Sansevieria. Do you know this plant? I am sure of it because it is a very popular houseplant recently. The snake plant, The mother low’s tongue, the tiger’s tail… has many names, it is also referred to as the “iron plant” due to its high endurance and resistance. If you want to know a bit more about it, check out my short article.
ORIGIN
Sansevieria – a plant whose homeland is Equatorial Africa, and it is dues to this area, it owes its high tolerance to environmental conditions and endurance. Naturally, it also covered the regions of tropical Asia and the Arabian Peninsula.
An interesting story is associated with its Latin name – this name was given in honour of Prince Raimondo di Sangrio of San Severo in Italy, who in the 17th century brought it to Europe, to Naples, from his African trip.
Today, biologists include plants of the species Sansevieria in the genus Dracaena. They have many varieties, the most popular of which are:
• Trifasciata
• Cylindrica
• Grandis
• Gracilis
CHARACTERISTIC
Sansevieria grows out of thick rhizomes that are the stores of water for the plant. The leaves do this too, but to a lesser extent. These plants usually grow in the form of a rosette. They can grow up to 100-150 cm in height. The leaves are fleshy, stiff, without a pronounced stem, resembling a sword in a shape. Some leaves, such as the cylindrica species, curl strongly towards the center, forming a circular cross-section. Depending on the type, they can change colours, from deep green to neon yellow, in varieties with variegation up to silver shades. Some species also have coloured leaf fringes or transverse striations. Flowers appear very rarely in older individuals. They grow on long stems, have the form of tiny flowers and give off a delicate fragrance.
REQUIREMENTS
Sansevieria is one of the least demanding indoor plants. They are not bothered by the heat or excessive cold, they grow well in both light and shaded positions. They reproduce easily and bloom very rarely. They can last up to 4 weeks without watering. They are also not bothered by dry air. The only danger for them is overwatering and frosty drafts.
• Prefer a sunny position
• Temperature in summer 18-26 ° C, in winter not less than 10 ° C
• Moderate air humidity
• Watering once every 10-14 days, less often in winter, preferably when the top part of the substrate dries up
• Substrate with drainage, permeable, fertile, humus
• Hates overwatering
• Does not like frosty drafts
GROWTH
Sansevieria is also very easy to multiply. New plants emerge from rhizomes from spring to late summer. You can also multiply the plant by cutting off the tops of the leaves and rooting them in water or directly in the substrate.
Sansevieria can grow quickly in good conditions – then you need to make sure that the pot is not too small, because large rhizomes can burst it. It is also worth making sure that the pot itself is quite heavy, because tall plants easily fall over.
In addition to being easy to grow, Sansevierias also have another advantage – they greatly improve the quality of the air we breathe. They cleanse them of toxins and impurities, such as xylene, toluene, alcohols and others, and produce large amounts of oxygen.
LET’S PLANT SANSEVIERIA
Sansevierias are great plants – they are interesting, easy to grow, undemanding, and positively affect the quality of the air around us. People who are just starting their adventure with plants will not have problems with it, you do not have to worry about it during frequent holidays or business trips. The slightly futuristic shape of the leaves makes this plant a perfect match for modern interiors. So let’s plant Sansevieria and enjoy seeing it