Hello. I want to plant a snake plant indoors, in a tall planter with drainage. I know the roots of this plant are shallow…so should I place a lot of rocks at the bottom and just put growing medium towards the top, or should I fill the entire planter with growing medium? I do not want to risk having rot by using too much soil since the roots are towards the top only, but if I place rocks, it might leave too much water near the top and this plant needs to be able to dry out, I think. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
Thank you for contacting the Toronto Master Gardeners. The Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata) is a fantastic houseplant that is almost unkillable–unless it is consistently over watered in winter. You are right that putting rocks in the bottom of a tall planter then potting soil on top will result in too much water in the soil and speedy demise of the plant. Would you consider planting it in a more shallow pot, to better accommodate its rhizomatous roots and need for good drainage? Perhaps you can place the shallow pot inside a taller cache pot. If possible use a cactus-mix instead of just all-purpose potting soil, and avoid wetting the heart of the plant when watering. Good luck!
——