Snake Plant ‘Laurentii’
(Dracaena trifasciata) Care Guide
Built like a sword. Attitude like a cactus. The Snake Plant — especially the gold-edged ‘Laurentii’ cultivar — is the definition of tough. Low light? Missed waterings? Dry winter air? It doesn’t flinch. But don’t confuse survival with thriving — there’s still a right way to keep this beast looking sharp.
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Plant Noob
Dry Room Dealer
Cave Dweller
Mild Menace
Desert Monk
Chunky Boi
Rocky Rebel
Root Hack & Chop Prop
SCIENTIFIC NAME:
Dracaena trifasciata ‘Laurentii’ (dra-SEE-nuh try-fas-ee-AH-tuh)
FAMILY:
Asparagaceae (Asparagus family)
ORIGIN:
Native to West Africa (primarily Nigeria and Congo).
SIZE:
Height: Up to 3 feet (90 cm) indoors — sometimes taller with age.
Width: Grows in tight, upright clusters and slowly spreads via underground rhizomes.
SOIL:
This one’s a Rocky Rebel. It wants fast drainage, coarse texture, and zero tolerance for soggy roots. Our Plant King Premium Cactus & Succulent Mix is made for this — gritty, dry-loving, and savage-proof.
Mixing your own? Go one part potting soil, one part coarse sand, and one part perlite or pumice. Light, fast, and ruthless with drainage.
LIGHT:
Snake Plants might be a Cave Dweller, but ‘Laurentii’ wants a window. It’ll grow in low light, but the golden variegation will fade fast if it’s left in the dark too long. Bright, indirect light keeps the colors crisp and growth steady. It can handle some direct morning rays but will burn in strong afternoon sun.
Filtered south-facing or east/west-facing windows are ideal. In deep shade, it survives — but don’t expect much flex..
WATER:
Straight-up Desert Monk. Snake Plant stores water in those thick, upright leaves and absolutely hates wet soil. Let it dry out fully between waterings. Once a month? Maybe. Too soon and you’ll rot the roots — or worse, turn the whole base to mush.
HUMIDITY:
Dry Room Dealer. Doesn’t care if you’re blasting the heat in winter or living in desert air. No humidity drama here. Perfect for homes that kill other tropicals.
FEEDING:
Low-maintenance eater. Feed every 6–8 weeks in spring and summer with a diluted balanced liquid fertilizer. Want less thinking? Add Nutricote pellets once at the beginning of the growing season. Skip feeding in fall and winter — it won’t use it.
POTS:
Snug pots with drainage are the move. Terracotta is great to help the soil dry faster. Avoid deep or oversized containers — Snake Plant prefers things tight and dry.
WINTER CARE:
It’ll go into a slowdown — sometimes a full shutdown. Don’t panic. Just water less, hold the fertilizer, and keep it in bright indirect light if you can. New growth will return when spring hits.
F.A.Q:
Classic overwatering. Snake Plant hates wet feet. Make sure the pot drains and that the soil dries out fully before watering again.
Yep. Divide at the base (Root Hack) when repotting to create new plants. You can also slice healthy leaves into chunks, let them callous, and root them in water or soil (Chop Prop). It’s slow but reliable.
Not enough light. Move it closer to a bright window — indirect light keeps the yellow edges bold.
It’s a Mild Menace. Not deadly, but not snack-safe either. Keep it away from chewers and curious toddlers.
WANT TO LEARN MORE?
For deeper info on Dracaena and other members of the Asparagaceae family, check out the Royal Horticultural Society — one of the most trusted plant authorities worldwide:
www.rhs.org.uk/plants/dracaenaena
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