Snake plants (in my humble opinion!) are one of the best houseplants you can get for your home. They’re super easy to care for, can live in almost any light conditions, and make a stunning feature in any room!
My snake plant was one of the first plants I ever propagated. I always remember how exciting it was seeing those little roots grow!
Now I have a snake plant in almost every room of my house, and all those plants came from just one leaf cutting.
If you’re keen to multiply your houseplant collection, propagation (again, in my humble opinion!) is the best, cheapest, and most rewarding way to do it.
You’ve probably heard there are several ways to propagate snake plants (in soil vs water), but which one is best?
Having tried both methods, the truth is that both soil and water propagation are easy ways to propagate snake plants.
If you want to learn what’s involved in each method and what the pros and cons are, keep reading to discover the best way to propagate snake plants!
How To Propagate Snake Plants
Snake plant propagation is very easy. Because these plants are so resilient, it’s hard to get their propagation wrong.
The best way to propagate snake plants (and the most common) is to do snake plant propagation in soil or snake plant water propagation.
How to propagate snake plants in soil
What you’ll need:
- Sharp, clean scissors or pruners
- Potting mix soil
- A suitably sized pot
- Water
- A rooting hormone (optional)
Here’s how to propagate snake plants in soil step-by-step:
- Find a healthy leaf – Any leaf that’s at least 6in (15cm) tall will work
- Cut the leaf at the base – Use your sharp, clean scissors to cut the leaf at the base, as close to the soil as possible
- Cut the leaf into smaller pieces (optional) – This maximizes the number of new plants you get from your leaf. Cut horizontally or make angled, triangular-shaped cuts. Ensure each cutting is at least 2in (5cm) in height. Be careful when cutting to ensure you remember which way is upright for the original leaf.
- Dip the end of each leaf cutting in a rooting hormone (optional) – This speeds up root growth, leading to a faster propagation
- Place the cutting ½in (1cm) deep in soil – Making sure the cutting is planted upright
- Water well and place the pot in a bright spot – Keep your cutting well-watered so the soil stays moist, but not soggy
After around 2 months, your snake plant should have formed roots. Gently pull it to check, or simply leave it in the soil and wait for the new shoots to sprout.
If your cutting hasn’t formed roots after 2 months, leave it in the soil until the shoots eventually start to grow.
How to propagate snake plants in water
What you’ll need:
- Sharp, clean scissors or pruners
- An old glass jar or propagation station
- Water
Here’s how to propagate snake plants in water step-by-step:
- Find a healthy leaf – Any leaf that’s at least 6in (15cm) tall will work
- Cut the leaf at the base – Use your sharp, clean scissors to cut the leaf at the base, as close to the soil as possible
- Cut the leaf into smaller pieces (optional) – This maximizes the number of new plants you get from your leaf. Cut horizontally or make angled, triangular-shaped cuts. Ensure each cutting is at least 2in (5cm) in height. Be careful when cutting to ensure you remember which way is upright for the original leaf.
- Place the cutting in a clean jar with water – Ensure the water is touching the base of the cutting. Place in a bright spot.
- Change the water around once a week – Make sure you rinse the jar well before adding clean water
As the weeks pass, you should see roots sprouting from your cutting(s). After around 2 months, the roots should be established enough, and you may even see new shoots begin to form.
Once formed, you can keep the snake plant to grow in water or transport it into soil.
Is it Better to Propagate Snake Plants in Water or Soil?
So, which is better? Snake plant propagation in soil or water? The truth is they are both quick and easy ways to multiply your house plants.
But each method has its pros and cons. Which is the best method for you depends on what you prefer, what materials you have to hand, and which cons you’re prepared to accept!
Keep reading for a summary of the pros and cons of snake plant propagation in soil vs water.
| Soil propagation | Water propagation | |
| How easy/difficult is it? | Easy – you need to prepare the soil, monitor growth, and keep it watered, without overwatering it | Very easy – simply place the cutting in water, change the water regularly, and wait for it to grow |
| How long does it take? | Around 2 months | Around 2 months |
| How much does it cost? | Can be more expensive – you need to buy soil and a pot | Very cheap – all you need is an old glass jar and water |
| What are the pros? | Easy to do Looks like a houseplant No need to transport | Cheap No fruit flies Easier to monitor growth More rewarding to watch |
| What are the cons? | Can fail if overwatered Can get fruit flies Can be more expensive Requires more materials Can’t see growth | Need to transport to soil after roots/shoots form Need to routinely change water to avoid rotting |
Snake Plant Propagation in Soil: Pros & Cons
To summarise the table above, here are the main pros and cons (in slightly more detail) of snake plant propagation in soil vs water.
What are the benefits?
Snake plant propagation in soil is easy to do. It requires little effort and, once you’ve made all your cuttings, it can become a houseplant almost immediately.
Some of the main benefits of soil propagation include:
- It’s easy to do
- It looks like a houseplant from day one
- You can care for it like any other houseplant
- There’s no need to transport it again after it’s grown (unless you want to put it in a bigger/different pot)
What are the negatives?
Personally, I’m not a huge fan of snake plant propagation in soil. I think there are more negatives than positives, but it all depends on what you see as a problem.
In my opinion, the cons of soil propagation include:
- It requires more materials, including soil and a pot
- It can be more expensive, as you need to purchase soil, a pot, and (optional) a rooting hormone to speed up growth
- Fruit flies can form in the damp soil, like any other houseplant
- It can get root rot if overwatered and fail to propagate
- It’s hard to monitor root growth
- It doesn’t have the same aesthetic appeal as water propagation
Snake Plant Water Propagation: Pros & Cons
On the flip side, water propagation has very different pros and cons. Here are the benefits and negatives explained in more detail.
What are the benefits?
Even though both methods are easy, I personally find there are more benefits to snake plant water propagation vs soil.
When you grow your snake plants in water:
- It requires fewer materials
- It can be cheaper (there’s no need for pots or soil, just an old glass jar and water)
- There’s no chance of fruit flies forming in the water (don’t we all hate those!)
- It’s easy to transport the cuttings into soil after propagation
- You can easily monitor root growth
- Growing snake plants in glass jars or propagation stations can be an aesthetically pleasing feature for kitchen windowsills or living room walls
What are the negatives?
Few negatives exist with snake plant water propagation. It’s an easy method that’s frugal, rewarding, and aesthetically pleasing.
However, there are some downsides, including:
- You’ll need to routinely change the water and clean the jar
- You’ll eventually need to transport the cutting into soil if you want it to grow into a large houseplant
You can keep your snake plant cutting in water, if you want to, as it will continue to grow in water.
However, it likely won’t grow into a large plant for a long time. It also may need a very large glass jar to grow into an established plant.
Summary: What’s the Best Way to Propagate Snake Plants: Soil vs Water?
There you have it! That’s how to do snake plant propagation in soil and water. Which method is best for you depends on what process you prefer.
Personally, I think the best way to propagate snake plants is in water. I like watching the new roots form and find checking the daily growth exciting.
With soil propagation, you can’t monitor any growth and have to simply wait to see it sprout.
I also think snake plant water propagation has a more pleasant aesthetic appeal than soil. But the choice is yours!
Which snake plant propagation method do you prefer? Are there other pros and cons I haven’t listed? Let me know in the comments! 😊
