If you’ve ever looked up ‘best houseplants for beginners,’ then you’ve probably seen a snake plant. These spikey, funky-looking houseplants are super cool and claim to be beginner-friendly. If you’re like me, then you thought ‘perfect. There’s no way I could mess this up.’
Wrong!
Like all houseplants, even the hardy cactus, snake plants could benefit from high-quality fertilizer. They’re pretty tough, but it can be easy to take a hardy houseplant and say ‘this’ll be fine no matter where I put it.’
Also wrong!
Snake plants have preferred growing requirements, which I’ll discuss in just a bit. I’ll also talk about why you should fertilize your snake plant, plus my top 5 favorite products that’ll keep your snake plant happy, healthy, and funky. So, let’s get into it!
Below is a quick list of my favorite fertilizers for Snake plants. Keep scrolling to learn more of my top tips to choose and use the best fertilizer for Snake Plants.
| Image | Product | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Overall Top Pick  | Overall Top Pick | Dr. Earth Liquid Solution Concentrate
|
| View on Amazon |
Best Pick for Sick Snake Plants  | Best Pick for Sick Snake Plants | Instant Biologics Houseplant Fertilizer
|
| View on Amazon |
Best Budget-Friendly Pick  | Best Budget-Friendly Pick | Burpee Bone Meal Fertilizer
|
| View on Amazon |
Best Pick for Minimal Applications  | Best Pick for Minimal Applications | Perfect Plants Liquid Snake Plant Fertilizer
|
| View on Amazon |
Best Pick for Getting Blooms  | Best Pick for Getting Blooms | Neptune's Harvest Organic Hydrolized Fish and Seaweed Fertilizer
|
| View on Amazon |
My Overall Top #1 Pick: Dr. Earth Liquid Solution Concentrate
While I love all of these snake plant fertilizers, Dr. Earth Liquid Solution Concentrate is my overall top choice! The 3-3-3 NPK ratio is perfectly balanced and promotes overall plant health, from leaf to root. Plus, it’s organic!
Whether or not you utilize organic fertilizers on all your plants, I recommend this product. The NPK ratio is gentle enough to not burn your snake plant, but well-rounded enough to get the job done. It’s designed to enhance the re-growth of stressed plants and make them beautiful and healthy again.
It’s also formulated to help balance the micronutrients in your soil, which can be a big issue for potted plants (I’ll get into the details on that in just a bit).
Lastly, the liquid-based formula is super easy to use–just dilute it in water according to the directions on the package (and your plant’s tolerance) and water like normal!
One note about this product–it isn’t vegan- or vegetarian-friendly. The ingredients do contain “ocean-going fish” which essentially means bone- or blood-meal. These are great nutrients for your plant, but not if you’re against using animal products.
But if you are okay with using animal products for your plants, I highly recommend Dr. Earth Liquid Solution Concentrate for your snake plant! If not, I’ve got 4 other fertilizers for you to check out–don’t worry!
Top 5 Fertilizers for Snake Plants
In a hurry? No worries! Below are my top 5 fertilizers for your snake plant!
- Dr. Earth Liquid Solution Concentrate (Overall Top Pick)
- Instant Biologics Houseplant Fertilizer (Best Pick for Sick Snake Plants)
- Burpee Bone Meal Fertilizer (Best Budget-Friendly Pick)
- Perfect Plants Liquid Snake Plant Fertilizer (Best Pick for Minimal Applications)
- Neptune’s Harvest Organic Hydrolized Fish and Seaweed Fertilizer (Best Pick for Getting Blooms)
Why Do You Need a High-Quality Fertilizer For Snake Plants?
Snake plants are considered pretty hardy houseplants, so why do you even need a high-quality fertilizer for yours? Well, there are a few ways that good fertilizer can benefit your snake plant:
Root Rot
Root rot is a common issue with many plants, especially ones that prefer dry soil, like snake plants. They thrive on neglect, and over-watering can be a common occurrence. Succulents also often face root rot.
Root rot occurs when the roots of the plants become infected, turning slimy and dark. Here’s a guide on how to fix it if you do have issues:
Investing in a high-quality fertilizer can provide a boost of extra nutrients which can help to prevent root rot, saving you from having to save your snake plant!
Nutrient Deficiencies in Potted Plants
Potted plants can quickly become nutrient deficient, which is why it’s important to fertilize them to replenish what they’ve lost.
Nutrient deficiency can look like wilting, yellowing leaves, dropping, and all the typical signs that your plant isn’t well.
A high-quality fertilizer can help mitigate the issues that come with nutrient deficiency, especially ones that are packed with micronutrients like all these options are.
