Snake plants are often described as indestructible, and honestly, that reputation is mostly earned. Mine has survived low light, inconsistent watering, and being moved around more times than I’d like to admit. But winter exposed one habit that was quietly working against it.
For snake plants, the problem isn’t cold or darkness.
It’s watering on autopilot.
I used to treat winter like a slightly slower version of summer care. Same routine, just spaced out a bit. That worked for some plants, but not for this one. Once I made a single adjustment, everything stabilized.
Why winter watering affects snake plants more than I realized
Snake plants store water in their leaves. That’s what makes them so forgiving. But in winter, when light levels drop and growth slows, that stored water lasts much longer than it does in warmer months.
What I started noticing by mid-winter:
- Leaves feeling softer at the base
- Slight yellowing near the soil line
- Growth completely stalling
- Soil staying damp longer than expected
Nothing looked dramatic, but the plant felt… off.
It wasn’t dying. It was quietly telling me to stop doing one thing.
The simple change that made the biggest difference
I stopped watering based on time and started watering based on weight.
Instead of checking the soil surface or following a rough schedule, I only water my snake plant when the pot feels noticeably light in my hands.
That one shift eliminated every winter issue I was having.
How I judge when to water now
I don’t overthink it. I don’t use meters or calendars.
Here’s my process:
- I lift the pot before watering
- If it feels heavy, I walk away
- If it feels surprisingly light, I water
That’s it.
In winter, this often means watering far less than I expect. Sometimes weeks longer than my “plant brain” wants to allow.
What I avoid doing in winter
Once I understood the issue, I stopped trying to fix it the wrong way.
Things I no longer do:
- Water “just a little” to be safe
- Water because it’s been two weeks
- Mist the leaves
- Move the plant closer to heat or light suddenly
Snake plants don’t want constant input. They want restraint.
Where I keep the plant during winter
I don’t chase light in winter. I let the plant stay put.
I just make sure:
- It’s not near a heating vent
- It’s not sitting in cold drafts
- The pot has proper drainage
Low light slows growth, but it doesn’t harm the plant. Wet soil does.
What changed after I adjusted watering
The difference wasn’t instant, but it was clear.
Within a few weeks:
- Leaves stayed firm
- Yellowing stopped entirely
- The base felt solid again
- The plant looked calm, not stressed
Nothing dramatic happened — and that’s exactly the point.
My winter routine now
My snake plant care in winter looks like this:
- Ignore the calendar
- Lift the pot before watering
- Let the soil dry completely
- Leave the plant alone otherwise
It’s less work, not more.
Why I stick with this method
Snake plants don’t struggle in winter because they need extra care. They struggle because we don’t slow down enough.
Once I stopped treating winter like a mild inconvenience and started treating it like a dormant season, the plant stopped pushing back.
If your snake plant always looks a little worse by spring, try this one change. Don’t water less on purpose — just wait longer than you think you should.
