Last updated on August 25th, 2023 at 12:34 pm
Sansevieria moonshine, also known as sansevieria silver queen snake plant, moonlight sansevieria, moonshine snake plant, or just silver queen snake plant, can be one of the more interesting plants you’ll ever care for.
Native to tropical Africa, it thrives in dark and humid environments with very little direct sunlight, making it perfect for your indoor garden, regardless of where you live!
Sansevieria moonshine is an unusually colored houseplant that creates an interesting and unique look wherever it’s placed. The unusual coloring of this plant comes from the silvery-white streaks found on its leaves and stems, making it one of the most eye-catching houseplants you can own.
It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. It was commonly brewed into medicinal teas to heal maladies such as psoriasis, eczema, and gout due to its high silica content, as well as its use as an anti-inflammatory and diuretic. It’s also often used in Feng Shui to attract good luck, money, and wealth.
If you’re looking to add this hardy, easy-to-care-for plant to your home or office, read on to learn more about sansevieria moonshine.
Origin and distribution
A native of tropical Africa, sansevieria moonshine is distributed widely throughout West Africa. Since it grows so well in warm climates, it has also been planted in Hawaii and other South Pacific islands. There are more than 100 different species of sansevieria known to exist.
They grow best in partial shade and high humidity. If you live in a climate with mild winters, you can plant your sansevieria outside year-round. In colder regions, it’s best to bring it indoors during the winter months. It will do fine in a sunny window or under artificial light during that time.
The snake plant (sansevieria) is one of my favorite houseplants because they are very easy to care for and tolerant of neglect. You don’t have to water them much—just enough so that their soil never dries out completely—and they require little fertilizer as long as you keep them in good condition.
Sansevieria (also known as the mother-in-law’s tongue or snake plant) has over 200 different species and they’re all gorgeous, whether they have leaves that are thin, thick, or variegated, it doesn’t matter. In fact, sansevieria comes in so many shapes and sizes, you can create your own garden using different plants of different species if you want to really get creative.
Sansevieria moonshine propagation
There are a few methods of propagation for sansevierias. Offshoots or pups (the leaves that grow on stolons, also called runners) can be removed and repotted once they have grown roots. While most succulents will not produce offshoots as readily as snake plants, an exception is moonlight sansevieria.
Moonlight sansevierias readily produce long shoots with growth tips that can be planted to create new plants. Simply remove a shoot from its parent plant, allow it to dry for a day or two, then plant it in potting soil and water well. In about six weeks, you should see new roots forming at each node along the shoot. These can be cut away from their base and replanted in their own pots if desired.
Moonlight sansevierias can also propagate via leaf cuttings; however, these take much longer than other methods of propagation. Cut leaves into 3-inch segments and place them into moistened perlite. Keep them out of direct sunlight until new roots form, which may take several months.
Once new roots appear, transplant your young sansevieria into a container filled with potting soil. It’s important to note that all members of the genus Sansevieria are toxic to cats and dogs if ingested. If you want to keep your snake plant around pets, make sure it’s placed in an area where animals cannot reach it.
Sansevieria moonshine care information
Sansevieria moonshine, also called mother-in-law’s tongue, are a large genus of tropical perennial plants. The group is incredibly diverse, with different species ranging from 6 inches to 15 feet tall and having leaves in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Light requirement
Sansevieria moonshine can handle low light, but it prefers bright indirect sunlight. If you have a west-facing window, place your sansevieria there and water often. If you have a south-facing window, place your sansevieria there for more hours of indirect sunlight. However, avoid direct sun at all costs. This is especially important if you’re keeping them indoors because they will get scorched very quickly without adequate protection from their environment.
Soil/potting mix
In addition to moisture, your sansevieria moonshine will need soil that drains well but retains moisture. You can make your own or purchase a premade mix. For making potting mix at home, combine two parts potting soil, one part sand, and one part peat moss. Make sure to thoroughly moisten your sansevieria’s soil before repotting. If you have time, allow it to drain for 24 hours so it can begin acclimating itself to its new surroundings.
Watering
This moonshine snake plant is succulent, so make sure to water it once every week or two. To get an idea of how much to water your plant, place your finger in its soil about an inch down. If it feels wet at that level, don’t water your snake plant yet. If not, give it a good drink. This type of plant prefers well-drained soil that isn’t kept soggy or wet.
Fertilizer
Over-fertilizing can cause problems with many plants, but Sansevieria moonshine seems particularly sensitive to too much nitrogen. If you choose to fertilize a snake plant, do so only once a month and use very little fertilizer—just one tablespoon of 10-10-10 should be enough for all of your houseplants. In general, sansevieria prefer an organic or all-natural potting soil mixture over anything else. Avoid chemically treated potting soil and avoid synthetic fertilizers.
Temperature
Sansevieria moonshine is an incredibly tough plant that can survive with little to no care, but it’s not very happy when it’s cold. Temperature changes affect snake plants differently depending on where they are in their growth cycle; young snake plants are sensitive to swings in temperature while mature plants have fewer problems with changing temperatures. Even though it may be possible for your snake plant to survive, you should keep its temperature consistent.
