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best pots for snake plants

7 Best Pots for Snake Plants

The best pots for snake plants are going to be containers made from terra cotta because it’s a porous material that allows moisture to evaporate more quickly.

However, for those on a budget, plastic containers are also a good option. As long as we don’t overwater our snake plants and the pots have drainage holes, then plastic planters will also work as options for the best pots for snake plants.

If you’re looking to grow a plant that doesn’t need much care, you’ve certainly come across snake plants being mentioned.

That means that choosing the best pots for snake plants should be just as easy to find as it is to take care of the actual plant.

That’s exactly what I’m going to do. I’m going to quickly review some awesome pots for a snake plant to thrive in.

After that, I’m going to move on to talking more in-depth about how we should care for them. I think it’s always good to refresh our knowledge on what exactly our plants need in order to be happy so that we can also be happy.

If you want even more inspiration, check out my reviews for the best containers for mint.

Best Pots for Snake Plants: Top Picks

1. Best for small snake plants: Potey Terracotta Planter

Terracotta planters are the best pots for snake plants. The only thing left to do is to decide which size would work for the size and height of your plants. The Potey Terracotta Planter is a set of 3 pots of 6, 5, and 4 inches respectively. It’s a gorgeous set for smaller snake plants.

2. Pots for taller snake plants: D’vine Dev Terracotta Plant Pot

I love the D’vine Dev Terracotta Plant Pot. They’re some of the best snake plants planters for taller plants. We can choose between two sizes: 8 inch and 10 inch.

3. Cheap pots: Homenote Plastic Planter

While terracotta is my favorite and recommended material for the best pots for snake plants, plastic can also be an option for those on a budget. The Homenote Plastic Planter is quite the delightful surprise both for their cheap prices and their good quality.

4. Concrete planter: Finehous Cement Planter

If you want a completely different look, cement planters are definitely a good and beautiful option. I love their design. Plus, there’s also an option with stand that looks gorgeous. And the 8 inch diameter is a good size for most of us.

Best Pots for Snake Plants

When I wrote my article on the benefits of growing succulents, I had three main topics in mind: the succulents that we can eat, mentioning aloe vera thanks to its many benefits especially for our skin, and the benefit of growing a particular low-maintenance succulent that purifies the air.

That last category is where I briefly mentioned the Sansevieria or snake plant as most of us know it as. It’s also known as Mother-in-Law’s Tongue.

However, it’s especially famous for being easy to take care of. The benefit is that it certainly looks very pretty despite the Mother-in-Law’s Tongue alias. And it will be frequently found in offices because it doesn’t need sunlight to be gorgeous.

Since it’s so beneficial to us and I love the tall, dark-green leaves with light grayish-green horizontal stripes, I also believe that it deserves our attention when picking the best pots for snake plants. I’ll try to include a large variety of them.

I should let you know from the start that the best pots for snake plants are those made from terra cotta clay because it’s a porous material that allows for air and water to move through the walls, it helps the root system to breath.

1. Potey Terracotta Planter: Best Pots for Small Snake Plants

 

This is actually a set of 3 planters for a very good price. I pretty much love everything about it. However, you’re not going to want to buy this set if you are just looking for one single pot.

Unglazed terracotta

When I firstly checked out these Potey planters there was a major thing that I liked: these are unglazed clay pots, which is a naturally porous material.

It’s exactly what we need for most of our succulents.

Size

The 3 planters have different sizes, which is nice: 6, 5, and 4 inches respectively. Their depth is very good, too.

The matching saucers are a beauty as well.

And the big drainage hole on the bottom is a welcomed sight.

The cylindrical shape is definitely another aspect that I really love about this set. It looks clean, gorgeous, simple but sophisticated. It will certainly be perfect for a large variety of interior designs.

The set sold in the original color is the cheapest. I absolutely love the original the most. The black and white color schemes also look beautiful. It depends on what interior design you’re trying to match up.

The focus is not on the planter but on the snake plant that you’re more likely going to be potting in the 6 inch planter.

You can use the 5 inch one for a snake plant, too, especially if it’s younger.

The 4 inch is amazing for planting a rooted leaf or aloe vera offsets or a cactus or a smaller succulent.

The set has a nice impact when all the 3 pots are placed in the same space. I definitely recommend this Potey Terracotta Planter as one of the best pots for snake plants if you already have a plan in mind for how you’re going to use all three of them.

Nevertheless, if your snake plant is very tall, even the 6 inch size will be too small.


