Houseplants - How to Care for Sansevieria

The Sansevieria is the perfect addition to any indoor garden setting. With over sixty different varieties to choose from, everyone is sure to find the perfect match for their taste.

This species of Genus plant is a native of Africa, but can also be found in Australia, China, Japan, and even Hawaii. For many, this plant is recognized by the name Snake Plant or Mother in Law’s Tongue. The Sansevieria is a very easy plant to grow and is very simple to care for.

This species of plant prefers to be placed in a low-light setting and can tolerate a duration of up to two months without watering during the winter season. Easy care and its beautiful foliage are what draw people to include this plant in their indoor garden. The Sansevieria leaves grow with a display of many pattern variations. The leaves are typically a dark green, but can also be yellow striped around the edges, speckled or just about any variation your imagination can visualize.

Routine maintenance of the Sansevieria is a rather simple chore, however these plants are very well known for their sharp tipped leaves, so some care must be taken. Trimming the tips is not recommended for this plant, but some leaf trimming may be required on occasion. It is also important to note, that with this plant having such sharp tips, you should take great care when deciding where in your home to place it.

As with any other plant, over watering can produce damage to the leaves and roots. In addition, even though this is a drought tolerant plant; under watering can cause root damage as well. A sure sign of under watering are leaves that give the appearance of being wrinkled. If you start to notice a few long leaves starting to hang low, do not stake them for support. Simply trimming those leaves at the base will produce new growth quite rapidly.

With the Sansevieria being a drought tolerant plant, allowing the soil to dry out between watering is the best care for this plant. In order to ensure that you do not under water the plant, you can purchase a Hygrometer or better yet, insert a common tongue depressor into the soil. After placing the wooden stick one to two inches below the surface, remove it and visually inspect the amount of moisture present.

These plants are natives of the tropical climate, so providing them with adequate sunlight and heat will produce a vibrant and healthy plant. One important issue to consider for your Sansevieria is container choice. With this species being a rapid grower, pot choice can be an essential issue to ensure your plant has plenty of room to grow. Most often, these plants are noted for shattering a clay pot with their extensive root growth, however if you choose a large pot, keep in mind there will be much more trimming to deal with in order to contain its girth.

The Sansevieria does not require much in the way of fertilizer; in fact this breed of plant thrives well in soil that has low-levels of nitrogen. Treating your Sansevieria like a Cactus will ensure rapid, healthy and vibrant growth as well as producing interesting leaf patterns.

Not only is the foliage beautiful, but some species of this plant will also produce white or green flowers along the stalks. This plant is adored for its fibrous leaves which were used in ancient times as bow strings.

Anyone looking for a lush, vibrant and interesting plant to add to their indoor garden is sure to be pleased with any variety of the Sansevieria.

         

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