Last updated on August 25th, 2023 at 12:35 pm
Sansevieria zeylanica plants are perfect for those who find themselves constantly busy or just don’t have the green thumb that they wish they had. These plants are easy to care for and can be found in many different colors. If you’re looking for a plant that will brighten up your home without requiring much of your time, sansevieria zeylanica is a perfect choice!
It is a popular house plant because of its easy-care requirements. It can survive in low light levels and prefers to be misted with water every few days, but doesn’t require any special treatment beyond that. If you are looking for an indoor plant with minimal upkeep, sansevieria zeylanica might be the right plant for you!
Sansevieria zeylanica is a beautiful plant with many benefits. It’s easy to care for, and it can be grown indoors or outdoors in most climates!
The sansevieria zeylanica is a type of houseplant that has been popularized for its ease of care and hardiness. It’s also known as the “Mother-in-Law Tongue” because of its pointed leaves that resemble an old woman’s tongue! The plant thrives in most temperate regions with moderate humidity levels.
Let’s explore sansevieria zeylanica and learn more about this lovely plant.
Origin and descriptions
Sansevieria zeylanica have origins in tropical Africa, where they are found today growing on rocky hillsides. They are monocotyledonous plants with fleshy, long tuberous roots and grow to about one meter tall. The leaves can be dark green or variegated yellow-green or white. These attractive plants make wonderful indoor houseplants and can be found in many nurseries.
Sansevieria zeylanica is an easy-to-grow plant that thrives in most homes or offices with bright, indirect light and moderate watering (similar to cactus). It does not like wet feet but consistently moist soil will cause root rot. The plant prefers warmer temperatures of about sixty degrees Fahrenheit and also benefits from a winter rest period.
Sansevieria zeylanica makes an attractive houseplant with strappy green leaves and will add height and texture to any room in need of some life (or spiky plant). Because it is very easy to grow, most gardeners are able to keep this plant healthy and happy with minimal effort.
Sansevieria belongs to a family that contains over 70 different species and countless cultivars, all native to Africa or Asia. This type of plant features stiff leaves emerging from a central rosette growing up from underground rhizomes.
Sansevieria zeylanica propagation
Sansevieria zeylanica is an easy plant to propagate, either by taking cuttings or dividing the plants. Cuttings are taken from the leaves of young plants and inserted into moist soil. Some prefer using rooting hormone on their cuttings for more successful propagation. The divisions can be made any time during spring or summer. The best time for taking cuttings is during the spring. Mature plants can also be divided in spring or fall, but it might cause some stress to them.
Sansevieria zeylanica care
Sansevieria zeylanica makes a great houseplant because of its easy care and durability. In fact, sansevieria zeylanica is one of the lowest-maintenance plants you can grow.
Sanseveria zeylanica is a perfect plant for beginners. It can grow in low light, making it ideal to use as a desk plant or office greenery. With its green and sword-like leaves, Sansevieria zeylanica looks great alone or with other plants in a living room or on a patio.
Light requirements
Light requirements vary by species of sansevieria, but generally, they like bright light with at least four hours of direct sunlight daily. The more sun exposure, the larger and glossier your plant will grow. Low-light plants do well in a northern or eastern window that receives no direct light during midday; however, these same low-light plants will need a sunny window to do well in lower light.
Soil/potting mix
There are many different potting mixes available. It is important not to use garden soil, as it will compact and restrict the growth of your plant’s roots. A good cactus or succulent mix that contains coarse materials with excellent drainage works best for sansevieria plants. If you decide to repot an older plant, gently wash away the old soil from the roots and replace it with a fresh mix.
Watering
Water your sansevieria thoroughly and allow the top inch of soil to dry out before watering again. Plants grown outdoors in summer may need daily, even twice-daily waterings; whereas those grown indoors during winter cannot tolerate too much moisture or they will rot.
