With the substantial increase in the audience for house plants or indoor plants as they are called commonly, it is quite easy to get attracted to the idea of creating a indoor garden or the #indoorjungle as they call in instagram language. If you are new to the whole indoor plant growing stuff and you might be probably wondering on what plants to start with, then I would recommend the snake plant. ‘The Queen of all Neglect’ would be a good term for it.
How To Grow and Care
Growing and caring for snake plants are quite simple and straightforward. This helps in boosting confidence for a newbie to experiment on a new plant.
Planting:
- Use well-draining potting mix. A succulent mix is ideal.
- The snake plant prefers bright light and even some direct sunlight, but also grows well in shady corners.
- Place the plant in a warm spot
Care:
- The snake plant is flexible about lighting and humidity but it is fussy about the amount of water it gets. About the only thing that will kill a mother-in-law tongue is over watering.
- It thrives in small pots with crowded rhizomes and has few pest or disease problems.
- It is not necessary to fertilize, but if you feel like doing something nice for the plant, use a half dilution of houseplant food once a month during the growing season. These invaluable plants clean the air and enhance the home with tropical beauty.
- Spread the love by propagating snake plants and give your friends and neighbors a special treat.
- If the leaves turn yellow then probably you might be over watering the plant or it might need a place with even more light.
How to Propagate Snake Plants
Learning how to propagate snake plants is easy. It’s true that too much water can kill your plant, but rooting a snake plant in water is one of the most foolproof methods. You can also root the plant from cuttings, but the fastest way to get a new snake plant is to divide it. The plant grows out from rhizomes which mass together and multiply as the plant gets older. This method is no different than the one you use on your old perennials in the garden. Pick a method of snake plant propagation and let’s get to making babies.
Rooting a Snake Plant in Water
- Choose a container tall enough to hold the leaf.
- Select a healthy leaf that is not too old and use clean, sharp shears to cut it off.
- Put the cut end of the leaf in just enough water to cover the bottom quarter of tissue.
- Place the container in an indirect light situation and change the water every couple of days. Soon you will see little roots.
- Plant the rooted leaf in sand or peat moss and follow usual snake plant care.
Propagating Snake Plants with Cuttings
- This method is really no different than the water method, but it skips a step.
- Let the cut leaf callus over for a day or two, then insert the cut end into lightly moist sand in a container.
- Wait a couple of weeks and the plant will root on its own.
Snake Plant Propagation from Division
- The mother-in-law tongue plant rises from thick, under-the-soil organs called rhizomes.
- These house the energy for leaf and stem growth.
- Pull the plant from its pot and use sharp shears or a hand saw to cut the base apart into sections.
- Usually just cut it in half unless the plant is really old and has masses of rhizomes.
- A good rule of thumb is at least three rhizomes plus one healthy leaf per new plant.
- Plant each new section in fresh potting medium.
Flowering
Along with the sturdy beauty they posses they also flower which is not very usual. Only the mature and well provided (light and nutrients that is) flower. The flowers grow on a very long flower stalk. The stalk can reach a length of up to 3 feet and will be covered in dozens of flower buds. The flowers themselves will be white or cream colored. When fully open, they will look a lot like lilies. The flowers also have a very strong and pleasing scent. The scent can occasionally attract pests due to the strength of the smell.
Pests and Problems:
Although it is easy to grow, there are still a few problems you may come across.
- Overwatering and exposure to cold are the key culprits.
- These hardy plants have few insect problems, however, it can become infested with mealybugs and spider mites. As these pests suck sap from the leaves, they cause small wounds and leaf shedding.
- You can dab mealybugs with alcohol as a control method. Spider mites can be eliminated by washing the leaves and increasing humidity around the plant.
Toxicity:
Sansevieria (aka Snake Plant) is another toxic beauty, causing nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea if ingested. So it is advised to keep your pets away from this plant.
Uses:
Apart from the aesthetic beauty it provides, the snake plant is an inexpensive way to bring clean air into your bedroom at night. This low maintenance plant converts carbon dioxide into oxygen while you sleep. The snake plant also eliminates volatile compounds like formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene, toluene, and benzene from the air which are all toxic to humans.
Now you can see why its called the queen of neglect. The only issue with this plant is that you can love it all you want but cannot show it. If it gets too much attention then it dies. Sansevieria are truly the easiest of plants to look after, making them a perfect choice for novice gardeners or as a first houseplant. Do you have one at home? If not why not try this easiest plant? Doubts? message us…
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Let us plant together and Grow together! Happy Gardening!
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