Snake plant benefits are immense and are a common houseplant. It is used as popular home decor as they are very pleasing and a treat to your eyes. Snake plants are also easy to handle, which requires very little water to live. It is a native of Africa and Asia. The botanical name of this snake plant is Sansevieria trifasciata. The shape of a snake plant is sword-shaped with evergreen leaves, which grow upright. It also resembles artificial foliage that you can recognize easily. So, before you get this wonderous plant home, let us check out everything you possibly need to know!
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Snake Plant Benefits
Snake plants are very safe, but if consumed, it is mildly toxic. The leaves in this plant contain a specific type of poison that can cause numbness on your tongue. It should be kept away from animals and babies as it might be dangerous.
There have been many pieces of research and studies that have proven the snake plant benefits which makes it one of the best household plants, so let’s find out:
A study has also published that snake plant is one of the indoor air purifiers and can have so many benefits tag along with it. Let’s find out more information on snake plants:
A great source and houseplant of oxygen
It has proven that the snake plant provides most of the oxygen. The snake plant is unique as it converts CO2 to O2 during the night. So, that makes it ideal for your bedroom. You will require at least 6-8 plants to survive when there is no air available. So, this means one could live easily in an air-tight place by having these plants around. Snake plant helps to remove formaldehyde. Hence you can keep one and enjoy the snake plant benefits in the bedroom.
Decorative plant
Snake plant is the best purifying houseplants, and it can add an enhancement to your house decoration which looks unique and beautiful. The tall and thick foliage without the stems looks fantastic, and the beautiful color of yellow, green, and gray with stripes makes it so pretty tempting.
It also removes the air pollutants
Snake plant health benefits can make the best contribution to your health to remove toxic air pollutants. Apart from CO2, the snake plant can absorb formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, and xylene. These air pollutants can even cause cancer which will be harmful to your health, and that has been scientifically proven. One of the most famous experiment had also proven indoor plants that have more leaf area performs as a better purifier. And snake plant benefits are one of them.
Carbon dioxide or CO2
A study done on indoor carbon dioxide has proved that individuals who breathe more CO2 at home, classroom, workplace, etc., face difficulty learning and performing. More CO2 levels in your body can directly affect your cognitive productivity and skills. It also causes nausea and dizziness. Snake plant helps in absorbing CO2 effectively. Research has shown with a height of 60-80cm tall has also shown that CO2 levels in offices have been reduced with the help of 4-5 indoor snake plants.
Removes benzene from the environment
Benzene is very common in the environment, especially in indoor places like heaters and air conditioners, paints, smoking cigarettes, solvents etc. Headaches, vomiting, and nausea are some of the causes of exposure to benzene. Some of the chronic diseases like cancer-related to your blood cells are also one of the outcomes from exposure to benzene.
Apart from taking any other measures, you can keep a snake plant in your homes. It helps to absorb benzene. Many research and studies have shown that snake plants can remove 52.6 percent of this harmful gas in an indoor chamber. Initially, in an indoor place, it stands at 0.156 p/m, with snake plants around it reduces to 0.074 p/m after 24hrs.
Reduces formaldehyde
You will find formaldehyde from cooking, cosmetics, smoking, paints, traffic, etc. Formaldehyde is also released from newly-made flooring, home, furniture, and any new products.
Formaldehyde reduces indoor air purity. Increased formaldehyde levels can cause breathing problems and even irritation in the nose, throat, and eyes. Chronic exposure to formaldehyde can cause throat and rare nose cancers.
With the help of snake plants, you can lower the formaldehyde present in the air. A snake plant can remove 31,294 micrograms of this gas in like 24hrs.
Reduces Xylene
Xylene is very hazardous to the human race. One can get exposure to xylene from varnish, paint thinners, rust preventives, pesticides, and removers. You may experience throat and nose irritation with its presence in your surroundings.
Snake plants can help in removing the xylene. Some other houseplants such as areca palm and mum can help in the process.
Reduces toluene & trichloroethylene
Trichloroethylene (TCE) is primarily present in printing inks, paint removers, lacquers, adhesives, and varnishes. The presence of it can cause carcinogenic, cancer, and short-term exposure and irritate your respiratory tract, which causes fatigue, headache, and nausea.
Toluene affects your mental health, which causes dysfunction in your nervous system. And long-term toluene exposure also causes necrosis. It can also affect your reproductive system in females that can cause development problems in children. Gasoline solvents present in paints, soda bottles, paint cosmetics, and plastic are major sources.
To mitigate the risk, we can start growing few houseplants. Snake plants may help to remove the level of TCE in like 24hrs.
It helps in absorbing CO2, especially during the night
It is a question of disbelief and confusion that indoor plants like snake plants continuously release oxygen during the night. However, there is no specific evidence to prove it. But it is true, snake plant benefits by reducing the CO2 levels during the night. This happens because of the Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM), which can perform this particular form of photosynthesis. And CAM plants can survive drought and dry climates like succulents. This opens the stomata to minimize water loss even in the hot climate.