What to Consider When Choosing The Right Fertilizer For Snake Plant
Fertilizer Composition
Fertilizers are composed of 3 main ingredients that are vital for plant growth–nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. There are the macronutrients (the plant equivalent to carbs, protein, and fats). On any fertilizer package, you’ll see numbers representing these elements (this is called the NPK ratio).
An NPK ratio will be 3 numbers. For example, 7-9-5 would mean that the fertilizer would be 7% nitrogen, 9% phosphorus, and 5% potassium. Well, what about the other 79%?
That would be composed of small amounts of micronutrients such as magnesium, iron, calcium, sulfur, etc. These are the equivalent of vitamins in human food (like vitamin C). Some products are high in sulfur, others in calcium. The most important nutrients, however, are those ‘Big Thre.’
Nitrogen is essential for the growth of leaves and stems. For snake plants in particular, this is an important nutrient to help them make the most of the light they’re receiving. Just because they do well in dark corners doesn’t mean they don’t need sunlight!
An extra boost of nitrogen can help your snake plant take full advantage of the light it does get. Phosphorus promotes root growth and flowering, and even though most snake plants don’t bloom, phosphorus can help protect them from root rot.
And maybe you’re lucky, and you do have a flowering snake plant, phosphorus can help promote those ethereal blooms.
Lastly, potassium helps with overall plant health and disease resistance (always important, especially in a plant that can be prone to root rot). Think of potassium like vitamin C for your snake plant–it won’t cure it of any and all diseases, but it will help it fight off whatever’s causing an issue.
While all plants need these nutrients, different plants will require different ratios to thrive. A snake plant typically requires a balanced fertilizer with an NPK ratio of 1:1:1 (or, for example, 5:5:5). However, if you really want to see a bloom, an NPK ratio more like 2:4:2 could potentially make that happen.
Liquid v. Granular
The debate between liquid versus granular fertilizer is age-old, so here are the basics:
Liquid fertilizer is easier to apply, and usually not as potent as granular fertilizer. You can simply dilute it in water to knock down the potency a little bit. It’s easy to flush out of the soil if your snake plant doesn’t like it.
However, liquid fertilizer can be more expensive, and it requires the additional work of diluting it. It can kill your plant easily if you don’t dilute it properly.
Granular fertilizer is slower-releasing, which is good for larger plants and also lazy gardeners such as myself. It’s also typically cheaper, in my experience, and there are more varieties. Plus, granular fertilizer has a longer shelf life.
However, it can burn your snake plant, and severely damage the roots. I’d be careful when choosing a granular product for your snake plant unless you plan to turn it into a liquid-based product, which is surprisingly easy to do and something I always recommend.
That being said, both granular and liquid fertilizers should be applied as close to the soil as possible to prevent burning your snake plant’s beautiful, iconic leaves.
Organic v. Inorganic
Fertilizers can either be organic (all-natural) or inorganic (synthetic). Both have some pros and cons, but I use both on my plants depending on the need of the individual.
Organic fertilizers don’t disrupt the natural ecosystem of the soil and don’t leave behind any unnatural residue once the plant absorbs what it needs. They’re also less likely to burn your plant since they’re all-natural. However, they can be more expensive, and also stinkier (since organic materials kind of smell).
Inorganic fertilizers are typically cheaper and easier to find at your local gardening center. They’re also more affordable and work faster than organic products. However, it can be easier to burn your plant with an inorganic fertilizer, so use it sparingly at first.
Regardless of what type of fertilizer you use, if you use it properly, then your snake plant will be happy! Over-fertilizing can burn your plant no matter what, so be sure to apply properly and follow the directions on the package. Less is more, especially with your first application.
My Reviews of the Best Fertilizers for Snake Plants
1. Dr. Earth Liquid Solution Concentrate (Overall Top Pick)
I love this well-rounded product for snake plants! The 3-3-3 NPK ratio promotes leaf growth, root health, and overall disease resistance.
It’s filled with micronutrients from kelp meal and seaweed extract. Plus, it comes in liquid form, so it’s easy to dilute it to your snake plant’s specific needs. The phosphorus content is high enough to promote potential blooms, and it’s also an organic formula.
The only downside to this product is that it isn’t vegan/vegetarian-friendly, since it contains “ocean-going fish” as part of its formula. Wonderful for your plant, but maybe not for you, if you don’t like using animal products.
| PROS (+) | CONS (-) |
| + 3-3-3 NPK ratio promotes overall wellness + Packed full of micronutrients + Organic formula | – Not vegan/vegetarian-friendly |
2. Instant Biologics Houseplant Fertilizer (Best Pick for Sick Snake Plants)
This mess-free fertilizer is perfect for a snake plant that needs a one-time boost to help ward off pests or diseases.
