Sansevieria, care tips and more...

Beautiful Sansevieria plant

Sansevieria plant is native to Africa, Madagascar and southern Asia and it is also known as mother-in-law’s tongue, snake plant and snake tongue. Sansevieria plants are characterized by stiff, upright sword-like leaves. It is an easy-care houseplant that remains popular because of its adaptability to a wide range of growing conditions. 

Sansevieria Care tips:

Soil

Plant the Sansevieria in a good, rich, organic soil that drains quickly. Choose a potting soil that is low in peat. The most recommended soil is an all-purpose cactus potting mix. Every time your plant grows 2-3 cm make sure to add half inch potting soil to provide adequate support to the leaves. If the soil in the pot isn’t draining well add some sand.

Water

Water your plant every 2-6 weeks depending on the temperature, the light and the humidity. Always make sure the soil is completely dry before watering again. Do not over watering because your plant will rot out. Because Sansevieria is native to the deserts of Africa it does not require much water especially in the winter.

Light

Sansevieria prefers medium indirect light. It can withstand full sun and it can handle low light. Keep them out of the direct sun because the leaves will be burnt. The ideal place for the Sansevieria plant is a west or east-facing window so they can absorb the required 5-6 hours of sunlight per day.

Temperature

Sansevieria is capable of thriving in a wide range of temperatures. They can’t tolerate snow or frost and they get damaged below 10oC. Make sure to bring them indoors during winter. 

Fertilizers

Sansevieria plants don’t need much fertilizer but they will grow more if you fertilize them during their growing season in the spring and summer. As it is a houseplant choose a general purpose low-nitrogen cactus food diluted.

Flowering

Sansevieria plant may produce flowers every few years during the summer. The flowers which appear as clusters on long spikes are fragrant but not very pretty. 

Re-Potting

Re-pot the plant annually. If the roots of the plant outgrow the planter it is time to re-pot into a larger pot filled with a commercial potting soil. Before repotting wipe the leaves with a damp cloth to remove the dust and cut any blemished or damaged leaves. Prefer clay pots because they are heavy enough to balance the plant and they won’t trap water inside. 

To ensure that your Sansevieria grows evenly and the leaves are receiving adequate light exposures rotate the pot about a quarter turn. This will keep your plant growing vertically rather than leaning in one direction.

Pruning

Unlike other houseplants pruning Sansevieria plant does not stimulate growth.If you want to keep your plant in a specific height and size trim it sparingly to keep it healthy. 

Pests and diseases

They are highly pest resistant plants but in poor conditions they can get mealy bugs or spider mites. As with all other fungal and bacterial diseases better air circulation, well drained soil, dry leaves and less water will help control diseases on plants.

Yellow leaves. If you notice that the leaves on your plant are yellow, it’s a sign that it’s in distress. This could be due to cold temperatures or over watering. Move the plant to a warmer location and let the soil dry out before watering.

Benefits of having a Sansevieria plant 

Sansevierias is one of the most effective toxin-fighting plants. NASA research has shown that Sansevierias purifies and clean indoor air pollutants by removing toxins such as formaldehyde and benzene. 

Sansevieria plants are great for people with allergies. They are perfect to improve the overall quality of the air in your house or office. They release lots of oxygen and add moisture to the air, which lessens the impact of airborne allergens like dust and dander. 

If you have trouble sleeping at night because of sore throat or stuffy nose putting a Sansevieria plant in your bedroom will be the answer to your problem. Sansevieria plant creates oxygen at night which helps contribute to easier breathing as you fall asleep. 

Caution: These plants are considered poisonous and mildly toxic to pets and humans. Typically, ingestion will cause mouth and stomach irritation and possible vomiting. Sansevieria plants should be kept away from animals and kids.

If you are looking for a natural choice for modern and contemporary interior designs then Sansevieria plant will be the perfect choice. Send indoor beautiful plant from anthemionflowers.com as gifts to your loved ones and lift their mood up.