HouseplantsDiscover the right indoor plants for your home.
Sansevieria trifasciata‘Laurentii ’ . Photo by : Aquarius Studio / Shutterstock
In recent age , succulents have become one of the hottest trends in home décor because they look alien , yet are super - easy to grow . One honest-to-god - school succulent enjoying a resurgence in popularity isSansevieria , more commonly call Snake River plant because of its long , sinuate foliation . Not only is it one of the few succulent that does n’t expect a sunny windowsill to fly high , it ’s also one of the best houseplant for better indoor air tone .
“ When sansevierias started their steady climb in the popularity polls , new varieties started emerging . As for care , they are all bulletproof . ” suppose Tovah Martin , author ofThe Indestructible Houseplant .
Today , there are more mixed bag than ever before , from short and cylindric to marvellous and elegant , with variegated leaves displaying streak of silver gray , gray , yellow , or snowy . Once you ’re introduced to the versatility of these toughened and forgiving houseplant , you ’ll desire to admit at least one in about every way of your rest home .
On this page : Basics|Planting Tips|Care and Maintenance|Snake Plant Pictures|Display Ideas
BASICS
Botanical name:
Sansevieriaspp .
Common names:
Snake flora , female parent - in - constabulary ’s clapper , viper ’s bowstring hemp
Origin:
West Africa
Care Level:
Nearly effortless . Can tolerate long period of neglect without ailment .
Size:
6 inch to 4 feet
Light requirements:
Will thrive in everything from bright Christ Within to dimly lit corners . Do n’t place in unmediated sun , which can char the leaves . An east- or west - confront window is optimum .
Growth rate:
Slow to chair .
Foliage:
The only visible portion of a snake plant are its leathery , sharply channelise leave , which often have a variegate pattern resemble the coloring of an alien snake . Usually the leafage is magniloquent and upright , but there are also overshadow “ bird ’s nest ” varieties that take form dumpy rosettes of leave . The foliage is typically flat or slightly concave , but you’re able to also feel interesting cultivars with misrepresented and tube-shaped parting .
Flowers:
When grown indoors , they will seldom blossom , but a mature plant may surprise you by sending up a thin spike of small lily - corresponding flower . The blooms are usually white or pale pink and very fragrant . Most flora will go many years between blossom cycles .
Longevity:
Twenty eld or more ; indefinitely , if propagated by variance every five eld or so .
Toxicity:
The leaves can cause gastrointestinal upset if ingested , so keep out of reach of children and pet . See moreCommon Poisonous Plants for Dogs and Cats .
PLANTING TIPS
picture by : alenysk / Shutterstock
Where to plant:
Almost anywhere that has some sorting of light author . The room temperature should be between 65 ° to 80 ° F , since sansevierias are sensitive to cold temperature . They can also be grown outdoors as potted plants or planted flat in the ground in warmer climates ( Zones 9 to 11 ) .
Humidity:
ordinarily not an issue . Can stand a wide range of humidness levels .
Soil type:
Thrives best in a well - draining potting mix that includes perlite .
Pot requirements:
Because Snake River plant spread by rhizomes , they can muscle their way out of flimsy plastic containers . A laborious clay pot is a just rest home because they do n’t check as easy and is less likely to tumble over under the weight of the tall leaves . Whatever case of potty you use , make certain it has holes in the bottom for drainage .
Propagation:
One of the easiest menage plant to divide and portion . Simply offend away novel shoots from the parent plant , using a sharp tongue to rationalise through the thick roots and rootstock . Replant the individual shoots in new pots , make certain each bunch has some roots attached . you could also propagate by leaf cut allowed to root in moist potting grunge . However , cuttings from variegated cultivars will not necessarily produce variegations true to type .
SNAKE PLANT CARE AND MAINTENANCE
Watering:
BecauseSansevieriais a succulent , its leaves are thick in Holy Order to stash away water supply , much like a cactus . Plants only need tearing once every calendar week or two , or whenever the ground feels dry . It ’s always better to slip on the dry side , since overwatering can lead to antecedent rot . jolly much the only thing you’re able to do to kill a ophidian plant is to give it too much water . If the leaves start out to sour icteric or get soft and drippy at the base , that ’s usually a sign of overwatering and inadequate grease drainage .
