Help Your Snake Plant Thrive By Growing It With This Houseplant

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

You may have opted to grab a snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata) for your home after it was recommended to you as one of the easiest houseplants to care for, great for those who are new to owning plants or who don't have much time to look after them. This tall, attractive plant is a favorite with amateurs and experts alike for its adaptability and impressive striped leaves that can even positively affect the feng shui in your home. However, once your snake plant has become settled in your home, it may start to look a little out of place on its own. One option is to decorate your home with plants in lots of different pots to create a jungle of foliage. But if you don't have many pots to hand or you don't want to keep track of dozens of different watering schedules, what should you do?

A great solution is to pair your snake plant in a pot with another kind of plant that grows well with it. If you've never heard of a ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia), you can consider it as the snake plant's rounder, glossier tropical companion. Known for being equally low-maintenance, the ZZ plant has oval-shaped, dark leaves tinged with light green that grow along its stems in thick layers. In addition, the ZZ does not typically fall victim to pests or diseases, so it will be unlikely to spread them to your existing plants. Like the snake plant, the ZZ can be toxic if ingested, so if you do decide to grow these together, they should both be placed out of reach of children and pets. So, what makes these two plants such good growing companions?

The main reason snake plants and ZZ plants make such a good pair is that they have similar growing requirements. Snake plants prefer dry conditions, so the only plants that can safely share a pot with one sans drying out are drought-resistant kinds such as succulents. The ZZ plant is drought- and neglect-resistant, making it the perfect companion for the snake plant. Both should be watered about every two or three weeks, and even less in the winter, to keep them growing their best. Because these plants are susceptible to root rot from overly moist soil, they benefit from sharing this less frequent watering schedule. In addition, both plants prefer well-draining soil such as this Miracle-Gro Cactus, Palm and Citrus Potting Mix from Amazon.

Making the match even more heavenly, the snake plant and ZZ plant are both adaptable and can tolerate a range of lighting environments. When potting two plants together, it is important to take note not only of their current size but also their expected size. Luckily, both snake plants and ZZ plants are relatively compact and don't require much extra space to spread their roots. This makes them the perfect indoor plants for small spaces, as they can be placed together almost anywhere around the house and don't require a huge container or frequent repotting.