Why Snake Plants Make the Best Houseplants

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Calling all black thumbs; I’ve got the houseplant for you. Have you ever heard of snake plants? These fancy-looking plants feature sword-shaped leaves and can get as tall as eight feet! (Mine aren’t taller than a foot or two, though.) Snake plants are closely related to Mother-in-Law’s Tongue, which is the same style plant but with a yellow border around the leaves.

For those of you who aren’t so good at keeping plants alive, you’ll have a good run with snake plants. These houseplants are super hardy and can even grow in poor soil. Here are a few more reasons why I think snake plants make the best houseplants.

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Decorating helpers
Houseplants in general just make a room look good. They add life and a bit of green to a space. And snake plants are particularly good looking. Their vertical leaves are really interesting, and they look excellent in groupings.

Fit with any look
Snake plants definitely give off a modern vibe. I can picture these plants decorating a sleek home that’s all black furniture and minimalist. But snake plants also work just as well with my vintage-inspired style. They’re extremely versatile.

Easy to care for
Snake plants are about as easy as it gets when it comes to taking care of them. Keep them in the house near ample natural light, let them dry out between waterings and they’ll be fine. Snake plants also grow well outdoors on a porch. They prefer warmth, so bring them indoors during the winter. When you’re not sure, err to underwatering.

Space savers
Their dramatic vertical leaves don’t just look striking; they also save space. While many houseplants spread their vines or grow bushy, snake plants just grow vertically. You can stick a snake plant just about anywhere. And it’ll grow up—not out.

Improve indoor air
Snake plants are particularly good at filtering air. They can even filter out pollutants like formaldehyde. Keep a few in your bedroom to improve the air quality while you sleep.

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Here are a few more of my favorite houseplants.

What houseplants do you like to grow? Let me know in the comments!


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2 Comments

  1. Mollie
    May 23, 2014

    I’m pretty sure we have one of these in my husbands office. You’re exactly right about the modern vibe, that’s why I got it!

    I stopped by to let you know that I put a link to your DIY beeswax candles in my latest post. 🙂 If there’s a different way you’d like me to link to it or if you’re not comfortable with that please let me know and I’ll take it down. http://molliepop.com/honeycomb-salon/

    1. Red Leaf Style
      May 23, 2014

      Thanks Mollie! I appreciate the link. Fun post by the way! The hairdressers could also style their hair in beehives like in the 60s! Ha!

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