf off an established plant. Place the cut end of the leaf in a jar or vase filled with a couple of inches of water. Put the jar in a bright spot and refresh the water, rinsing out the jar once a week. Roots should form at the base of the cutting in about two months. After roots form, plant the rooted cutting in a container filled with houseplant potting mix.

3. Start cuttings in soil.

Snake plant cuttings will root in moist potting mix, too. First, remove a leaf from an established plant, cutting the leaf at the base of the plant with pruners or a knife. You can maximize the number of new plants by cutting the leaf horizontally into 2-inch pieces. Make angled cuts or notch the leaf pieces to help you remember which end is the "bottom" and which is the "top."

Dip the bottom end of each leaf cutting in rooting hormone to encourage rooting and prevent rot. Place the cutting about a half-inch deep in moist potting mix in a shallow container with drainage holes. Once your cuttings are planted (cut side down), check the soil regularly to ensure it's moist. Be sure to empty any excess water that drains out of the container after watering to prevent root rot. After about two months, try to gently lift the cutting out of the soil. If you feel resistance, the cutting is rooted and established in its new pot. If the cutting pops out of the soil, replant it, and continue to water when it's dry.