2. D’vine Dev Terracotta Plant Pot: Best Pot for Taller Snake Plants

 

The Potey planter set that I introduced as my first recommendation is quite cheap and overall amazing but it’s also on the smaller side with its 4, 5 and 6 inch pots.

Thus, it’s time to review some bigger options right in the beginning of these reviews for the best pots for snake plants.

Size

If you have a really big snake plant then you’ll need adequate housing. Although these large succulents like being crowded and you can certainly group a couple in the same container, the roots still need a bit of room to grow.

This also applies to those who find themselves with a plant whose roots are coming from the drainage hole. You need to repot it in a bigger planter.

D’vine Dev has two size options:

  • the medium 8 inch pot
  • and the large 10 inch planter

They’re both pretty pricey, the 10 inch size almost nearing the expensive side.

However, they’re totally worth it. I certainly see them as one of the best pots for snake plants, especially if they’re larger.

If we want to be more exact about size, we should mention that the 8 inch size is 7.8 inches in height, 7.8 inches outside diameter and 7.3 inches for interior diameter.

The 10 inch one is 10 inch in height and 9.5 inches in outside diameter. The interior diameter is 9 inches.

Material

Once again, we have terracotta planters. It’s only to be expected since this material is porous and one of the best for succulents who like a drier soil.

There’s a drainage hole and a saucer to perfectly match the pot.

It also comes with a scratch pad, which is another helpful component.

We can also choose from two colors: original (cheaper) and rust (just a bit pricier). I like the look of both.


3. Homenote Plastic Planter: Cheap Set for Smaller Snake Plants

 

This is another set but this time we have one made of plastic. Still, it’s a very nice looking set of plastic pots.

They don’t look cheap at all, although for a price under $20 you’ll get 5 planters.

Each planter comes with a drainage hole and a tray. This is a great look.

Size

Let’s talk about size because it will greatly help you decide if this set will work for the size of your snake plant.

For some users, the 7-inch and 6-inch pots definitely work very well. There are plenty of users who use the two larger sizes for their snake plants and they’re immensely pleased with how the arrangement looks and their plants are thriving.

Nevertheless, if your plant is very big and tall, even the 7 inches size will be too small.

The other 3 planters have the following sizes: 5.5, 4.8 and 4.5 inches.

These can be used for smaller plants or flowers, smaller succulents or for cacti.

Or maybe you’ll decide to grow strawberries indoors or herbs. There are plenty of things you can grow when you have a set like this one.

Material

Even though these are made of plastic, the fact that so many users bought them for their snake plants is what made me confident that they’re certainly the right fit among the best pots for snake plants.

If you don’t want to buy terracotta, this set from Homenote will be a wonderful alternative that won’t cost much at all. It’s a very good deal, as long as you don’t have huge plants that need repotting.


4. Finehous Cement Planter: Best Concrete Pot for Snake Plants

 

Cement planters might not seem like the obvious choice as the best pots for snake plants but they’re quite awesome.

There are quite a few people who choose concrete planters for their succulents because this is a porous, durable, and insulating material. Their insulation can protect the plants during wide swings of temperature. I find that factor to be more important than ever, as times are changing.

Beautiful design

This Finehous Cement Planter is definitely not a cheap planter but it’s so beautiful. It’s made just for indoors but it can look absolutely gorgeous in certain settings.

If you need something in gray tones, this is the one for you, absolutely.

The cylindrical shape is another plus for the overall design.

There are also two options: with stand or with no stand. The one with the stand is $10 more expensive. It’s totally a design thing and it depends on your preferences. Personally, I think they both look good.

Size

Another aspect that might make this Finehous Cement Planter a good option is its size.

This is a medium planter: it has an 8 inch diameter and a 12 inch height with the stand. The actual height, without the stand, is 7.75 inches, which is just right.

Obviously, you shouldn’t buy it unless you want to repot a taller/larger snake plant. Don’t get it for younger ones because that 8 inch diameter is quite big.

No saucer

I like the fact that it has a drainage hole.

There’s a rubber plug included instead of a saucer.

There’s no tray to catch the excess water, which is a pretty big con, especially when we consider the price of this thing.

Most of us pour water until the soil is completely soaked, until we see a fair amount of water coming out the drainage hole. That means that we like having a tray underneath.

If you’re buying this planter, I recommend doing the watering in the shower cabin or bathtub and leave it for a bit until there’s no more water coming out the hole and then insert the rubber plug.


5. La Jolie Muse Flower Pots Outdoors

 

All of the above choices are definitely indoors planters. It’s only right that we should also review some of the best pots for snake plants for the outdoors.