Fertilizer
Sansevieria are not heavy feeders, so they do not require much fertilizer. If you have a plant that is growing in the ground rather than in an indoor pot, apply one-fourth of the recommended dose of slow-release pellets to your yard soil every six months during spring and summer. This will increase the production of new leaves as well as promote a deeper color in the leaves.
Slow-release plant food pellets work well for these plants as long as you incorporate them into the soil when you are planting them in a larger container, or apply them to your existing plant according to package instructions.
Temperature
Sansevieria zeylanica does well in average household temperatures of 70–90 degrees Fahrenheit. If your plant begins to wilt, this is likely due to insufficient water or too much heat. These plants will not tolerate frost or freezing conditions; so if you need to bring them indoors before the temperature drops below 50 degrees for any length of time, they will be fine.
Humidity
Although sansevieria thrives in a hot, dry environment indoors, if the humidity drops too low they will begin to show signs of stress. Place your plant on a pebble tray filled with water that evaporates into the air and keep it away from heating vents or drafts from windows.
An ideal humidity range is 40–50%.
Pruning
Sansevieria zeylanica can be cut back at any time of the year and will grow new leaves. This is a great way to propagate your plant or share it with friends and family without having to take cuttings and potentially damage the parent plant’s roots in the process.
They will grow steadily and develop a beautiful shape if you allow new shoots to form. If your plant is grown in the ground, it can be divided by cutting through its roots with a sharp knife; otherwise, keep pruning to a minimum as this may cause unsightly scars or damage on leaves and blooms.
Do not throw away the cuttings; they can be transplanted to start new plants.
When to repot
If your sansevieria is growing in a small pot, it may be time for repotting. When the plant has outgrown its pot or begins to crowd other plants and objects around it, you can separate its roots by cutting through them gently with sharp shears about an inch away from the outside rim of the soil.
Dormancy
In the fall, sansevieria zeylanica will begin to show signs of dormancy. Your plant may become limp and its leaves along with its veins will turn a dull gray color as they lose moisture in preparation for winter. This is normal; however, if your plant’s stems appear woody or brittle you can cut them back by half to promote growth.
Flowers & Fragrance
Sansevieria zeylanica bloom in the spring and summer months with a cluster of tiny white flowers. Although they do not have an overpowering scent, their delicate appearance is truly striking against dark green leaves for a lovely show that will last from three to four weeks.
Growth rate
Sansevieria zeylanica is slow-growing, but even if you forget to water them for a month or two they will not die. These plants are tough; however, you can improve their appearance by trimming dead leaves and stems back as well as encouraging new growth which helps the plant look fresh and natural year-round.
Toxicity
Although sansevieria zeylanica is non-toxic to pets and humans, if ingested it can cause vomiting or other symptoms of digestive discomfort. In addition, the sap from these plants may irritate your skin, so wear gloves when handling them.
USDA Hardiness Zones
Sansevieria zeylanica are hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 11-12.
Pests and diseases
Sansevieria zeylanica are resistant to most pests and diseases, but they may be susceptible to scale insects. If you spot these brown dots on the undersides of leaves or along their veins it is likely that your plant has been infected by a pest infestation. You can remove individual scales from plants with tweezers or wipe them away with a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol.
If your plant is not too badly infected, this may be all you need to do; however, if the scales return it’s time for more drastic measures like hosing off leaves and spraying them with insecticidal soap or neem oil until they are covered. The sooner you act against pests, the better your chances of saving your plant.
When sansevieria zeylanica is not cared for properly it can become infested with mealybugs or scale insects, but if you take a proactive approach and start out by hosing off the leaves and spraying them with insecticidal soap or neem oil, then you will have a much better chance of saving your plant.
Conclusion
Sansevieria zeylanica is an easy-care plant that rewards you with beautiful and exotic blooms. If your sansevieria has outgrown its pot or begun to crowd other plants, transplanting is a great way to share the beauty of this plant without potentially damaging it in the process.
