Snake Plant, commonly called Sansevieria, is a group of tough and sturdy plants native to Africa, India, and the Mediterranean. For years, these low-maintenance succulents have become a common decorative feature in many people's homes worldwide. They are renowned for their unique forms and extraordinary air-cleaning ability.

As per Vastu Shastra, the ancient Indian science of environmental design, the Snake Plant is exalted for its power to harmonise space and maintain balance and positive energy.

This piece focuses on the basics of this fascinating plant and discusses its advantages, care tips, and cultural significance.

The serenity-inducing Snake Plant is considered one of the most essential plants in the ancient Indian system of Vastu Shastra. This is because it is seen as a primary tool in maintaining harmonious energies and creating a positive environment in a home or any other living space.

The hardy succulent, symbolising its rich core, is considered a precursor of vitality and rejuvenation. Its green and upward-growing leaves are deemed to be suitable transmitters of positive vibrations; hence, they boost our emotional and bodily well-being.

On the other hand, the Snake Plant is believed to be a positive force for drawing in fortune and financial success that people can admire and believe in. Experts in vastu suggest strategically positioning these plants to direct energies with optimal efficiency and make the place hospitable and the stream of success easily approachable.

Based on the essential principles of Vastu Shastra and Feng Shui, the presence of a Snake Plant is regarded as extremely prosperous and beneficial. These vigorous plants are alleged to have the power to draw the positive energy of good luck, blessing, and prosperity into the home. Their representative meaning is manifested in their role of purifying the air and creating a surrounding atmosphere of harmony.

Regarding its place in the house, it is believed that it helps people be in love with each other and live on good terms with their spouses. The living room is thought to maintain the household’s good vibes, while the bedroom ensures sweet slumber and deepens relations. Study rooms are perfect for making academic work more successful and achieving intellectual breakthroughs.

Vastu Shastra offers general recommendations and detailed guidelines for the most appropriate placement of Snake Plants inside a house. The recommended directions of south, east, and southeast are associated with growth, success, and the fire element, which are the benchmarks of feng shui.

• Southeast Corner (Agneya or Agni Sthana): Placing a snake plant in this corner, for instance, at the entry or living room, is said to appeal to financial success and positive energy regarding wealth and prosperity.
  
• Southwest Corner (Nairutya or Niruti Sthana): Snake plants in the southwest position, in addition to the living room and bedroom, are said to improve the health and well-being of everyone in the house because this corner represents stability and the earth element.
  

It would be wise to avoid keeping Snake Plants on tabletops near other house plants. They are also not a fan of moist environments such as bathrooms. Besides, the northeast corner should not be used since it is the sacred direction as per Vastu and possibly will disturb the harmony at this site.

Vastu Shastra emphasizes the Snake Plant as one that possesses an innate capacity to enhance one's overall wellness and generate a conducive ambiance for dwelling. These remarkable plants are believed to have the following health-enhancing properties:

1. Energy Purification

Snake plants are believed to negate exposure to electromagnetic radiation and stagnant energies. They help to balance and create a harmonious environment, especially in areas undergoing increased activity or energy stagnation.

2. Air Purification

One of the well-known advantages of snake plants is their ability to purify the air. They can clean the air substantially by removing the impurities and pollutants from the air, and consequently, the air quality and respirable health are improved.

3. Oxygen Replenishment

At night, these plants perpetually release oxygen, which may aid in sound sleep, relieve stress, and give a general desire to revive.

4. Humidity Regulation

Snake plants can perform additional functions, such as maintaining optimum humidity in the room and absorbing carbon dioxide and other gaseous compounds. It stops the spread of airborne diseases and creates a healthier abode.

5. Therapeutic Properties

Vastu Shastra also scientifically validates that snake plant leaves have some anti-inflammatory properties and can strengthen the immune system, ultimately promoting health and well-being.

Here are some tips on how to grow a Snake plant:

1. Choosing the Right Pot

Choose a pot with a sound drainage hole at the bottom, guaranteeing that extra water is removed. Snake plants like to have their roots slightly under-sized, so match the pot to the size of the plant's roots, which is a pot that is a little bit larger than the roots.

2. Potting Mix

The pot's mix should contain a suitable potting mix made for cacti or succulent plants. You can also prepare your own well-drained mix by mixing regular potting soil with perlite, sand, or bark chips.

3. Potting Process

• Fill up the pot two-thirds with the potting soil.
  
• Make a hole using your hands or a trowel in the middle of the soil.
  
• Take the Snake Plant from its pot and separate any tightly clumped or curled roots with your fingers.
  
• Set the plant in the pot, ensuring its root base is at the same level as the soil surface.
  
• Fill the pot with potting mix and firmly press down on the soil to give the plant a good foundation.
  
• Allow about an inch of space between the soil and the edge of the pot.
  

