September is a good time to give your snake plant a little attention before the days get turn cooler. These easy-care houseplants are pretty forgiving, but their needs do change as they move out of the summer growing season.
The biggest thing to watch is watering. As light levels fall and growth slows, your snake plant won’t need as much to drink, so it’s important to let the soil dry out properly between waterings. It’s also worth checking that your plant is still getting plenty of bright light and moving it away from any cold draughts as temperatures begin to drop.
There are just a few simple jobs to tackle now to care for a snake plant stay healthy through fall and winter. And if you’re prone to giving your houseplants a little too much water, an inexpensive moisture meter from Walmart (which I swear by for all my plants at this time of year) can make knowing when to water much easier.
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Start Cutting Back on the Watering
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This is the biggest one. Your plant will need less water as light levels and growth decrease over winter.
Crucially, overwatering is the main risk to your houseplants as we head into fall and winter. Take it from someone who has been there and lot plants owing to my over-zealous watering habits.
Let the compost dry out completely before watering again, and don’t be tempted to water simply because a certain number of days have passed.
If you’re unsure whether the soil is dry enough, check a few inches below the surface rather than relying on how it looks from the top. Remember, snake plants are drought-tolerant, love the heat, and will cope far better with being left a little dry than with sitting in consistently damp compost.
Make sure it’s in a pot with drainage holes. If you need to find it a new home, this green ceramic pot from Walmart is a beautiful option.
As I said above, a moisture meter is the best thing you can possibly get to make sure you’re not watering a snake plant too much. We recommend the Rainpoint digital soil moisture meter from Amazon, as it looks smart and it also lets you monitor your plants remotely via the app.
Make Sure It’s Getting Enough Light
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September is the point where declining daylight starts to matter for indoor plants.
As the days get shorter, check where your snake plant is sitting and make sure it’s still getting enough light. These plants are wonderfully tolerant of lower-light conditions, but brighter, indirect light will help support healthy growth as fall approaches.
If your plant is tucked away in a darker corner, consider moving it closer to a bright window in September. Just avoid placing it somewhere that gets intense direct sunlight for hours, particularly through glass, as this can scorch the leaves.
If your snake plant is in a particularly dark spot, a simple grow light (we love this one from Walmart as it would work for a small apartment) will give it the light it needs to keep it happy an healthy through the colder seasons. Plus, this light is easy to move and clip onto your pots, so your entire plant collection could benefit from it.
Stop Feeding Your Snake Plant
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By September, it’s time to start winding down your snake plant’s feeding routine. As natural growth slows, the plant needs less nutrition, so there’s little benefit in continuing to fertilize regularly.
If you’ve been feeding every few weeks during the growing season, give it a final feed now and then stop until growth picks up again in spring. We recommend using fertilizer that is specific to the plant, and the TPS snake plant feed from Amazon is just the ticket.
Over-fertilizing can lead to a build-up of salts in the soil and isn’t going to encourage healthy new growth when the plant is naturally slowing down.
Protect It From Cooler Temperatures
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Move your plant away from cold windows, doors and other draughty spots as temperatures fall.
Snake plants are tough, but they don’t appreciate sudden drops in temperature. As you start opening windows less and switching the heating back on, check that your plant isn’t sitting beside a draughty door, cold window or other chilly spot.
At the same time, avoid putting it directly beside a radiator. The blast of hot, dry air can cause stress and dry the plant out unevenly.
A good idea for moving a plant away from a cold floor or draft, and into more bright light is a plant stand. There are lots of beautiful options, many of which work well in small spaces. We particularly love this plant stand side table by Hearth & Hand with Magnolia, from Target.
Shop Your Snake Plant Care Kit
With just a few small changes to its routine, your snake plant should be well prepared for the months ahead.
Keep watering sparingly, give it plenty of light and protect it from extremes of temperature, and it should continue to look healthy.
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