On Hostgator, if you are using a shared hosting and your default PHP is set to 5.2.x then you can use PHP 5.3 by copying the code below
AddType application/x-httpd-php53 .php
and adding it on the first part of your .htaccess file. Take a look at the example below.
# # Apache/PHP/Drupal settings: # AddType application/x-httpd-php53 .php # Protect files and directories from prying eyes.
After you add the code, you can now check your PHP version by logging-in to your website and going to Reports -> Status report -> then look for PHP.
by Mark Jayson Gruta on January 21, 2014