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A Sanseviera, Mother In- Law’s Tongue,
Snake plant, or whatever you want to call it, is another one of those hardy almost
impossible to kill plants that thrives on neglect. It can be used as a table plant or, when taller, as a stately floor plant;
certain varieties of sanseviera can easily reach 4ft. in height. This indoor tropical plant has long, thick, stiff, pointed,
upright leaves that come in varying patterns of green, white, and yellow. NASA has listed the sanseviera as a clean air plant.
Houseplant 411 for the iPhone & i Pod Touch
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CARE OF SANSEVIERA
Light: A sanseviera can be placed anywhere in a room from the darkest corner to next to the brightest window. The better
the light: the faster the plant grows.
Water: The only way to kill a sanseviera
is by over watering it. Always allow the soil to completely dry out before watering. During the winter, in a low light area,
a sanseviera may only need water once a month. When in doubt, do not water!
Fertilizer:
A sanseviera does not need much fertilizer. Feed your plant once a month when it is actively growing with a good cactus plant
food diluted to ½ strength.
Temperature: Sansevieras prefer temperatures
above 50 degrees in order to grow. Household temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees are perfect.
Pests: Diseases and pests are not usually a problem as far as sansevieras are concerned.
Clean Air: Sansevieras have been shown to remove benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene from the air.
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SANSEVIERA FAQ’S
1. The leaves of my sanseviera are brown and mushy at the base and fall off when I touch them.
You are definitely
over watering your sanseviera. Take off all of the damaged leaves. Repot your plant into a smaller container with new DRY
soil. Place in a warm sunny location and do not water for several weeks.
2. Do
sansevieras ever flower?
A sanseviera in bright light may produce flowers every few years. Under the right lighting
conditions, the plant sends out long spikes filled with numerous small fragrant white or cream-colored flowers. These won’t
harm the plant, so enjoy them.
3. How can I propagate my sanseviera?
There are a couple of ways to propagate a sanseviera. The easiest way is by division. When your plant sends up new shoots
break them off the main plant and pot them into a small container with fast draining soil, use several shoots to a pot. You
can also cut existing leaves into 4” segments and plant those 1” to 2” into the soil.
4. Why are sansevieras called Mother In-Law’s Tongue?
Supposedly because the leaves
are long sharp and pointed, and, if you happen to nibble on one, your mouth may become numb.
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