What Are Snake Plant Light Requirements? – The Full Guide

Sansevierias, known as snake plants, and viper’s bowstring hemp are some of the most durable plants you can grow at home. Their tough nature makes them super easy to care for.

These spiky beauties are low maintenance. These hardy plants almost thrive on your neglect.

What Are Snake Plant Light Requirements?
All snake plant varieties require natural light of medium intensity for growth, with indirect light being the optimal condition. They can also grow under artificial lights but won’t show the same growth rate.

Different Snake Plant Light Conditions
Although snake plants can survive in different conditions, creating the right environment for their growth is essential. Snake plants can grow in various light intensities, from low to high, but prefer medium-bright light.

Low Light Conditions
Snake plants can grow in shady corners and low lights. These versatile plants can tolerate lower light conditions, unlike most plants. However, their growth rate can be slightly slower in these low-light areas.

If you place your snake plant in a dim corner of your office, it won’t die from the lack of light. But it won’t grow as colorful as another of the same kind exposed to indirect sunlight. We do think they are an excellent plant for bedrooms.

Therefore, avoid placing snake plants in rooms without windows or natural light.

Medium Light Conditions
Snake plants grow in medium light and prefer natural light, making indirect sunlight ideal for growing them.

A perfect spot would be near an east-facing window, where plenty of sunlight enters the morning. The corner or center of a room that doesn’t receive direct light is also the best location for a snake plant.

High Light Conditions
Snake plants can tolerate high light levels and grow in full sun. However, if your plant has been growing indoors, placing them in full, direct sunlight can burn the leaves and cause the plant to be a little droopy.

Providing your plants with indirect sunlight is always the better choice.

How To Grow Snake Plants With Artificial Light?
These versatile plants can grow indoors with enough artificial lighting. Although you can use artificial lights to grow many houseplants, they can’t replace sunlight full-time.

The several types of artificial lighting have different effects on snake plants’ growth.

Fluorescent Lights
Fluorescent light bulbs contain more blue wavelengths of the light spectrum. The blue light end of the spectrum helps the average growth of foliage.

You can use them with “warm” or “full-spectrum” light bulbs, which have more red wavelengths, and root formation needs the red light end. You can also use soft white fluorescent tubes.

Fluorescent light is cool enough to be placed close to your houseplant. Identifying the source about a couple of feet away from the foliage can produce the best results, and it’s also the most popular and economical choice.

Incandescent Lights
Incandescent lights supply the red wavelengths necessary for the stimulation of root formation. Use incandescent lighting as a supplement to fluorescent light.

For the best balance, try to use one-third incandescent light to two-thirds fluorescent light wattage.

Incandescent lights generate more heat than fluorescent lights. Therefore, place them further away from your plant.

LED Lights
The light-emitting diode (LED) lights are another low-heat light source. LED technology is new and customizable. You can get LED light bulbs that produce both blue and red wavelengths required for your plant’s growth.

LED lights are long-lasting and energy-efficient. However, they can be a bit more expensive than other choices.

Halogen Lights
Halogen lights provide a full light spectrum. However, they’re less energy-efficient than fluorescent lights. They also generate a lot of heat, so you’d have to place them further away from the plant.

Signs Your Snake Plant Needs More or Less Light
If you notice your snake plant drooping and looking sad with downward sagging leaves, this is a sign it needs more light. Be careful not to place it in high-intensity direct sunlight all of a sudden. Indirect natural light will do just fine.

If you see the leaves starting to thin or blacken, this is a sign your snake plant needs less light. The sharp edges will start getting brown and crispy. Move the snake plant to a slightly darker corner to fix that flimsy look.

Wrap Up on Snake Plant Lighting
If you’re a beginner in gardening or merely a forgetful plant lover, you can still enjoy growing your piece of nature with these durable houseplants. Snake plants are beautiful and versatile.

These evergreen plants are super chill and easy to care for. They grow best in medium, natural light. Just make sure to place them in a spot with indirect sunlight, and you’ll be fine!