Asparagus family. Homeland tropical Asia and Africa. There are about 60 species in the genus. Sansevieria is a beautiful, unpretentious houseplant that is suitable for cultivation, both as a single plant and for composing. A great advantage of sansevieria among other houseplants is that it puts up with shading (varieties that have light stripes are more photophilous) and grows very well in compositions, both with other succulents and with ordinary houseplants.
Sansevieria trifasciata 'Golden Hahnii'
Sansevieria trifasciata 'Hahnii'
Sansevieria trifasciata 'Moonshine'
The most common in the Sansevieria culture is the three-striped Sansevieria trifasciata - it has fleshy succulent leaves, reaching from 30 to 100 cm in different varieties. In the original species, the leaves are pure green with slightly pronounced transverse stripes. On the basis of it, many varieties were bred that differ in the color and size of the stripes, as well as the compactness or tall bush. Some varieties clearly have a funnel-shaped rosette of leaves, others do not, the bush consists of tightly seated and growing strictly vertically leaves. Compositions from several varieties of sansevieria are very effective.
The peculiarities of care, like for all other succulents, in short, are careful watering, loose drained earth and enough light.
Sansevieria trifasciata 'Laurentii'
Sansevieria cylindrica
Sansevieria powysii
Sansevieria care
Temperature: In summer, the usual indoor, in winter cool optimal 14-16 ° C, at least 10 ° C. But with sufficient lighting, the sansevieria feels good in winter and at normal temperatures (24-26 ° C).
Lighting: The plant is light-loving, prefers bright diffused light, tolerates light partial shade, variegated varieties are more light-loving and respond well to direct sunlight. In winter, you need a bright room. Well suited place on the east or west window. The south window may need shading in summer during the hottest hours. Sansevieria will also grow on the north window, but the sun is needed for the leaves to sparkle with all the variegated and brightness of the shades.
Watering: Moderate from spring to autumn - the soil should have time to dry well for the next watering. In winter, watering is limited, about once every two to three weeks, depending on the temperature of the content. When watering, especially in winter, do not allow water to enter the center of the outlet - this can cause decay. In relation to sansevieria, the rule applies: "it is better to underfill than to pour."
During the growth period, feeding is carried out using liquid fertilizer for indoor plants, feeding is carried out no more than once a month, and the dose is two times less than for ordinary flowers. You can use fertilizer for cacti in full dosage.
Air humidity: No spraying is required, but the leaves are wiped clean of dust.
Transplantation: Sansevieria is transplanted when the pot becomes cramped - after about two years, young plants, after three years old. Since the roots of sansevieria grow more in width, the pot for it should not be too deep, but wide. Example of soil for planting: 2 part of sod, 1 part of sheet earth and 1 part of fine gravel. Drainage at the bottom of the pot can be made from foam, expanded clay, crushed shards of coconut shells. Sansevieria grows equally well in clay and plastic pots.
Reproduction: By lateral shoots in spring, and by leaf and part of leaf. For propagation, part of the leaf is taken an old strong leaf, which can be cut into pieces 4-5 cm long and slightly dried in the air. Then the leaf is planted with its lower end into sand or moist vermiculite. Once established, it can be transplanted into a pot of soil. It takes about two weeks to grow roots. This is the only period when evenly wet soil is needed without drying.
Growing problems
- The main problem with such an unpretentious plant is rot from increased irrigation. If the soil takes a very long time to dry, and this may be due to the fact that it is too dense and heavy, or there are few drainage holes, then the roots or stems begin to rot. Waterlogging in conditions of low temperatures and shading is especially dangerous. In addition to rot, spots may appear on the leaves. To avoid such problems, make the soil looser, water as it dries, at least to the middle of the depth of the pot.
- Another problem is related to the opinion that Sansevieria is very shade-tolerant, which means it can grow in the darkest corner. Yes, sanseviera, especially varieties without yellow or cream spots, tolerates shading quite tolerably, but only a little. At the same time, it grows slowly, forms very rare and elongated sockets, or loose bushes. In a word, it is not decorative.
Sansevieria pests: Sanseviera is quite resistant to most pests. It is practically not touched by a tick, but mealy worms can appear. These pests are similar to shaggy white bugs, usually come from purchased land, accumulate, forming colonies, at the base of the leaves. It is necessary to fight them like this: mechanically remove the pests with a cotton swab or cotton swab soaked in alcohol. Then water the soil with a systemic insecticide actara or confidor.