Snake Plant

The snake plant is the one I recommend to people who travel, forget, or simply want a handsome plant that doesn't need attention. Those stiff, upright sword leaves store water and shrug off neglect. There's really only one way to kill it — and it's with kindness.

Light

It genuinely doesn't mind. Snake plants handle low-light corners that would make most plants sulk, and they grow faster and tighter in bright indirect light. A few hours of gentle direct sun is fine once acclimatised. This adaptability is why they end up in bathrooms, bedrooms, and offices alike.

Watering

This is the whole game: water rarely. Wait until the soil is completely dry — often every two to four weeks, and even less in winter — then water thoroughly and let it drain fully. The thick leaves and roots hold plenty in reserve, so a missed watering is no problem. Standing water, on the other hand, leads straight to rot.

Common problems

A soft, mushy base or leaves falling over means root rot from overwatering — let it dry right out, and if it's gone soft, unpot and repot into dry, gritty, well-draining mix. Wrinkled, curling leaves (rare) mean it's been bone dry for too long. Brown tips usually trace to inconsistent watering or sensitivity to tap water.