The silver queen snake plant prefers temperatures from 60 to 85 degrees, with moderate humidity and good light. They do not like being exposed to extreme heat or cold. These are generally considered low-maintenance plants, but it’s still a good idea to water them regularly (about once every 10 days) to prevent their leaves from becoming brittle and browning. When you water your snake plant, change out about one-third of its total soil volume.
Humidity
While all plants have basic needs (such as good potting soil, water, and sunlight), some houseplants require more attention than others. One of these is Sansevieria moonshine. Because it’s native to semi-arid regions of Africa, sansevieria prefers drier environments and can even handle low humidity.
The ideal humidity range is between 40 and 60 percent. If your home is too humid, you can help sansevieria by placing it in a room with a dehumidifier or air conditioner. If it’s too dry, try misting its leaves regularly or placing it on a tray of wet pebbles. You can also place sansevieria near a window where it will get some natural moisture from outside.
Pruning
A Sansevieria moonshine should be pruned at least once a year, preferably twice. To do so, remove any brown or yellow leaves, leaving only those that are green. Most sansevierias will grow about two to three inches per month during their active growth cycle in spring and summer. As long as you keep pruning regularly (approximately once every two months), your plant should maintain its size and shape.
When to repot
Snakeskin plant, or Sansevieria moonshine, is an unusual succulent that boasts a unique texture and a snakelike appearance. It’s these factors, along with its minimal upkeep requirements, that make it such a popular houseplant. However, like all plants, snakeskin also requires repotting from time to time.
Repotting is necessary to ensure that your plant has plenty of room to grow and maintain optimal health. Although there are no hard-and-fast rules for when you should repot your snake plant, there are some general guidelines you can follow to help determine when it’s time for a change of scenery.
According to Michigan State University Extension, you can gauge whether or not your Sansevieria moonshine needs repotting by checking for three things: overall size, container drainage, and pot surface area. You want to be sure that your growing conditions aren’t limiting growth in any way.
Dormancy
Like most snake plants, the silver queen can’t take freezing temperatures, and will often die during a cold winter if left outside. If you live in a climate that sees long periods of freezing temperatures, you’ll want to plant your snake plant in an area where it won’t get too cold—or bring it inside during the colder months. In addition to being adaptable enough to survive indoors or out, the silver queen is also known for its ability to thrive through dormancy.
Sansevieria moonshine flower & fragrance
Because it’s a member of the Dracaena family, which includes plants with fragrant flowers, some varieties may be fragrant.
If you’re looking for a beautiful and fragrant snake plant, look no further than sansevieria moonshine. It’s absolutely gorgeous when blooming – giving off not only an incredible fragrance but also providing an array of colors!
Most grow tall and narrow with stiff, erect leaves that don’t wilt or droop (the narrow leaves are sometimes referred to as tulip or spike leaves). Their overall form makes them good choices for decorating corners in offices or homes.
Growth rate
Sansevieria moonshine is probably one of the slowest growers you’ll ever find. In fact, I thought it had died on me after a few months when it hadn’t grown an inch—until I looked online and saw how long they usually take to grow. This makes them great for apartment dwellers or people with little patience for watching plants grow.
Toxicity
Snake plants are toxic to dogs, cats, and many other animals. Ingestion of any part can be fatal. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, and depression. If you suspect your pet has eaten any part of a snake plant immediately contact your veterinarian or local pet emergency hospital for treatment advice.
USDA hardiness zones
Sansevieria moonshine thrives best in USDA hardiness zones 10 and 11. In areas with cooler climates, it can be grown as a houseplant. It does not tolerate cold temperatures well, so keep it indoors if you live in a zone below 10. Even though sansevieria is drought-tolerant, you should water it regularly during its growing season (spring through fall). During winter months, cut back on watering to once every two weeks or so.
Pests and diseases
Sansevieria moonshine is a pretty hardy plant. But when diseases and pests do strike, they can quickly spread through an entire plant collection. The most common pest culprits are scale, mealybugs, thrips, and whiteflies. Scale insects look like small bumps on your snake plant leaves.
They suck sap from your plants and leave behind a sticky residue that can cause leaves to fall off or stunt growth. Mealybugs appear as cottony clumps on stems or leaves; they also suck sap from your plants, which causes yellowing of leaves and leaf drops.
If you have an issue with pests or diseases on your snake plant, spray a mixture of 50% rubbing alcohol and 50% water on your snake plant. It won’t hurt your Sansevieria moonshine, but it will kill any insect or disease-causing agent on contact. Continue doing so until you don’t see any more signs of insects or diseases.
Conclusion
It’s hard to get bored with Sansevieria moonshine. Even if you feel like you’ve seen every type of Sansevierias, there’s always one more unusual specimen out there, just waiting for you to discover it. For me, that’s a Sansevieria with colored foliage or an especially bright flower. As tempting as these types are though, I tend to stay away from them. I know how finicky these types can be when it comes to care and placement in your home.
