Last updated on August 25th, 2023 at 12:34 pm
Sansevieria trifasciata twist, or twisted sister plant as it’s sometimes called, is one of the more unusual-looking members of the sansevieria family. It’s also not hard to see why it has its nickname – with its distinctive knotted trunk and twisted leaves, it certainly has an exotic look that sets it apart from other plants in the same family like a snake plant or mother-in-law’s tongue.
You may already be familiar with the common sansevieria trifasciata (a popular houseplant), but did you know that its cousin, Sansevieria trifasciata twist, also has plenty of character?
Sansevieria trifasciata twist makes an attractive houseplant with a unique growth habit. Unlike the more common sansevieria that grows straight up, twisted sister tends to grow at an angle and looks like it’s been twisted by some great force of nature. The plant’s leaves can be just as dramatic as its shape, sporting stripes, spots, and even variegated leaves.
Snake plants are known for their unique and highly ornamental leaves. Unlike many other sansevierias, which exhibit new growth in spring and summer, sansevieria trifasciata twist has smaller leaves with a darker green color that emerge from hibernation at any time of the year.
These lovely twisted snake plant leaves look great when planted individually or as a group in your home or office. The addition of these bright, long-lasting houseplants will always be welcomed by your friends and family!
Origin and distribution
Sansevieria trifasciata twisted sisted snake plant is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae. It originated in southern Africa and Madagascar. It is a perennial that spreads via rhizomes to form large clumps, which can be divided easily.
In temperate regions, Sansevieria trifasciata twist needs to be grown under glass or as an indoor plant. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. The common name, snake plant, refers to its stiff upright leaves, which are long and narrow with a green-and-white striped pattern reminiscent of snakeskin.
This makes it suitable for hanging baskets. It grows quickly but requires little maintenance once established.
Sansevieria trifasciata twist propagation
The Sansevieria trifasciata twist is a succulent plant that originates from southern Africa. This plant can be propagated by cuttings, air layering, and tissue culture. Tissue culture propagation is a high-tech form of cloning plants by taking tissue samples and having them grow new plants with identical DNA to their parent plant.
Propagation is important because it keeps many varieties of popular houseplants alive as they become rarer and rarer in their natural habitat. Sansevieria twist also allows for genetic engineering and mutation breeding which has allowed for hundreds of new cultivars to arise over time. Many cultivars are available at local nurseries or online.
Sansevieria twisted sister plants are very easy to propagate so it is not uncommon for people to start several cuttings at once so they have enough plants when one inevitably dies on them. Cuttings should be taken during the spring or summer months while new growth is forming.
Cut a leaf off of your mother plant and place it in a potting soil mixture. It will take about two weeks for roots to form after which you can transplant them into your home. Air layering is done by removing bark from around your mother plant’s stem and placing rooting hormone on either side of where you removed bark.
Roots will form above and below where you applied the rooting hormone. After roots have formed, use wire to gently separate them from your mother plant before planting them in the soil. The rooting hormone should only be used if necessary because it is made up of hormones that can cause harm to humans if ingested or inhaled. New leaves sprouting on your sansevieria twisted sister plant mean that it is ready for repotting.
Sansevieria trifasciata twist care information
Your Sansevieria Trifasciata twist will stay beautiful for years if you put it in a spot that has bright, indirect light and enough moisture in order to keep its soil slightly moist. Make sure your twisted sister snake plant gets plenty of water during its first two or three weeks to help it get acclimated. You can then water less frequently as long as you see that its soil is still slightly damp.
Light requirement
Sansevieria trifasciata twist does best in bright, indirect light; however, it can withstand low-light conditions and even survive under fluorescent lights. If your Sansevieria is looking stressed, move it to a brighter area or boost your lighting with supplemental grow lights. Avoid placing your plant in direct sunlight: It will burn its leaves and cause brown spots. Find an east- or west-facing window with indirect sunlight to keep your Sansevieria happy.
Soil/potting mix
Sansevieria trifasciata twist needs a fairly well-draining soil that is 1 part organic matter to 2 parts potting mix. It will not grow in water alone. Due to its slow growth, it needs a large enough pot, with sufficient drainage holes and room for root expansion, to avoid being moved often. However, when repotting it is best to move it into a pot just one size larger than what it currently lives in.
Watering
Twisted snake plants like to be overwatered, especially when they’re young. Use a spray bottle to water your snake plant every few days and watch out for damp, heavy soil. You don’t want leaves to feel heavy; water enough so that there is visible moisture on top of the soil but not too much that water will drain from underneath.
Fertilizer
The best time to fertilize your Sansevieria trifasciata twist is in spring and summer when it’s actively growing. Feed monthly with half-strength liquid fertilizer, following all directions on product packaging. Stop fertilizing in fall, as your plant will begin to slow down for winter. If possible, stop fertilizing a month before any freeze period; otherwise, allow two weeks after the last frost for your plant to return to normal growth.
