Whether you know them as Sansevierias or Draceanas, snake plants are charming houseplants that are some of the easiest to maintain. The Black Gold Snake Plant is a looker that has some truly spectacular foliage. Snake plants are good for beginners, foliage admirers, anyone with a challenging spot in need of greenery, or anyone who likes the idea of having plants but doesn’t have a green thumb. Learn about Black Gold Snake Plant care and what this beauty can do for your space.
Black Gold Basics
The Black Gold Snake Plant is a variety of Sansevieria trifasciata. Other members of the trifasciata species include the Laurentii snake plant, Moonshine snake plant, Jaboa snake plant, Black Coral snake plant, and the Hahnii snake plant. There is also just the plain old trifasciata.
The flat leaves of the Black Gold are broad and sword-shaped and grow in a rosette formation. The foliage is such a dark shade of green it almost appears black. The blackish-green hue is stunning, but it is completely offset by the bold, golden chartreuse margins. The leaves can stand up to 2.5 feet tall and one to two inches wide.
It’s worth noting that most of the plants in the Sansevieria genus were reclassified several years ago. Modern genetic testing established that Sansevierias are not their own genus but actually Dracaenas. The new name is not widely adopted, so while this plant is formally a Dracaena trifasciata ‘Black Gold,’ most people still know it as a Sansevieria, and it’s not wrong to call it a snake plant.
Black Gold Snake Plant Light Needs
The Black Gold Sansevieria can handle any type of light. Stick this plant in a low-light corner or a sunny window. Snake plants grow slowly and will grow even slower in low or medium light. The best choice is bright, indirect sunlight. Loads of sunlight will help the plant grow as fast as possible, which isn’t that fast. If you want any chance of this houseplant blooming, make sure it receives lots of sunlight. Bright, indirect sunlight also keeps the foliage vibrant. The colors will appear muted, or the leaves may flop when the plant is grown in low light.
Keep the Black Gold out of direct sunlight. Limited direct light is likely okay, but too much will burn the foliage. Spin the pot a quarter turn every few weeks to keep the leaves growing upright and to prevent the plant from leaning.
How Often to Water Black Gold Snake Plant
Water the Sansevieria Black Gold when the soil is dry throughout. Snake plants store water in their thick roots, known as rhizomes, and they must use this supply before getting more water. Plan to water a snake plant every other week during the spring and summer. Dormant plants need water every 4 to 6 weeks.
Overwatering is the most common issue snake plants face, and this problem is preventable. Always check the soil dryness before watering. If you’re unsure if the soil is dry enough, wait another day or two and check again. Yellow leaf tips indicate the plant is overwatered. The leaves will have a shriveled appearance when the plant is underwatered. Give an underwatered plant a drink immediately, and the foliage should plump back up. Snake plants are much more forgiving when underwatered.
Best Soil for Sansevieria
Most potting mixes intended for cacti or succulents work well for Snake Plants. The soil must allow drainage because overly wet conditions are bad news for Sansevierias. Organic content or slow-release fertilizers amended in the potting mix are good but not mandatory.
Temperature for Black Gold Sansevieria
Temperatures between 60° and 85° F are ideal for proper Black Gold Snake Plant care. This plant prefers warm conditions, and most homes are comfortable. Keep the plant away from heating or cooling vents and drafts. Temperature swings can be an issue.
Black Gold Snake Plant Humidity Needs
Part of what makes Sansevierias so easy is that they are happy in low or average humidity. These plants naturally live in arid environments, and high humidity can be harmful. Humidity impacts how quickly the potting mix dries out, so be mindful of the dampness when watering the plant.
Black Gold Snake Plant Fertilizer
Fertilizing isn’t necessary, but giving your snake plant a nutritional boost will help it thrive. Feed the Black Gold Snake Plant using a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer or a product intended for succulents or cacti. Apply fertilizer in the early spring and again around mid-summer. Do not fertilize dormant plants.
Does the Black Gold Snake Plant Bloom?
The Black Gold does bloom. Tall flower spikes emerge from the ground and produce green-hued blooms. The flowers are charming but not very showy, and they’re also not likely to appear indoors. Sansevieria houseplants are capable of blooming, but it isn’t common. The Black Gold is grown for its uniquely colored foliage, and you’ll have plenty of opportunity to admire that.
Snake Plant Pruning Tips
Remove dead growth as necessary, but pruning is not a big part of snake plant care. Always use clean, sharp pruning shears when trimming.
When to Repot Black Gold Snake Plant
Sansevierias are slow-growing plants, so plan to repot every two to five years. Snake plants are fine being a little rootbound, so don’t rush to give your plant a new pot. Slowed growth and roots poking through the drainage holes alert you when it’s time for a larger container.
Select a container that is one to two inches larger and has drainage. Using an inner pot with drainage and a decorative cover pot works well for most plants, including Sansevieria. When planting a snake plant directly in a pot, select a material like terracotta or unglazed ceramic. A porous pot allows water to evaporate, further protecting against root rot.
Black Gold Sansevieria Propagation
You have options when it comes to snake plant propagation. Sansevieria naturally produces pups or baby plants. These tiny plants grow alongside the parent plant and share a root system. Keep the pup in the same pot for an extended period or remove them after they reach a couple of inches in size. It’s often easier to divide plants when repotting. Gently shake away the potting mix, and use a clean, sharp knife or pruning shears to cut the connecting roots if necessary. Repot the mother plant and allow the wound to callous over before repotting the pup if the roots had to be severed.
Stem cuttings are another propagation technique. Each stem cutting must be several inches long, allowing one tall leaf to be trimmed into multiple cuttings. Maintain the orientation so the bottom of each cutting is placed in the rooting medium. Snake plant cuttings will not produce roots from the top. Root Black Gold Snake Plant cuttings in water or soil. It will take one to two months for the roots to grow.
Transplant water propagated cuttings to potting mix when the roots are a couple of inches long. Keep the soil damp for the first couple of weeks. Keep the potting mix consistently damp but not saturated during soil propagation. Scale back to a regular watering routine when the cutting has roots. Before long, a tiny pup will grow alongside the cutting.
Is Black Gold Snake Plant Pet Safe?
The one drawback to the Black Gold Snake Plant is that it isn’t a good choice for homes with pets. The Sansevieria trifasciata Black Gold is not pet-safe. The foliage contains saponins which cause vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea if ingested. Small plants can live on a table or mantle, possibly making them alright to have in homes with pets. Large plants are suited to the floor, which makes them more accessible to pets, and puts your animals in harm’s way.
Black Gold Snake Plant Styling Tips
The dark foliage of the Black Gold Snake Plant makes styling easy. A large plant can command a plant stand or a spot on the floor alongside a window or interior doorway. You can never go wrong with a neutral color pot, but select a dark container for a monochrome look or a bright pot to match the chartreuse margin.
Black Gold Snake Plant Care Tips
The Sansevieria trifasciata comes in various forms, and they’re all lovely, but the Black Gold is a special plant. This easy-care houseplant sets a moody vibe and introduces a unique color palette into a space. Sansevierias thrive with a small degree of neglect, but it’s hard to ignore this beauty.