Do you have a difficult time with your house plants? If you do, the Sanseveria may be the indoor house plant for you. This plant is great for a medium to high light situation and will do well with minimal attention. It is also known as a Mother-in-Law's Tongue or Snake plant. Learn how to take care of your Sanseveria indoor house plant.
A durable house plant, Sanseveria requires high light to keep the foliage full. It will survive in lower light provided it is allowed to dry. Temperatures need to be kept above 50°F. The Sanseveria Laurentii is the most common variety, with a broad, yellow edge on the thick, sword shaped leaves. The center of the leaf is cross-banded with pale markings.
Sanseveria has upright growth and a shallow root system and is best kept somewhat pot bound. It has thick rhizomes that store water for a long time. While you may be able to keep a Snake Plant that is in high-light slightly moist, in low light the roots will rot and the leaves will turn mushy and smelly. Always err on the side of less water with this indoor house plant.
Sanseveria plants are grown in different sizes and colors. Some are shorter, with a rosette type of growth such as the Sanseveria 'Hahnii'. Sanseveria 'Superba' is somewhat larger but with wider leaves than the taller varieties. The Sanseveria 'Laurentii' is the most common variety of sanseveria.
Sanseveria varieties can be found with pale silver-green foliage as with Sanseveria 'Moonshine'. The 'Black Gold' is quite beautiful and has a dark leaf center, almost black, with a gold leaf edge. The Sanseveria 'Zeylanica' is more of a light silver-green with darker cross bands or mottling of the leaf.
Sanseveria houseplant questions? I would be happy to answer any houseplant questions as I can. Free of charge, no sign-ups required!
Sanseveria house plant questions or problems? You can send a houseplant question but before you do, please finish reading this page and other house plant care information on watering your indoor house plants, how to help keep your houseplant's root system healthy, lighting for your houseplants, and basic houseplant care. These are most important for your house plant's health and this is some of the information I will refer you to if you send an email.
Working in the interior landscape industry, I get a lot of questions from people about their personal house plants and how to keep their own indoor house plants growing and healthy. That is why I started this website, to help others learn how to care for their indoor plants and flowers. So please read on!
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I had left a job in the interior landscape industry in 2012 (I have worked in the interior landscape industry since 1986) to go across the country to help him out. So that became the subject of this website, indoor house plant and flower care.
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Since Sanseveria has rhizomes that store water, you should stay more to the dry side with this plant. In low to medium light, allow pot media to dry down completely in between waterings. In higher lighting, allow potting soil to dry down at least 3/4 of the pot depth. You may need to use a houseplant moisture meter in a really full plant. These are very helpful for any houseplant.
Please see pages on watering your indoor house plants and lighting for your house plants best health.
Also, be careful when you do water your Snake plant that you do not pour the water in the leaf rosette as it may cause them to rot. Water the soil only and use room temperature water.
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There are a few things to watch for with Sanseveria. They are prone to scale and mealybugs and if you notice these pests they should be wiped off immediately.
It is a good idea to quarantine any new additions to your indoor house plant family for a few weeks just to be sure there are not any insects that were not noticed at first. Wash down your new indoor house plant with a mixture of water and mild dish detergent. I like to add a few drops of Eucalyptus essential oil or Orange essential oil to my house plant cleaning solution.
Apply to top and lower leaf and stem surfaces of your house plants, being careful not to saturate the soil. You can clean by hand or use a spray bottle to apply your house plant cleaning solution. I use a sponge moistened with my cleaning solution to gently wipe the top and lower leaf surfaces. Cleaning of your house plants should be a regular part of your house plant care.
Never apply anything to the foliage of your plant while it is in the sun or when the soil is dry. Water first and move to a shady location.
With the different growth types and unusual and beautiful colorations, the Sanseveria has something for everyone who enjoys indoor tropical plants. And they are easy care, too! As I said, keep them potbound, don't over water and place them in adequate light and they should be relatively trouble free. To learn more about plant care for succulents try one of these useful house plant care books from Amazon.com - may earn commission for sales made through this link.
When your Sanseveria plant does become root bound you can remove it from the grow pot and divide the plant to make smaller individual plants. Make sure when you do divide your Sanseveria, that you plant the smaller plants into pots that fit them. Remember, Sanseveria is better pot bound. You can often place a cut leaf into moist sand or rooting media and get it to root and start a new plant that way. Have fun with your Sanseveria.
Sanseveria plant usually will grow to about 2-3 feet tall although I have seen them at a height of 5 feet or more. This was a Sanseveria potted in a 14" diameter grow pot in a very good light situation. It is unusual to see them that large indoors. Hope this has been helpful as you care for your Sanseveria house plant and that all of your flowers and plants are healthy and growing and doing well. More plant and flower pictures, care, and contact information below...
Questions about your indoor house plants or plant care problems? You can send a house plant question, free of charge, no sign ups, registration or log in required!
Before you send a houseplant care question, please be sure to read this information on watering your indoor house plants, how to help keep your your indoor house plants root system healthy and lighting for your indoor house plants and flowers. These are most important for the health of your house plants and this is some of the information I will refer you to if you send an indoor house plant or flower care question.
You can post comments, find answers to plant care questions, or share some of your own plant wisdom on our plant care Facebook Page, Twitter page or visit my plant care blog. You can also find plant pictures, gardening ideas, and more at our plant and flower Pinterest page.
Thanks for visiting and come back soon as houseplant care information, pictures and more are being added all of the time. I hope that your indoor tropical house plants and all of your plants and flowers are happy, green and growing because that is why I started this indoor house plant and flower care website, PlantAndFlowerInfo.com.
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