A trio of Mother-in-law's Tongue plants on a wooden table

How to Grow Mother in Law's Tongue

Whether you call them Mother-in-law's Tongue, Snake Plant or Viper's Bowstring Hemp, Dracaena (Dracaena trifasciata syn: Sansevieria trifasciata) has become super trendy over recent years. Potted Mother-in-law's Tongue are popular plants and feature prominently in modern landscape and interior design.

They're hardy, slow growing, require minimal maintenance and will tolerate low levels of light, making them ideal for growing indoors. They're great for beginner gardeners! Their upright leaves mean they take up minimal room, so they're perfect plants for small and narrow spaces. They'll also help improve air quality by removing harmful toxins, so having a few around the house and office is very beneficial.

Will tolerate low light levels indoors or can be grown outdoors in warm locations in either sun or shade.

They require well drained soil or potting mix and are tolerant of dry conditions once established.

Well drained soil, Yates Specialty Potting Mix Cacti & Succulents for planting in pots

You can grow these plants all year round.

Varieties of Mother-in-law's Tongue

Indoor plant collectors will be happy to know that there is a range of different species and types of Snake Plants. Some of the most popular include silvery 'Moonshine' and 'Silver Sword', dwarf 'Hahnii', yellow striped 'Golden', 'Red Edge' with green leaves edged in red, cylindrical and impressive 'Whale Fin'.

How to Grow Mother-in-law's Tongue in a Pot

Mother-in-law tongue in a dark grey rounded pot

Step 1 – Choose a Pot & Location

Choose a pot at least 200mm wide (or larger, depending on the size of your plant). Indoors, position the pot in a brightly lit spot, out of direct sunlight. It will also grow well in low-light areas. If growing outdoors, position the pot in a full sun or shaded frost-free spot.

Step 2 – Potting Mix

Part fill the pot with a quality, free-draining potting mix, like Yates Specialty Potting Mix Cacti & Succulents. It's important that the pot and potting mix be free-draining, as Mother-in-law's Tongue does not tolerate a soggy root zone.

Step 3 - Planting

Remove the plant from its container and gently tease the roots. Place the root ball on the potting mix and backfill around the roots with more potting mix. The final level of mix should be the same as the level currently around the plant. Water in well to settle the potting mix around the roots.

Step 4 – Watering & Feeding Potted Mother-in-law's Tongue

Allow the potting mix to dry out almost completely before re-watering. Check the moisture level by inserting your finger into the top few centimetres of mix. Plants will need less watering during the cooler winter months.

To promote healthy growth, feed regularly from spring to autumn with Yates Thrive Plant Food Spikes Cacti & Succulents. These plant food spikes contain nutrients to feed the plant for up to two months.

Yates 39g Thrive Plant Food Spikes Cacti & Succulents - 30 Pack

Available in-store only

Step 5 – Maintaining and Protecting

Mother-in-law Tongues are hardy and generally suffer from few problems. The main issues that can arise include fungus gnats and root rot.

Help protect your plants from Fungus Gnats by applying a layer of Yates Gnat Barrier over the top of the mix. These abrasive granules help stop the Fungus Gnat life cycle.

It's important the potting mix and root zone are not allowed to become too wet, which can lead to roots and leaves rotting. Only water once the potting mix has almost completely dried out, ensure that the pot has good drainage holes and that you're using a free-draining potting mix like Yates Speciality Potting Mix Cacti & Succulents.

If the leaves become dusty, keep the leaves clean by wiping gently with a damp cloth. 

Yates 4.5L Gnat Barrier Granules

Available in-store only

yates-specialty-potting-mix-cacti-succulents

Yates 2.5L Specialty Potting Mix for Cacti & Succulents

Available in-store only

Growing tips

What's the best position for Mother-in-law's Tongue?

Indoors, Mother-in-law's Tongue does best in a room with bright indirect light. However, they can also be grown in a more dimly lit area.

What's the best fertiliser for Mother-in-law's Tongue?

A 'complete' fertiliser is best, which contains a blend of the three main nutrients that plants need: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Yates Thrive Plant Food Spikes Cacti & Succulents contains a special blend of these three key nutrients, to promote healthy leaves and roots. The spikes are easy to use, simply insert into the potting mix every two months between spring and autumn.

Is Mother-in-law's Tongue toxic to pets?

If ingested by pets, Mother-in-law's Tongue can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. So, it's best to keep plants away from pets.

How do you tell when a Mother-in-law's Tongue needs repotting?

Mother-in-law's Tongue is relatively slow growing and can stay in the same pot for several years. However, over time the plant can fill the pot, become congested and growth will slow. Vigorous clumps can sometimes crack terracotta or ceramic pots. When the plant is close to filling the pot, carefully tip the whole plant out of the pot. You can repot into a larger pot with fresh potting mix, or divide up the mother plant into two or more clumps using a sharp knife or spade and repot into several new pots.

Do Mother-in-law's Tongue flower?

Yes! Occasionally plants will send up a creamy white flower spike.

How do you tell if you've overwatered a Mother-in-law's Tongue?

Over-watered plants will start to develop yellow leaves that may also wilt and become spongy at the base. It is crucial that plants are grown in a well-drained pot and potting mix and are not over-watered. Only re-water plants when the potting mix has almost completely dried out.

What kind of potting mix does Mother-in-law's Tongue need?

Fast and free-draining potting mix, like Yates Specialty Potting Mix Cacti & Succulents, is best for succulents like Mother in Law's Tongue.

How do you propagate Mother-in-law's Tongue?

You can make more plants by taking leaf cuttings or dividing establishes clumps.

Learn how to take Mother-in-law's Tongue leaf cuttings here.

To divide an established clump of Mother-in-law's Tongue, carefully tip the whole plant out of the pot. Use a sharp knife or spade to cut vertically down through the root ball, separating the clump into two or more sections. Pot those sections into individual new pots with fresh potting mix.

Image above: Dividing an established clump of Mother-in-law's tongue

Can I grow Mother-in-law's Tongue with other plants?

You can combine Mother-in-law's Tongue together with other succulents in the one pot, as they have similar watering and care needs. When growing indoors, choose other succulents that will tolerate lower levels of light, such as Jade plants (Crassula) and Rhipsalis.

Common Problems of Mother-in-law's Tongue

Why are my Mother-in-law's Tongue leaves going yellow and soft?

Together with mushy roots, it's likely to be a sign of excess water. Ensure the pot and potting mix are well-drained. Adjust the watering frequency and only water when the potting mix has almost completely dried out.

Why isn't my Mother-in-law's Tongue growing?

Although hardy, Mother-in-law's Tongue does best with access to some moisture and regular feeding. Plants generally also tolerate low levels of light, but a slow growing plant may benefit from being moved into a spot with bright light.

What are the tiny insects flying around my Mother-in-law's Tongue?

Fungus Gnats can be a common pest of indoor plants. The tiny winged adult gnats are annoying and their larvae, that live in the potting mix, can damage plant roots. Help protect your plants from Fungus Gnats by applying a layer of Yates Gnat Barrier over the top of the potting mix. These abrasive granules help stop the fungus gnat life cycle.