Temperature
Sansevieria trifasciata twist are hardy succulents that can withstand short periods of frost and prefer sunny, hot spaces. These twisted sister plants also like dry air and enjoy temperatures above 70 degrees. The soil should be lightly damp at all times. The top leaves of a sansevieria will grow upwards while lower leaves curl around in an attractive pattern when receiving proper care. If you’re looking for a unique addition to your home, look no further than this twist snake plant!
Humidity
Sansevieria trifasciata twist have evolved to live in humid climates, so make sure you provide some moisture for your sansevieria trifasciata twist. It’s best to mist them a few times a week and leave them near a humidifier or open window if possible. Water from under, not from above, to prevent spotting on its leaves.
The ideal humidity range is between 40 and 60 percent. You can measure it with a hygrometer, which you can find at most hardware stores. If your home’s humidity falls below 40 percent, consider using a humidifier to increase it. Don’t overdo it though; too much moisture can lead to root rot and other problems.
Pruning
Sansevieria trifasciata twist do not require a lot of pruning. Prune at any time of the year, except in late fall and winter when they are dormant. If you prefer to prune while they are actively growing, choose warm days to ensure that their growth has resumed after pruning. Use sharp, clean shears or scissors to avoid damaging your plant.
Do not cut off more than one-third of each stem at one time; if you need to remove more than one-third of a stem, wait until new growth appears before removing additional stems. It is best to cut back stems with leaves on them rather than cutting stems with only leafless nodes.
When to repot
Repot every spring. Sansevieria trifasciata twist grows slowly, so you won’t need to repot it every year. But don’t wait too long between repottings—every two years is ideal. Make sure your pot is large enough that it can accommodate its full mature size, at least a 12-inch diameter for a full-grown sansevieria. If you use a container with drainage holes, fill it with an inch or two of gravel before adding soil.
This will help prevent overwatering. Water until water runs out of drainage holes; then let drain completely before watering again. You should only water when the soil feels dry about 2 inches down—never overwater! Overwatering is one of the biggest reasons people kill their houseplants and will cause roots to rot and eventually lead to plant death.
Dormancy
The most challenging part of growing Sansevieria trifasciata twist comes when they enter their dormancy period. During dormancy, Sansevieria trifasciata twist can rot if you overwater them or fail to provide sufficient sunlight. If your plant is in a container, remove it from its location and place it on a sunny windowsill for about two weeks. If your plant is in the soil, move it to a spot where it will receive more light for about two weeks.
Once your plant has completed its dormancy cycle, water it regularly and put it back in its original location. In some cases, you may need to wait until spring before putting your twisted sister snake plant back outside again.
Flowers & fragrance
Sansevieria trifasciata twist plants are often known for their long, thin leaves and their longevity, but that’s not to say that they don’t have many other merits. They also come in a wide range of beautiful colors and have a scent similar to aloe vera when bruised. In fact, this variety, the twist snake plant, has an even stronger fragrance than most other Sansevierias. Sniffing these varieties when you bring them home will make your house smell pleasant for weeks.
Growth rate
While many growers are familiar with Sansevieria trifasciata twist slow growth rate, it can be easy to forget when you fall in love with a beautiful specimen and want to share it with your friends. But be patient, because in time you will have a gorgeous twist plant specimen of your own.
Toxicity
Although Sansevieria Trifasciata twist is a common houseplant and only mildly toxic, ingestion of large amounts may result in gastrointestinal irritation. There are no reports of death from ingesting Sansevieria, however, it is better to err on the side of caution when introducing new species into your home. Keep out of reach of children and pets.
USDA hardiness zones
Sansevieria trifasciata twist thrives very well in USDA hardiness zones 10 and 11. However, it can also be grown as a houseplant in cooler climates. In these areas, however, it’s important to provide adequate light and water to keep your plant healthy. If you’re growing your snake plant indoors, make sure that it gets at least six hours of sunlight each day. Water your snake plant whenever its soil feels dry to touch, usually once every two weeks is sufficient for indoor plants.
Pests and diseases
The twisted sister snake plant is susceptible to pests, but luckily it doesn’t have a lot of problems with them. The only ones you might see on your sansevieria are mealybugs or spider mites. Fortunately, they can be wiped off or dropped into soapy water, respectively.
This variety of snake plants is also susceptible to bacterial leaf spot and stem rot if overwatered; do not over-water it! If you notice yellowing leaves that fall off easily or black spots on stems, then your twisted sister has been infected by one of these two diseases.
Cut away all diseased portions at soil level and make sure that your pot drains well, the water should flow out freely when you lift up one side after watering. Water less frequently until new growth appears. If all else fails, prune away affected portions at soil level and repot in fresh soil in a well-draining container.
Conclusion
Sansevieria Twisted sister is a variation of Sansevieria trifasciata. Like her relative, it likes having soil with lower pH. That means that she won’t fare well in soil with a high pH level. She needs moist soil that drains well to grow properly as well as bright lighting and moderate temperatures to thrive. Water her when her soil has gone dry and has no moisture left to draw from.