I really like this set. For a decent but not exactly affordable price you get 2 fairly large planters for the outdoors.

You can definitely use them indoors too but they don’t come with saucers so that will complicate things. Just get them for the outdoors. Indoor people should check out other pots, like the ones I reviewed above.

Material

These two are made from durable recyclable plastic and natural stone powder. They’re lightweight materials.

They’re also weather-resistant.

However, given that they’re still made from plastic, even though it’s called durable and recyclable, I believe that they’re just a tiny bit expensive.

Well, they look great so I’ll give them that.

You also get to choose from a bunch of colors: terracotta, black, gray, marble, rock gray, speckled black, speckled white. The selection is beautiful.

Size

I chose to recommend this set of 2 for the outdoors because they’re a large size.

Each has a 11.3 inches diameter and 8.7 inches height. I love these measurements. It will work beautifully if you have a pretty large snake plant. In the other, you can grow an aloe vera, crotons, or a very big rosemary bush.

They also come with 4 drainage holes but there are some users who complain about root rot.

Nevertheless, someone talked with the seller and they mentioned adding gravel/stones to help with the drainage. It seems that it will work nicely to prevent root rot.


6. D’vine Dev Planter Pot with Stand

 

I chose to recommend this planter for one single reason: it’s gorgeous.

Well, the charcoal gray/white combination is very beautiful and it will fit anywhere indoors. I’m not the biggest fan of the terracotta/white look but maybe you’ll like it.

The two reasons why some of you might not be the biggest fans: it’s a pricey planter and it’s made of ceramic.

Ceramic is glazed terracotta and I’m not a fan of ceramic but it will work for a snake plant, as long as you don’t overwater it. Since it’s glazed, it’s not as porous as unglazed terracotta pots. Thus, if you’re not confident in your watering capabilities, this will not be the best choice.

It has a drainage hole but there’s no saucer. You’ll have to put some bowl underneath it when watering the plant.

What I love is that we get to choose from 4 sizes: small (8.1 inch diameter), medium (10.1 inch diameter), large (12 inch diameter), and X-large (14 inch diameter).


7. Timeyard Jute Rope Plant Basket

 

If you’re looking for a quirky cover for your planter, you should definitely check this one out. It has a beachy vibe but I absolutely love the look.

Well, it’s also quite cheap for a basket this size but it’s expected since this is just a cover. You’ll have to provide the pot yourself.

If you already have a beautiful pot, this cover basket won’t be necessary at all.

There are many users that have bought this for their snake plants, to really make them the focal point of the room. All those factors make it a winner for me.

Material

For an affordable price we get a basket that is handcrafted meticulously with jute and sewn in a coiling method. This results in a flexible textile that holds its shape.

However, I must warn you that it will be delivered quite out of shape. Someone mentioned that they used their iron and ran it along the inside of it. In the picture it looks like ironing works for restoring its cylindrical shape.

We also get to choose from three color combinations: black and jute, jute mixed white, and gray and white. They’re all absolutely pretty and quirky.

Size

There are 3 sizes: 12.5 x 12.5, 8 x 8, and 11 x 11.

If you have a very large snake plant, go with the biggest size and get a pot that will fit in it. For the 12.5 x 12.5, you can choose an 11-inch pot as the ideal size but it will also fit pots from 10 to 12 inches in diameter.

If you have a tiny plant go with the 8×8 one. It will fit 5-7 inches pots.

The 11 x 11 is awesome for 10-inch pots.


Are terra cotta clay pots the best pots for snake plants?

We can certainly look at terra cotta clay pots as some of the best pots for snake plants due to one main reason: this is a naturally drying material.

Terra cotta clay pots are regarded as especially good for succulents, cacti, and other plants that need drier soils in order to thrive.

This particular material is porous. It means that it allows for air and water to move through the walls. That will prevent soil disease and root rot.

Thus, if you want to create an awesome environment for your variety of snake plant, which belongs to the huge succulents family, I first recommend checking out these particular pots made from terracotta.

Terracotta is a ceramic material, it’s a fairly coarse, porous clay. The pots are made from this fired clay. In Italian it means baked earth and that’s exactly how these pots/vessels are made after they’re shaped.

After the baking process, we’re left with a material that assumes a color ranging from dull ochre to red. It’s usually left unglazed but it can also be glazed.

Unglazed vs glazed terracotta pots

Unglazed terracotta pots are porous and allow moisture to evaporate more easily. It will also prevent you from overwatering and the unglazed type certainly contributes to preventing soil disease and root rot.

Ceramic pots are typically glazed, which will prevent the soil from drying out too quickly.