Snake plant benefits against allergies
For plants reduces CO2 that releases gases oxygen helps to absorb harmful volatile compounds will decrease the risk of some airborne allergies. And snake plant helps in such cases! Along with using air purifiers and filters, keeping one of these indoor plants can help.
Snake plant benefits feng shui
There is a belief that snake plants are not perfect plants in regards to Feng Shui’s. Well, this is not true! But if you place it in a perfect position, it indeed brings purifying and protective energy into your house and even office.
As you know, feng shui considers spiky plants as an excellent form against the negative Chi. Since they are very aggressive, you may need to put them in a less traffic area. The best places are Southern, Southeastern, and even Eastern corners.
Low maintenance plant
The snake plant benefits are never-ending. One of the vital benefits is its lowest maintenance. Snake plant is a houseplant in the whole world that requires minor maintenance. It can survive the hot sun, fully cloudy weather, and even drought climate. It can survive in any climate and does not require much attention.
Increasing Productivity
When you place a snake plant in-home or office spaces, it can help to increase productivity. Plus, it helps to foster good vibes, decreases stress, and enriches the well-being of health overall.
Drought Resistance
Since snake plants belong to the family of succulents, they can live without water in extreme climates, including the hot summers. But in winters, they stay healthy even if you water it once every month as more watering will kill or damage the plant.
NASA Approved
NASA’s experiment in 1989 has also proven that indoor plants with more leaf surfaces act as great natural air filters and purifiers, and to that surprise, the snake plant is one of the plants. It is one of the space equipment’s as well. Its study was to determine how to keep the air clean in space stations and recommends 15-18 medium-size plants for an area of 1,800sqft home.
Snake plants are less dependent on fertilizers
In the entire plant kingdom, snake plants are amongst the low maintenance species.
In short, the snake plant can survive even if it is neglected and not taken care of for months or weeks. But you can use organic fertilizers once a month. Even though it hardly requires fertilization, whenever you do, using organic fertilizers is the best. Some of the organic fertilizers you can use are cow urine, cow dung, compost, tea compost, and manure. Organic fertilizers work perfectly for succulent plants.
Light condition for snake plants
Snake plants appreciate a very light area and can survive such conditions. These plants can tolerate low to bright light conditions. They are very adaptable, even in the dark.
Helps to fight syndrome-like sick building
Snake plant helps to absorb the toxin and also in releasing oxygen. It also helps in releasing moisture present in the atmosphere and lessens the airborne allergens.
Sick building syndrome (SBS) is discomfort in people present for long hours in a building. The symptoms can vary from being moderate to acute, but it does not relate to any specific disease. Common symptoms of SBS are coughing, nausea, itching, dizziness, low concentration levels, fatigue, muscle aches, and chest tightness. It mainly occurs due to imperfect air quality present within closed doors.
The pollution from outside like upholstery, pesticides, copy machines, cleaning agents, and more bring bacteria, viruses, and molds into the house. So, the harmful agents may cause SBS in people.
So, to fight against such a condition, the easiest method is to grow a snake plant. It will help to preserve the purity of the indoor environment.
Taking care of the snake plants
Here are ways that will help you grow the snake plants well:
Light
Snake plants prefer indirect and bright light. But it can also tolerate direct sunlight. However, during winters, try to keep them away from airy windows.
Water
This is the most vital point to be taken care of while growing the snake plant. You have to be cautious with watering, and especially during winters, it is better to water it in a dry area. Watering depends on personal judgment. It depends significantly on the plant when it requires water whenever you see its need, like for around every 2-3 weeks. However, few plants need constant watering, while others require the absence of moisture. Always keep the leaves dust-free and clean. One should also keep in mind to let the plants be moist enough and watering them occasionally. Since snake plants are a succulent type that stores water in their foliage. So, keeping the soil damp is not that necessary. Be careful and do not over-water it as this may cause the base and root to rot, which gradually kills the plant.
Final Thoughts
The snake plant is one of the most famous indoor plants. Its attractive foliage allows low maintenance and works perfectly as an indoor air purifier.
Snake plants can absorb poisonous gases present in the environment and releases oxygen during the night. It creates a naturally humid climate around you that works as an anti-allergic atmosphere. Plus, it helps in fighting the Sick Building Syndrome and much more.
As we have discovered snake plant benefits in so many ways, isn’t it tempting to keep one and enjoy its beauty and benefits? It helps beautify the whole place around you that spreads positive vibes, and calms your senses. However, you should place it in a particular direction to enjoy its benefits as it is also very pleasing to see it around you.
In the busy world, it becomes difficult to take out time for anything from our busy schedules. But taking out time to get such a great plant is worth the effort. You can get these available in any of the nurseries around you, and it will not cost you much. So, what are you waiting for? Grab one now and place it at home or even at your office desk.
