What is a Snake Plant?
The snake plant is often used as home décor and can be found present in many houses for decorative or Feng shui purposes. It is a common house plant and is also known as Sansevieria trifasciata. It has sword-shaped leaves that grow upward. These plants are easy to care for and are very pleasing to the eyes.
It is present in varieties the most common one being the plant that has foliage representing slender, long leaves with silver streaks that grow up and long.
Bird Nest Snake Plant: This type is also known as Hahnii. It is small and grows up to 6 feet and its feet resemble a cup and is similar to a bird’s nest.
Cylindrical Snake Plant: This type has round leaves and grows several feet in length. Its leaves resemble a crown.
Laurentii Snake Plant: This plant has green-colored leaves that have yellow borders.
Twisted Sister: This variety is hard to find and has gold and green leaves.
White Snake Plant: It is another unique variety that has dark green leaves with white vertical shapes.
Rhino Grass: This attractive houseplant has a tight clump of vertical leaves.
Snake plant is easy to care for, can withstand low-light conditions, has less water requirement, and can survive the dry environment, both indoors and outdoors.
Benefits of Snake Plant
Have you ever wondered a plant that is mostly used to decorate the interior can have health benefitting properties? Yes, along with enhancing the décor, the snake plant has numerous benefits, which include:
- Filtering indoor air
- Boosting mental health
- Removing toxic pollutants
- Effectiveness against allergies
- Help with minor ailments
- Enhances energy of the space
1. Filters Indoor Air
Just like other household succulents, snake plants also help to filter indoor air. It is amongst those plants that can convert carbon dioxide into oxygen at night. This makes the plant perfect for bedroom décor as it can regulate healthy airflow.
2. Boosts Mental Health
Plants have a positive role to play in mental health.(1) Horticulture therapy is used in mental health therapy because of its therapeutic properties.
Indoor plants can be placed in schools, workplaces, and medical facilities as low maintenance and low-risk ways to improve these environments.
3. Removes Toxic Pollutants
Snake plants can remove toxic pollutants from the air. It can also absorb cancer-causing pollutants, which include:
- Carbon dioxide
- Xylene
- Toluene
- Benzene
- Formaldehyde
- Trichloroethylene
Along with being able to remove harmful toxins, snake plants may act as an effective defense against airborne allergies.
4. Effective Against Allergies
Snake plant releases oxygen and add moisture to the air, thereby lessening the impact of airborne allergens like dust and dander.
Poor air quality is linked with numerous respiratory affections such as asthma and allergic diseases. This plant can definitely prove to be purposeful in such cases.
5. Helps With Minor Ailments
Snake plants have numerous other benefits that may not be scientifically proven but are actually present. They have the ability to:
- Reduce inflammation
- Help flush out parasites
- Relieve headaches
- Heals skin wounds and burns
- Improve blood pressure
Its leaves can be put on wounds, burns, and inflammations. It can be used in aromatherapy to relieve headaches.
While using them for healing purposes, one should be careful. Its leaves contain saponins, a poisonous substance in large quantities. Saponins are known to be part of diuretic, laxative, and choleretic drugs.
How to Care for Snake Plant?
The snake plant is mostly used by the people for the décor. It is low maintenance and needs less attention to grow. These are resilient plants that can survive in dry environments outdoor as well as indoor. There are a couple of things that need to be taken care of if having a snake plant at home.
Do Not Overwater
Overwatering can cause rotting. Therefore snake plants should be kept in well-drained pots. Water it only when its soil seems completely dry.
Indirect Sunlight
Indirect sunlight works best for snake plants. It can also keep well in darker corners or in brighter window areas. If kept in incompletely shaded areas the leaves may become completely floppy.
Having numerous benefits, being eye-appealing, and having feng shui properties, the snake plant is sure to be added to the home décor. They are a perfect pick to make the interior beautiful and healthy.