If you’re in the habit of going away from your snake plant for weeks at a time, you might think that a ceramic pot is the better choice because it will keep the soil moist for longer. That’s certainly what I would choose in that situation.

However, be sure to always choose pots with drainage hole(s) whether they’re made from glazed or unglazed terra cotta.

I’ve never gone for pots that have no drainage holes or that I have no way of making some at home. I wouldn’t recommend it, especially for snake plants. They’re succulents, which means that the general rule is that they don’t like water all that much. That’s why we consider terra cotta clay pots to be some of the best pots for snake plants.

All in all, unglazed terracotta pots are the first choice for a snake plant. They’re also good for planting aloe vera, cacti, succulents, and all types of other plants that prefer a drier soil.

Glazed ones are much better for tropical plants because their soil will be moist for longer, which they certainly love and it will allow you to go longer in between watering.

How to Choose the Best Pots for Snake Plants

Let’s talk about materials, size, shape, depth, and drainage holes. These are the main factors that you need to pay attention to when choosing the best planters. It’s quite easy once you have a bit of info on all these factors.

Material: Terracotta, Concrete, Plastic

I’ve already mentioned that terra cotta clay pots are the best choice when it comes to buying one for a snake plant.

Those made from terracotta clay are also eco-friendly. If you break one you can use it for mulching, edging or to improve drainage.

However, if you don’t want to buy that type, what other options do you have?

If you’re looking for a cheap option, plastic is the material you’re going to choose. As long as it has drainage holes and you make sure that you don’t overwater, it will work out just fine. Just allow for the soil to completely dry before watering again.

Concrete is another material that can work quite well for succulents. It’s a good choice for plants because cement pots are durable, porous, and provide insulation. However, concrete pots are definitely not cheap, about in the same price range as terracotta.

Size and shape

They usually come in sizes of 4, 6, 8, 10 inches but they can be as large as 24 inches in diameter. You certainly have a lot of freedom in terms of size.

They’re also usually round but I’ll also want to talk about the depth of a pot and what is needed in our case.

In terms of shape, I lean more towards cylindrical shapes, I just think that they look pretty great.

Since a snake plant is not a tiny succulent, you can start with a 6-inch pot if you’re planting a rooted leaf. The same size also works for aloe vera in the beginning.

However, if you already have an adult snake plant then you need at least a 10-inch pot.

To make a better choice, consider this: an 8-inch plant should go into a 10-inch pot and a 10-inch plant should go into a 12-inch pot. It depends on the size of your plant, that’s up to you to decide.

That means that you should pick a pot that’s ¼ – ⅓ larger than your snake plant’s root ball.

The sword-like leaves can range anywhere from 6 inches to 8 feet tall. That’s a lot of range.

Thus, you might be starting off with a 6 or even an 8 inch planter but, as it grows, you’ll need bigger pots.

I recommend starting off with a smaller pot because this imposing succulent variety actually likes being crowded.

Do snake plants need deep pots?

When it comes to size, we usually pay attention to diameter. However, we also need to consider that snake plants don’t necessarily need deep pots.

A deep pot allows water to sit longer and it can hinder drainage. We certainly need our plant to have room to grow but it still needs to be snug in the pot.

The roots for a snake plant first grow outward and then deep into the soil. Thus, it will be happier in a shallow pot and not one with a lot of depth.

Actually, when I mentioned that snake plants like to be snug in their pot, I certainly mean it. These plants like being crowded and cramped and nearly rootbound. I know that it goes against pretty much what we all know about plants in general but snake plants are an exception.

You can plant more snake plants together and they will certainly thrive with the network of roots that they’ll create together.

The roots will take the shape of the pot and they’ll be fine as long as they’re not coming out from the drainage holes.

Drainage holes

You absolutely should buy pots that come with drainage holes. Or those that allow us to give them drainage holes.

You also need a saucer to catch excess water so that you don’t make a mess on your desk or in your house. Empty the excess water immediately, you don’t want the roots to absorb it, which will happen if you leave it in the saucer.

When should you repot a snake plant?

Winter and early spring are the best times. That’s because that’s when the plant is in dormancy growth so repotting will put less stress on it.

There are only a few situations in which you should consider repotting it:

  • if the roots are coming out of the drainage holes – it certainly indicates that a bigger pot is needed
  • if you need to change the soil then you’ll probably need a new pot, especially if you’re changing the soil due to an insect infestation
  • when you want a prettier house for your snake plant

How to Care for Snake Plants

You might have a new, beautiful planter that you’re excited to use as a house for your gorgeous snake plant but maybe you need a bit of refreshing on the essential information on how to care for this succulent.

