Plant
Snake plant.
Dracaena trifasciata
A rhizomatous West African succulent with stiff, upright leaves that uses CAM photosynthesis, opening its stomata at night to save water. It tolerates dim rooms but grows and colors best in brighter light.
How to help it thrive.
Light & placement
It survives on 500–2,500 lux in a hallway, but grows faster and keeps ‘Laurentii’ margins bright at 5,000–20,000 lux. After 1–2 weeks of acclimation it takes several hours of direct sun.
Water & drainage
Water only when 75–100% of the mix is dry, typically every 2–3 weeks in summer and 3–6 weeks in winter, and keep water out of the center of the rosette. Below 10 °C (50 °F) in wet mix, the leaf bases rot.
One thing to remember
Soft, translucent leaf bases with damp mix mean rot: cut back to firm tissue and reroot the healthy part instead of adding water.
Further reading: Horticultural source
