The snake plant (Sanseveria trifasciata), also referred to as “mother in law’s tongue”, is a member of the lily family and native to Asia and the tropical regions of central and southern Africa. This hardy succulent is a wonderful houseplant for those lacking a green thumb. Not only is it easy to care for, it actually thrives on neglect.
Snake plants can be identified by their smooth, fibrous spear-like foliage which grows from a rhizome. Stalks can reach heights of 4 1/2 feet, and many boast marble-like horizontal silver-green stripes on a background of dark green. These showy variegated bands vary in intensity, depending on the amount of sun exposure the plant receives. Plants in sunny locations will have more contrast in the foliage. The foliage is often bordered by a narrow golden hue.
Repotting Snake Plant
Although they are easy to care for, snake plants require soil which is highly alkaline. This can be achieved by adding a handful or two of perlite or sand to the soil. Established plants will benefit from replacing the top layer of soil with a fresh mixture annually. A low-nitrogen fertilizer can be applied according to package directions approximately every three months.
Snake plants should be kept in a location that is moderately warm. However, they can tolerate temperatures as low as 45 degrees Fahrenheit for a short while. Since they are tolerant of low-light conditions, a snake plant is an excellent choice for a dimly lit corner or an office.
Avoid Overwatering your Snake Plant
Too much water can cause root rot and kill the plant. It is fine to let the soil become dry between waterings, especially during the winter months. This is where being neglectful is a plus.
People are often surprised when a beautiful creamy yellow or celery green bloom appears. Such was the case with my mother’s plant that she inherited from her mother. This decades-old plant produced lovely, sweetly fragrant flowers. It is older or root-bound snake plants that are more likely to produce blooms, so if you want to encourage your snake plant to bloom, let it outgrow its pot. Heavy clay or ceramic pot with plenty of drainages is recommended.
Because of their sturdy, thick foliage, snake plants do not usually have a problem with pests. However, they can be invaded by mealybugs. This can be remedied by cleaning the affected areas with rubbing alcohol.
Types of Snake Indoor Plants
There are around 70 different species of Snake Indoor Plants that you can find any variety of snake plants In any nursery near to your home, all native to tropical and sub-tropical regions of Europe, Africa, and Asia. they’re all evergreen and may grow anywhere from 8 inches (20 cm.) to 12 feet (3.5 m.) high. the foremost commonly used species for gardening is Snake Indoor Plants, often referred to as mother-in-law’s tongue. However, if you’d like something a touch different, the subsequent species and cultivars are worth searching for:
Sansevieria trifasciata‘Golden Hahnii’ –
This species has short leaves with yellow borders. Cylindrical Snake Indoor Plants.
Sansevieria trifasciata‘Golden Hahnii’ –
Indoor plant in containers
- Sansevieria trifasciata with leaves are dark green. And they have a greener gray pattern.
- Flowers: The inflorescence does not appear.
- Growth rate: fast Soil: clay or sandy soil Water:
- Low – Medium Sun: Half day Propagation: split or cut leaves.
- Use and more: Suitable for planting plants in pots or converted into gardens.
Sansevieria cylindrical –
This mother-in-law’s tongue has round, dark green, striped leaves and may grow to 2 to three feet (61-91 cm.).
Costa Farms Snake Plant, Sansevieria laurentii
Live Indoor Plant
- EASY MAINTENANCE! Drain when the upper thumb of the soil is dry, water once a week, let the water drain. Never let the floor saturate.
- Supplied in a pot for cultivators: planted boats, fully grown, in a 21.75 inch black pot. Change the appearance by inserting the cultivator’s pot into a basket or decoration pot. These lush plants are grown by horticultural experts from Costa Farms.
- ENJOY HOME DECORATION: Add life and design to your home, porch or office Shipping height ranges from 24 to 33 inches tall – measured from the bottom of the pot to the top of the plant. Keep this plant for yourself or give it as a gift!
Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Twist’ –
As the name suggests, this cultivar has twisted leaves. it’s also striped horizontally, has yellow variegated edges, and grows to a few 14 inches (35.5 cm.) tall. Rhino Grass.
American Plant Exchange Sansevieria Trifasciata Snake Laurentii Live Plant, 6″ Pot, Green
Indoor Snake Plants
- Sansevieria, or the mother-in-law plant snake tongue as it is commonly known is a truly remarkable and eye-catching houseplant of easy care. They seem to be indestructible houseplants that never seem to die, or need fertilizer or water.
- Sansevieria, one of NASA’s leading air purification plants, removes at least 107 known air pollutants, including carbon monoxide and nitrogen monoxide, formaldehyde, chloroform, benzene, xylene, and trichloroethylene, among others.
- It also has a higher absorption efficiency of carbon dioxide (2) and is one of the few plants that release oxygen at night.
Sansevieria desertii –
This one grows to around 12 inches (30+ cm.) with succulent red-tinted leaves.
White, Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Bantel’s Sensation’ –
This cultivar grows to around 3 feet tall and has narrow leaves with white vertical stripes.
Hopefully, this text has helped to elucidate the way to grow Snake Indoor Plants. They really are the simplest of plants to seem after, and can happily reward your lack of attention by giving clean air to your home and a touch cheer within the corner of any room.
Snake Plant Cultivation and Care
The snake plant is generally bought as a mature plant and planted indoors to add flair to a living space. However, it can also be grown outdoors. It can be cultivated in different ways for those looking to save money or for those who simply enjoy gardening. It is usually hardy and forgiving, but there are a few things to consider before greening up your home or yard.
Outdoor Growing
The snake plant is native to Africa. The climate on the large content is generally uniform and can give a good picture of the optimal growing conditions. The average annual temperature is about 80 degrees Fahrenheit (or around 27 Celsius), and the average annual rainfall is 70 inches. For comparison, the average rainfall in the U.S. varies widely by state but is typically between 20 and 50 inches.
If you are going to plant the snake plant outdoors in the U.S., you should probably be situated somewhere between climate zones 9B and 11 as defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Refer to the climate zone map to identify your state’s classification. However, you can move a potted plant outdoors almost anywhere in the spring or summer, as long as it will not experience temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit for extended lengths of time.
Snake Plants Care and Maintenance
Care is simple. Give at least some light, at least some water, and it is apt to stay alive.
It is better to underwater than over water, as too much moisture will cause the roots to rot. Keep the soil just on the verge of being dry throughout. Ideally, the plant likes high to full sun, but will also thrive in low light conditions.
Pests
If you keep the soil to moist mother-in-law’s tongue can become surrounded with small black flying bugs. These are fungus gnats. They are more of a nuisance to the indoor environment than a scourge to the plant’s health. To remedy, allow the soil to dry out. The gnats lay their eggs in the soil and cannot survive if the soil is inhospitable. If the problem persists, you may need to attempt re-potting in new soil or using a product like Control.
Cultivation
Want to start anew? The snake plant can be cultivated in two ways. These are by cutting the leaves and replanting or by dividing the rhizome.
Cultivation via cuttings is easy but has a very interesting and peculiar side effect. If you take a plant that is prized for its white or yellow stripes along the leaf margins and try to replicate it by planting a cutting, the new plant will grow as a homogenous green, and any variegation will vanish. If you like the plain green look, using cuttings may be your best bet. Otherwise, try dividing the rhizome.
To cultivate via cuttings, take one leaf of the plant and cut it into three to eight-inch sections, depending on its size and the desired starting size of the new plantlets. Be forewarned, the snake plant leaves have a built-in directionality, meaning they “know” which way they want to carry water and nutrients. Even if you forget which direction a cutting originally pointed, the snake plant will not, and will refuse to grow when you plant it.
All mishaps otherwise averted, just bury the bottom of the cutting about 1 inch deep in potting soil. It will form roots in three to four weeks, and if you are lucky, new plants will sprout up in the course of a couple of months.
