How to Make a Faux Snake Plant (Fake Plants DIY)

Learn how to make a fabulous fake snake plant using crepe paper!

Faux house plants are the perfect solution to a home office, dining room or living room that just don't get enough sunlight for live plants.

These faux sansevieria plants are a popular choice for interior design home decor because of their beautiful leaves.

Let's get crafting this faux snake plant!

I absolutely love real plants but just cannot seem to keep them alive for long at all--even bamboo and succulents...they just end up dying a slow and painful death.

I have come to the decision that live plants are their own hobby, and I don't need any other hobbies.

It makes me so sad to see my plants die right before my eyes--a faux plant is the ideal choice for me.

True Story:

I bought a bunch of plants with the excitement to nurture my relationship with nature and grow real live plants.

I got real snake plants, monstera and a few other plants with high visual interest.

I was invigorated and determined to take special care of these beautiful plants.

I bought a decorative pot or two and transplanted my new houseplants into their homes.

I watched them closely, bought a sunlight because I don't think they were getting enough sun...then maybe too much sunlight...maybe not enough water...or too much water...

I watched as my beautiful plants slowly lost their life...yellow tips on the leaves...some leaves turning brown and falling off completely. 

But, before I just let my plants die a slow and painful death, I took a couple over to a neighbors house with a note attached. "Please care for these plants if you can".

I left them on the doorstep on night in December and ran away.

Seriously like leaving an infant baby in a basket on the doorstep of a random house, I said goodbye to my houseplants.

No worries though, I can see them thriving in my neighbors window--they are much better plant parents than me--the plants are doing so well!

I am content to make fake plants and enjoy them just as much as the real thing.

Supplies Needed for Artificial Snake Plants:

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• Italian Crepe Paper  (I highly recommend this Lia Griffith pack)
• Floral Wire
• MONO Glue Stick
• Planter Pot
• Styrofoam Base
• Air Dry Clay
• Acrylic Craft Paint (Brown, Light Green and Green)
• Gravel or Pebbles
• Hot Glue and Gun

Step 1: Cutting Crepe Paper

Begin by cutting pieces of crepe paper to your desired size.

I did a mid-size plant, in a 6 inch pot, so I cut my pieces to 4 inches wide by 10-12 inches tall.

I cut 20 pieces, some in dark green crepe paper and some in light green crepe paper.

I love real plants because they have different sizes of leaves, so I tried to make a variety of size to look as natural as possible.

Step 2: Glue Stick and Wire

Cover half of the cut crepe paper with the glue stick, all the way to the edges.

Gently fold a floral wire loosely in half and place it on the crepe paper right on the glue and about 2 inches from the top edge of the crepe paper.

And let the wire stick out the base of the crepe paper about an inch on both sides.

Then fold the other half of the crepe paper over the wire and press it firmly into the glue.

Repeat this leave making process for all the leaves you desire.

I did about 20 leaves of 2 different colors and various sizes to make the finished fake plant look more realistic.

Let the leaves and the glue dry completely, it doesn't take long for the glue to dry, maybe 20 minutes.

Step 3: Cut to Shape

Now use some scissors to cut the leaves into snake leaf shape.

Trim the sides gently to make the leaf smaller in width at the base and a little wider in the middle, then bring the top to a point.

This is why the wire should not go all the way to the top edge of the crepe paper.

Then bend, accordion bend some of the leaves, curl some of the smaller leaves like they are just pushing through the soil.

Take time to give the leaves character so the plant looks more realistic.

Step 4: Paint the Leaves

Place a leaf on a scrap piece of paper and use a paintbrush to paint the edges and dramatic and characteristic stripes on the leaves.

I used light green paint on the dark green leaves and dark green paint on the light green leaves.

Add the horizontal stripes, make them as defined or subtle as your taste likes--repeat for each leaf and set it aside to dry. 

Then paint the backside of each leaf as well and let the paint dry completely before handling in the next step.

There are so many varieties of sansevieria plants and you can style the leaves after your favorite.

Step 5: Fake Soil

Making the potting soil as realistic as possible is the key for making this fake plant look authentic and realistic.

I used air dry clay as my soil with paint and some pebbles on top...you can actually just use soil and make it really look legit, I just wanted all my leaves and rocks sort of "stuck" in place.

Let me walk you through this simple process:

Find a piece of styrofoam that fits inside the planter pot. (I had a cone that I cut the top off of and it fit perfectly in my planter)

Then get enough air dry clay to cover the top of the foam and the opening of the pot and mix in some brown acrylic paint.

Then press the clay on top of the styrofoam...if there is too much clay on top, the plant can become top heavy.

In this case, adding clay to the base as well is helpful to balance the weight.

Step 6: Potting the Fake Plant

Now insert the leaves into the clay and foam one at a time, starting right in the center with about the longest leaf you have.

Stick the wire into the soft clay and an inch down into the styrofoam.

Work these in while the clay is still moist and it will dry around it to hold them tightly in place.

Continue placing in the leaves, adding shape and waves to individual leaves as you desire.

Fill the center of the planter pot, leaving a little edge all the way around but not too much visible space between each leaf. 

It should look like one plant ball in the center and smaller leaves near the edges, like they are just growing and filling in the space.

20 big leaves is a big sized snake plant, it's common to see plants with only a few leaves, especially if it's a recent propagation or new plant.

So you don't need as many leaves as I used, try a few and see what you like best.

Then add small rocks, pebbles or gravel into the air dry clay.

Add a little hot glue to the bottom of the styrofoam and press it down into the planter firmly.

Finally, squish the clay to the edges of the pot and fill in the spaces with the little pebbles. 

Grinding some pepper into the clay is another fun way to give it a little sandy/dirty texture.

Much more realistic looking than some artificial plants--I love it so much!

I love caring for my fake plants and they offer an option for beautiful greenery for someone, like me, that cannot seem to keep plants alive despite best efforts.

This low-maintenance nature is my cup of tea--and I'm not an interior designer--but you'll see this fun plant pop up in future posts too!

This DIY snake plant is a great way to add a touch of nature to the home without the pressure of keeping a soul alive.

Granted, I know I'm not getting the benefit of added oxygen, but until I can dedicate more time to plant husbandry, I'm going to enjoy my realistic snake plant. 

I've seen similar artificial plants made with masking tape, duct tape and even old jeans--but I love the way the fine crepe paper looks.

It's easy to care for too, just dust off periodically with a cloth or use a compressed air duster.

That's it!

I hope you liked learning how to make a DIY fake snake plant as the perfect home accessory for anyone that needs greenery without care.

If you make your own, please share it on social media and tag me @doodlecraft so I can cheer you on!

Fake plants for the win!

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