Question
I just repotted a very large snake plant into a large pot.  Some of the stalks are close to 3 feet tall.  I put a trellis in the pot to give it some support but since the stalks are all different sizes they fall every which way.  It looks like a jumbled mess.  I wanted to keep them all in the same pot so I don't have a bunch of smaller snake plants all over the house.  Anything I can do to make the plant look more tidy?  Any suggestions would be appreciated.  Thanks

Answer
Hi Sharon,

Older snake plants do become floppy as they age unless they have been in very strong sunlight. Unfortunately, moving them into larger pots will make matters worse rather than better. The problem is that in lower light and in a larger pot, the roots tend to stay moist for too long and begin to rot.

The trellis will act as a crutch and provide support, but the plant will never be able to stand on its own. Eventually, the individual leaves will start to deteriorate and the plant will shrink in size.

I am sorry to present this rather gloomy outlook, but I have seen it many times with snake plants that do not get enough light and have pots that are too large.

You can take string and encircle it around all of the leaves at the base. Pull it tight and it will pull the leaves back to the vertical. This will m ake it look more tidy, but it will not correct the problem. Only strong light and a small pot will do that.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions. If you would like to e-mail me some photos, I may be able to provide some additional insights.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

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