Fertilizing:
Although they ’re hunky-dory with petty or no fertilizer , they will be more racy if given an all - purpose houseplant fertiliser diluted to half the recommended charge per unit . Do not fertilize in winter .
Cleaning:
Dust the leaves once in a while with a damp cloth to keep their shiny lustre .
Repotting:
ophidian plant does n’t listen being snug in its pot , but it ’s still a ripe idea to repot it every two or three years to freshen the grime and better drain . If the grass size is adequate , merely place your plant life back into the same pot filled with fresh land .
Pests and problems:
Rarely will you encounter any serious pest or disease problems , but be on the observation tower for whitemealybugs , which can easily be removed with cotton swab dip in 70 % rubbing alcohol . ( See more oncommon houseplant pests . )
Removing dead or damaged foliage:
Although it ’s hard to defeat one by underwatering , continuing neglect can leave in brown , crispy leaf baksheesh . If the damage is unsightly or the folio dies wholly , simply dilute the entire leaf off at the grease airfoil . If you prune off only part of a folio , it will not regenerate from the cut distributor point .
SNAKE PLANT PICTURES
Sansevieria trifasciata’Laurentii '
Although there are many trendy Modern cultivar , this old - fashioned vary variety remain the most pop and most placeable . It features the classic upright growth habit and snakeskin - same foliation , but the leaves are outlined by broad , showy brush strokes of golden yellowness . If you sleep with the looking at of ‘ Laurentii ’ but do n’t have blank space for a 4 - foot plant , you could also find a small - plate version ( S. trifasciata’Laurentii Dwarf ' ) that has the same colour visibility but grows to a tallness of only 10 inches .
Height:4 base
Width:30 inches
Photo by : Alina Kuptsova / Shutterstock
S. trifasciata‘Hahnii '
Also visit bird ’s nest snake plant , this midget kind forms perfect rosettes of low - growing leaves , creating a shape similar to a nest . Typically , the leave are gloomy dark-green mottle with grey - leafy vegetable cross bands , but you could also feel varieties with green leafage and golden - chicken vertical stripes ( ‘ Golden Hahnii ’ ) and silvery gray leaves with dark green cross bands ( ‘ Silver Hahnii ’ ) . produce to a height of only 6 inches , these compact plants fit in confined blank space that the taller good sansevierias ca n’t , such as on windowsills and desktop .
Height:4 to 6 inches
Width:6 to 8 inches
Photo courtesy Wikimedia
S. trifasciata’Moonshine '
‘ Moonshine ’ , also sold as ` Moonglow ' , is one of the new cultivars and is distinguished by unspecific silverish grey-haired leafage and a lissom vase - similar form . The leaves often transfer color from flatware to grayish - green to dark light-green as they maturate , adding to the shimmer effect . “ The overall expression is several notches above the standard transportation , if not downright head turn , ” says Martin . “ It ’s an excellent sentinel for a locating that is not really capable of supporting most plant living . No matter how hot , dry , or dark the conditions , ' Moonglow ' can take it . ”
Height:10 to 12 inches
S. trifasciata’Twisted Sister '
As the name implies , this delightfully quirky cultivar has parting that twist and turn in all directions as they emerge from the grime , looking like a snake flora with a crazy perm . It grows to a pinnacle of about one foot and to approximately the same width , so it ’s not as linear in form as the distinctive snake plant . The low - growing riding habit and brilliant green and yellow motley foliation make it a keen specimen for brighten up a tabletop or bookshelf .
Height and width:12 to 15 inches
exposure by : WindAwake / Shutterstock.com
Cylindrical Snake Plant ( S. cylindrica )
Unlike the typically flat or slenderly misrepresented foliage of snake plant life , this unusual variety has boneheaded , vasiform leaf sometimes make several base in length . Other apposite gens given to this Angolan indigene are dragon ’s finger’s breadth and African spear plant . The cylindric foliage , which have the characteristic light green crabby - banding , arc outward from a cardinal crown . To give the plant a Zen - comparable vibe , agriculturalist will often sell it with the leaves braided and secured with a rope or band at the top . Or look for the less coarse starfish bowstring hemp ( S. cylindrica‘Boncel ’ ) , a compact crossbreed with leaf that fan out from the kernel like the ray of light of a sea star .
superlative : Up to 5 foot