As I’ve already mentioned, snake plants are famous for being some of the easiest to care for. In general, succulents and cacti are pretty famous for being low-maintenance. Still, there are a few aspects to consider.

Soil

If you don’t want to go through the trouble of making your own potting soil then you can buy cactus soil. It works for all types of succulents and cacti.

Miracle-Gro has a good cactus mix called Cactus, Palm & Citrus Potting Soil. It’s a very good choice but there are other manufacturers to choose from, too.

I mentioned the one from Miracle-Gro because they actually have a page where they teach people how to grow snake plants. It’s a pretty good guide.

Cactus soil is so good for snake plants and other succulents because it drains well. If you want to make your own potting mix you need to remember that it needs to drain well.

If you want to make your own potting mix, you could try this mix: 2 parts coarse sand or perlite, 1 part peat moss or coconut coir and 1 part garden soil or potting mix.

Another recipe is this: 3 parts all-purpose potting soil containing sphagnum peat moss, 1 part perlite/coarse sand, 1 part pine bark fines, and 1 part coco coir.

Watering

We need to water thoroughly and we need to do it seldom. Those are the two principles around which watering a snake plant revolves.

You should water it thoroughly until water comes from the drainage hole. That’s why it’s crucial to get a pot with a drainage hole(s).

Empty the saucer once the watering is done.

Another thing to pay attention to is that you should only water when the soil dries out. When the first inch of the soil feels dry, you can water it. Just stick your finger into the soil. That’s how you can easily tell.

I also wrote an article on how often to water succulents if you’re interested into more in-depth information.

Use room temperature water.

Overwatering is the only thing you shouldn’t do with a snake plant. Otherwise, it’s very easy to take care of them.

Sunlight

One of the reasons that many people in offices choose to grow snake plants is that it doesn’t need sunlight to thrive. It will also help purify the air as a bonus.

It’s why we can also place it in darker corners inside the house.

They actually thrive in any light level, from low to high.

Strong direct sunlight can burn the leaves so if you pot it outdoors, make sure to avoid direct sunlight, especially when it burns the brightest.

Indirect sunlight really works well for them.

Temperature

We already know that indirect light is the best for them. But which is the best temperature range for snake plants?

That will be above 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius). If you live in colder areas, you’ll have to bring yours inside during the cold winter months and keep it until spring.

Indoors, you should keep it away from drafts, air conditioners and heaters.

Outdoors, it also thrives in temperatures that don’t exceed 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius). If it gets too hot during the day, at least make sure that it’s always placed in the shade. Otherwise, bring it indoors during very hot days.

Fertilizer

I don’t think you really need any actually.

These plants are native to poor rocky soil. They’re not exactly hungry for additional fertilizer.

However, if you feel like your plant might need it, you can use an all purpose plant food 10-10-10.

You can use a 10-10-10 fertilizer once or twice a year but it’s not mandatory.

An organic all purpose houseplant food is another option. Check out my recommendations for the best cactus fertilizer if you need more help because what works for cacti will work for succulents, too.

There are some fertilizers that are created specifically for snake plants.

Snake Plant Propagation

If you have a very large snake plant, I recommend going with the division method. It involves breaking the plant into sections.

Remove the entire plant from the pot, obviously with the roots intact. The root will be a tangled ball and that’s what we have to break apart. With a sharp knife, create divisions that contain at least 3 leaves and the accompanying roots.

Another method is to root a cutting. That simply means placing a leaf into a jar of water. The leaf should be at least 6 inches tall, the taller the better.

Place the cut end into a jar filled with 3 inches of water. Place the jar into a bright spot and refresh the water, rinsing out the jar, once a week.

In about 2 months, you should have roots forming at the base of the cutting. Then, once the roots have grown, you can plant it and you can use some of the best pots for snake plants as inspiration for its new house.

Best pots for snake plants FAQs

Let’s answer some questions related to our search for the best pots for snake plants.

1. Do snake plants like wide or deep pots?

Snake plants don’t necessarily need deep pots. These plants like being crowded and cramped and nearly rootbound.

2. Do snake plants need a special potting soil?

Cactus soil will work really well for snake plants. Or you can make your own mix. Cactus soil is so good for snake plants and other succulents because it drains well. If you want to make your own potting mix you need to remember that it needs to drain well.

3. Do snake plants need pots with drainage holes?

The best pots for snake plants should absolutely come with drainage holes or make it easy for us to make drainage holes but it’s a lot easier if the planters already have drainage holes when we buy them.