4. Watering

After planting in the pot, soak the Snake Plant thoroughly (until the water comes out through the drainage holes). Make sure the soil dries out completely between watering sessions.

5. Lighting

Snake plants grow well in bright, indirect light but can survive in artificial light. A sunny window provides the best conditions for growth or the grow light fixtures.

Snake Plants are very tolerant of warm conditions but require a certain level of humidity supply. They are productive within the temperature range of 70°F (21°C) to 90°F (32°C), which gives a great chance of indoor cultivation. They can stand a wide range of cold at around 50°F (10°C), but extremely cold, frost or prolonged exposure to these situations can damage or kill the plant.

Unexpectedly, these hardy succulents do well in bright, indirect sunlight and average household humidity of about 30% to 50%. By replicating the natural tropical habitat they are native to, it is no difficulty to watch them thrive and become 2-meter (7-foot) tall plants with upright sword-shaped leaves.

Here are some essential care tips for maintaining healthy indoor Snake plants:

1. Watering

Snake Plants do not usually need much water, so they do best when watered occasionally. Water them fortnightly to three weeks, ensuring the soil dries up overnight in the meantime. Watering too much can result in root rot.

2. Light

Snake plants can live in dimly or strongly lit areas, yet they are healthier when exposed to bright, indirect sunlight. Putting them next to a sunny window, under grow lights, brings them the most growth and greens.

3. Temperature

A number of these plants like usual temperatures between 60°F and 85°F (15°C and 29°C). Do not let them in the draughty weather or significant thermal changes.

4. Soil

Select a potting mix specially formulated for succulents or cacti and has good drainage properties. Use this mixture in pots to ensure proper water drainage in the soil. Snake plants do not tolerate waterlogged soil.

5. Fertilising

During the growing period (spring and summer), feed your snake plant with a diluted liquid fertiliser once every 6-8 weeks.

6. Grooming

Remember to dust the leaves by wiping them with a damp cloth. This improves the plant's ability to take in sunlight better, resulting in the plant's optimum health.

7. Pruning

Get rid of any wilted, browned, or dead leaves by cutting them at the base with a sharp scissor. This procedure helps initiate new growth, making plants look aesthetically attractive.

8. Repotting

Snake Plants, more often than not, prefer to be in the root-bound condition. In the spring, be sure to re-pot every 2 to 3 years into a slightly bigger container with a new, loose, and well-draining potting mixture.

Here are some of the versatile uses of the Snake plant:

1. Air Purification: Snake Plants provide a valuable service by absorbing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other impurities found in confined indoor spaces, which helps turn them into natural air purifiers for houses and workplaces.
   
2. Mood Enhancement: They are said to be able to relax and create positive energies, boosting our moods and overall well-being.
   
3. Natural Remedies: Traditional medicine uses Snake Plant extracts for their potential anti-inflammatory and immunity-enhancing abilities, which enables them to treat minor issues.
   
4. Fibre Source: Snake Plants have these fibres in their leaves that can be used to make ropes, cordage, bowstrings, and even materials for clothes.
   
5. Spiritual Significance: Snake Plants attract good luck and positive energy in some cultures and have a protective power against negative influences. Thus, they are often used for their symbolic value.
   
6. Drought Tolerance: Due to its succulent features, snake plants can thrive longer without water, becoming a low-maintenance and perfect choice for those who lead a busy life or forgetful plant proprietors.
   

Here are some dos and don'ts for Snake plants, according to Vastu Shastra:

Dos for Snake Plants as per Vastu

• Water when the soil is completely dry every 1-2 weeks.
  
• Ensure there is enough bright, indirect light, or low to moderate lighting.
  
• Fertilize during the peaks of the growing season (spring and summer) and use a diluted balanced fertilizer.
  
• Wipe the leaves occasionally, utilising a sponge and some water to remove the dust.
  
• Make sure to choose a potting mix that drains well, like a cactus or succulent mix.
  

Don’ts for Snake Plants as per Vastu

• Do not overwater; this may cause root rot and other diseases.
  
• Don't put your plants in direct sunlight, which can burn the leaves.
  
• Avoid soils that retain too much moisture.
  
• Don't disregard pests, e.g., mealybugs and spider mites, because they can destroy the plant.
  
• Fertilisation is not recommended during the winter when plants are typically dormant.
  

Snake plants are not just any kind of plant, but one that will serve as a fantastic decoration for every interior. With an eye-catching erect shape, pollution-reduction properties, and astonishing power to overcome adverse conditions, this no-maintenance succulent provides multifarious advantages.

It doesn't matter if you want this plant because of its cultural heritage or its usefulness in regular life or if you like to look at it, the Snake Plant should go into every plant lover's portfolio as well as into the homes of those who want to build a favorable and healthy way of living. Celebrate the joy of nurturing this multifaceted and tolerant plant, and be involved in its peaceful existence in your life, where it will contribute to quietness and natural beauty.