Mother-in-Law's Tongue House Plant - Sansevieria trifasciata Care Tips ~ Vougx

Botanical Title: Sansevieria trifasciata

Mom-in-Legislation’s Tongue (also called Snake Plant) is among the most carefree home vegetation you may develop. It thrives in nearly any gentle. Prefers dry air and soil. Hardly ever wants repotted.

It is very best for learners, however seasoned gardeners additionally love this accent plant’s dramatic, sword-shaped leaves. Gradual-growing, Sansevieria will reside for a few years with excellent care.

Loads of shiny gentle will maintain Mom-in-Legislation’s Tongue plant wholesome. Picture © Serezniy

Get to Know Your Houseplant

This succulent home plant grows stiffly upright variegated leaves, reaching about 2-ft (60 cm) tall when grown in a container. Bands of sunshine inexperienced throughout every dark-green leaf give Sansevieria an ornamental snakeskin sample.

Will it bloom? Possibly. Clusters of small, white flowers generally develop on a tall flower stem from the bottom of a plant when it’s a few years outdated. It hardly ever blooms indoors, and it could go years between flowering, so it is a good shock when it does. These flowers are superbly scented at night time.

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Aromatic flowers might seem on vegetation grown in shiny gentle. Picture ©Viktoryia Kelasyeva

An evergreen perennial, this South African succulent needs heat and daylight year-round.

Though Mom-in-Legislation’s Tongue is virtually legendary for tolerating neglect, it responds to excellent care. Give it what it needs and you will get pleasure from your houseplant for a number of years.

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Mom-In-Legislation’s Tongue Varieties

Some varieties have leaves which are edged with yellow or white. Clump-forming ‘Laurentii’ is a well-liked selection that’s edged in golden yellow.

S. trifasciata ‘Hahnii’ is a low-growing (10 in/25 cm) selection with broader leaves. Its compact, rosette type offers it the widespread title Chook’s Nest Sansevieria. ‘Golden Hahnii’ has yellow leaf margins…’Silver Hahnii’ has silvery leaves marbled with darkish inexperienced.

Sansevieria Issues, Options and Solutions

Do not over-water. Any issues with rising Sansevieria are normally associated to watering. Enable the highest inch (2.5 cm) of soil to dry out between waterings in the course of the rising season. In winter, water simply sufficient to forestall the soil from drying out. Overwatering will trigger root rot.

Watering Tip

Water the soil, taking care to not get water on the leaves, which can trigger them to rot. If the leaves flip yellow, or get mushy and mushy at their base, it is overwatered.

Hold leaves dust-free and shiny by wiping them with a moist fabric. Cleansing the leaves additionally helps the plant soak up daylight by way of photosynthesis. Want one more reason to get out the mud fabric? Common cleansing prevents pests from taking on residence.

Look ahead to pests. Mealybugs are interested in succulents. Search for white, cotton-like specks clustered close to the bottom of the leaves. Mealybugs suck plant juices, inflicting harm if left untreated. Spider mites are maybe essentially the most dreaded houseplant pest. They’re so tiny, you will in all probability solely discover the superb webbing between leaves. Wipe off webs and spray with insecticidal cleaning soap. Isolate any infested houseplant and deal with your plant straight away. In case your houseplant is badly broken, do away with it.

Repot in spring, solely when vegetation get crowded and want dividing. Do not plant it too deep — maintain the the plant on the similar depth it was earlier than to forestall crown rot. These roots are shallow, so a shallow pot will do. Tall varieties will change into high heavy, so use a large, heavy container to forestall toppling.

Mom-in-Legislation’s Tongue Care Ideas

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Origin: South Africa

Top: As much as 2 ft (60 cm); some varieties are low-growing

Mild: Vivid gentle to full solar. Will tolerate low gentle.

Water: Hold soil evenly moist within the rising season. In winter, water simply sufficient to forestall the soil from drying out. Enable the highest 1-inch (2.5 cm) to dry out earlier than watering once more. Take care to not water the middle of the rosette of leaves as a result of they’re going to rot simply if saved moist.

Humidity: Common room (round 40% relative humidity). Mom-in-law’s tongue will tolerate dry air, however maintain it away from air vents or drafts.

Temperature: Common room temperatures 65-75°F/18-24°C. Do not expose Mom-in-Legislation’s Tongue to temps under 60°F/16°C; this South African succulent would not just like the chilly.

Soil: Cactus potting combine is good as a result of it’s fast-draining

Fertilizer: Feed as soon as a month spring by way of fall with fertilizer specifically made for succulent vegetation.

Propagation: Division or leaf cuttings. Sansevieria is straightforward to divide as a result of it has shallow roots. Merely flip the pot on its aspect and pull out the whole plant. Use a pointy knife to chop by way of the thick roots and pot every clump individually. To propagate Mom-in-Legislation’s Tongue by leaf cuttings, minimize leaf into 2-inch (5 cm) items and place them proper aspect up (the way in which they had been rising) in moist perlite or cactus potting combine; they may develop plantlets across the base of the cuttings.