It’s certified vegan and cruelty-free (yay!), and the NPK ratio of 4-3-6 packs a punch. All that extra potassium can help combat issues like root rot or other pests, such as aphids.
All you have to do to apply this fertilizer is drop 1 tablet in a glass of water and water your snake plant with it. Done!
The only downside is that there are only 2 tablets per package, which means it isn’t sustainable for long-term use. Better for a one-time boost if your snake plant is under the weather.
| PROS (+) | CONS (-) |
| + Mess-free tabs for easy application + High potassium content to help prevent diseases + Certified vegan and cruelty-free | – Only 2 tablets per package–not sustainable for long-term use |
3. Burpee Bone Meal Fertilizer (Best Budget-Friendly Pick)
This budget-friendly pick is perfect if you want to go all-natural without breaking the bank. I highly recommend bone meal for almost every plant, but especially snake plants.
This product is designed to facilitate healthy root growth and ward off diseases like root rot. Bone meal breaks down slowly, which is perfect for plants that like to take their time absorbing nutrients (like snake plants). My only qualm about this product is that, since it’s bone meal, it isn’t friendly for vegans/vegetarians who dislike using animal products in their gardens.
| PROS (+) | CONS (-) |
| + Odor-free formula + Makes over 50 gallons of fertilizer + Packed full of micronutrients | – Not a lot of reviews yet (still a growing company!) |
4. Perfect Plants Liquid Snake Plant Fertilizer (Best Pick for Minimal Applications)
This once-a-month fertilizer from Perfect Plants is perfect for lazy gardeners like myself!
The water-soluble formula is fast-acting and is designed to bring out the vibrancy in your plant, meaning you’ll see both brighter greens and yellows in no time.
It’s also designed specifically for your low-maintenance snake plant, which is why it’s a low-maintenance product. The biggest complaint I’ve heard about this product is that the cap doesn’t tighten super well, so it leaks easily. Be sure to store it upright!
| PROS (+) | CONS (-) |
| + Once-a-month application (perfect for lazy gardeners!) + Fast-acting water-soluble formula + High nitrogen content makes it good for snake plants in dark spaces | – The cap is prone to leaking |
5. Neptune’s Harvest Organic Hydrolized Fish and Seaweed Fertilizer (Best Pick for Getting Blooms)
This product is my favorite for promoting blooms for your snake plant, with a 2-3-1 NPK ratio.
I’d recommend this for a snake plant that’s already healthy and looks like it really wants to bloom so that the lack of nitrogen and potassium don’t hinder its overall growth.
Also, the bag is huge, treating up to 64 gallons of soil. You’ll have this product for ages, which makes it a bargain!
However, the fish meal in it can be very enticing to pets, so the product (and your snake plant, of course) should be kept well out of reach.
I’d also caution against being heavy-handed with this fertilizer, as some say the smell is pretty… fishy. But if you want to see your snake plant bloom, this fertilizer is the way to go!
| PROS (+) | CONS (-) |
| + 2-3-1 NPK ratio promotes potential blooming + Huge bag–treats up to 64 gallons of soil + Organic | – Has a strong odor that can attract pets; keep this out of their reach! |
My Top Pick: Dr. Earth Liquid Solution Concentrate
These are all fantastic snake plant fertilizer, but my favorite has to be Dr. Earth Liquid Solution Concentrate for its gentle yet well-rounded 3-3-3 NPK ratio and liquid formula.
It’s easy to apply and promotes growth on every level, from leaves to blooms to overall health. For plants that are prone to root rot, lack of light, etc., this product is liquid gold. You’ll see healthy growth in no time!
While it isn’t a vegan- or vegetarian-friendly product, I do still highly recommend this one. The added micronutrients from the fishmeal and sea kelp do wonders for all plants, but especially ones that are prone to nutrient deficiencies like typically-potted snake plants.
Overall, I can’t recommend this product enough for your snake plant. I hope you get the chance to see it work its magic!
Final Thoughts
No matter what high-quality fertilizer you choose for your snake plant, as long as you apply it properly and monitor your plant, you’ll notice a boost in overall health.
While snake plants are hardy and many say they don’t need fertilizer, I’ve found that they benefit from fertilizer just like any other houseplant.
I hope you’ve found this guide to the best fertilizers for snake plants helpful. Stay happy, stay healthy, and stay green!