Snake Plants are widely loved by the gardeners. The scientific name for the plant is Sansevieria Trifasciata. It is a native plant of Asia and Africa. This plant is also called mother-in-law’s tongue because the leaves are sword-like. Snake plants are low maintenance plants and they carry natural fungicides and insecticides called saponins. Saponins are harmful for living beings as they might cause nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting. While a snake plant is loved indoors, it is also important to keep them out of reach from children and pets.
Snake plants have three to four varieties. Some of them are – bird’s nest snake plant, cylindrical snake plant and laurentii snake plant.
Snake plants can endure any situation, and it has easy to care requirements.They can survive infrequent watering, low light areas quite well.
The plant is loved by many, not just because it has beautiful slender leaves, but also because this plant has many benefits!
1. A Beautiful Decor to Elevate the Room
Snake plants are beautiful with their sword like deep green leaves with yellow borders or silver stripes. The plant fits perfectly with any decor and increases the outlook of a room. Small variants of snake plants, like cylindrical or bird’s nest, are appropriate as table-top plants. They can be kept in the office desk to beautify the entire set-up. Snake plants are great for the corners as their shape creates an optical illusion and changes the room’s vibe.
2. A Natural Air Purifier
Snake plants are NASA recommended air purifiers. They have the power to absorb toxic substances like benzene, xylene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene. It also fills the room with oxygen when it cleans the air off toxic substances. Snake plants ensure the safety of the room by cleaning the air.
3. Filters the Air at Night
The plant is one of the very few unique plants which can even convert Carbon-di-oxide into Oxygen, even at night.This way they decrease the amount of CO2 in a room, and makes us breathe better. Keeping them in the bedroom is beneficial to health and the increased amount of oxygen ensures deep sleep. This plant is ideal as an indoor, or bedroom plant. It helps to regulate healthy airflow all around the room.
4. Good for Mental Health
Indoor plants are known to be of great help when it comes to stress management and psychological comfort. Snake plants are no different. The presence of this plant helps promote a healthy surrounding which increases the level of productivity and calms the mind. This plant also relieves us from headaches which is why many office desks have them as their companion. In Feng Shui, snake plants are believed to absorb negative emotions like bitterness and jealousy. They are considered auspicious for a healthy home. While there is no scientific proof behind it, the belief provides comfort and nothing can go wrong if we buy plants anyway!
5. Anti-cancer and Anti-allergic Plant
The plant absorbs toxic substances, as we already know. By doing that it not only helps us to breathe better, but also keeps us away from allergic reactions or cancer causing elements. Elements such as benzene, xylene, toluene are known to be harmful, this plant keeps the exposure to these toxic substances low and helps us with a better indoor environment.
7. Low-maintenance and Easy to Propagate
Despite having so many benefits, snake plants are easy to keep. The plant does not require constant attention. They are easy to propagate from the leaves. They do not require much repotting and rarely get infested.