Snake plant, also called as Sansevieria trifasciata, Saint George's sword, mother-in-law's tongue, and viper's bowstring hemp. From 2017 its scientific name are Dracaena trifasciata. It is now used predominantly as an ornamental plant, outdoors in warmer climates, and indoors as a houseplant in cooler climates.
Snake plant, also called as Sansevieria trifasciata, Saint George's sword, mother-in-law's tongue, and viper's bowstring hemp. From 2017 its scientific name are Dracaena trifasciata. It is now used predominantly as an ornamental plant, outdoors in warmer climates, and indoors as a houseplant in cooler climates.
IDENTIFY SNAKE PLANT - SANSEVIERIA TRIFASCIATA
Snake plant is native to tropical Africa. It was introduced to America, Asia, Australia, and the Pacific Islands as an ornamental and fibre crop. Considering that this species is widely cultivated, it is highly probable that geographic distribution includes more locations than are listed.
It is an evergreen perennial plant that has up to 6 leaves per rosette that more closely resemble a succulent or cacti than a garden perennial. Mature leaves are dark green with light gray-green cross-banding, and usually range between 2.5 and 3 feet in length and 2 to 2.8 inches in width. Leaves which develop under bright light out of doors or in bright greenhouses have prominent light cross-bands, while those which develop under 2000 foot-candles or less, or are held under low light intensities, have nearly solid dark green leaves.
Numerous cultivars have been selected, many of them for variegated foliage with yellow or silvery-white stripes on the leaf margins. Popular cultivars include:
- Sansevieria trifasciata 'Bantel's Sensation' or White sansevieria, is marked with an alternating and variable pattern of longitudinal white and dark green stripes. Leaves are stiffly erect and both narrower and slightly shorter than those of the species. Some leaves with wide green sectors may have transverse-banding of lighter green similar to that of the species.
- Sansevieria trifasciata 'Futura' is similar to S. trifasciata `Laurentii' but has shorter, broader leaves, more leaves per rosette and, typically, a narrower yellow margin, approximately 0.1 to 0.2-inch wide.
- Sansevieria trifasciata 'Golden Hahnii', golden birdnest sansevieria, has attractive green leaves with a combination of marginal and internal yellow stripes of variable width which are parallel with the veins.
- Sansevieria trifasciata 'Hahnii', birdnest sansevieria, has attractive short, dark green, reflexed leaves which form a vase-shaped rosette.
- Sansevieria trifasciata 'Laurentii', the goldband sansevieria, has an upright growth habit as the species but features a showy golden yellow leaf margin which is somewhat variable in width and position.
- Sansevieria trifasciata 'Laurentii Compacta', the compact goldband sansevieria, has shorter leaves with darker green coloration between the gold bands than `Laurentii'.
- Sansevieria trifasciata 'Moonshine', Moonshine sansevieria, nearly solid, light silvery gray-green foliage with a tracery of dark green around the margin. Plants grown in deep shade have darker leaves. `Moonshine' plants, also sold as 'Moonglow', usually have 3 or more upright leaves giving individual divisions a vase-like form as the leaves diverge slightly from the center of rosettes.
- Sansevieria trifasciata 'Nelsonii', Nelson's sansevieria, is a sport from S. trifasciata `Laurentii' with solid dark green leaves and have a velvet-like sheen and stiffly erect habit of growth. Leaves are shorter, thicker, and more numerous per rosette than the species.
- Sansevieria trifasciata 'Robusta', the robust sansevieria, resembles `Futura' but lacks yellow leaf margins. Leaves are about 30 percent shorter and 1.5 to 2 times wider than S. trifasciata, with essentially the same color and pattern of leaf cross-banding as the species.
- Sansevieria trifasciata 'Silver Queen', silver queen sansevieria is an upright cultivar similar to the species. New leaves are nearly solid silvery gray-green with thin dark green margins. Older leaves darken, and plants in low light darken sooner.
- Sansevieria trifasciata 'Silver Hahnii', the silver birdnest sansevieria has medium silvery gray-green leaves with indistinct transverse green bands through silver coloration and fine dark green margins.
SNAKE PLANT - SANSEVIERIA TRIFASCIATA CARE AND CULTURE
Cultural information should only be used as a guide, and should be to be adapted to suit you. Your physical location; where you grow your plants, how much time you have to devote to their care, and many other factors, will need to be taken into account. Only then can you decide on the cultural methods that best suit you and your plants.
Light:
Snake plant need a light level of 1000-6000 foot-candles. Leaves of plants in heavily shaded areas with only a few hundred foot-candles grow slowly, become elongated, weak, and darker green and without the typical cross-banding pattern.
Temperature:
The best temperatures to grow snake plant range from 70 to 90°F which can be maintained in most greenhouses. Temperatures should not be permitted to drop 40 to 45°F. Frost is especially harmful to sansevieria. If you plan to keep your snake plant outside, be sure to bring it in before a hard freeze.
Substrate and growing media:
Snake plant grow well under a soil pH range of 4.5 to 8.5, although a range of 5.5 to 7.5 is preferred. Soil recommended is mix with high proportions of peat, bark, or other components which have a high cation exchange capacity. Also be sure to use a terracotta pot that won’t trap water inside and promptly remove any standing water from the saucer.
Watering:
Water the plant using overhead sprinklers. Approximately 0.75 to 1.5 inches of water is recommended per week for sansevieria stock in open lime rock fields depending upon temperature, relative humidity, air movement, and soil type. Less water is required for plants growing under structures, in moisture retentive soils and during cool periods. Growers should reduce watering rates during wet periods to compensate for natural rainfall. Overhead irrigation should be applied early in the day so foliage will dry quickly, thus discouraging development of Fusarium leaf spot.
Fertilizer:
Monthly fertilize snake plant with a basic fertilizer for houseplants will maintain adequate fertility, plant vigor, and quality. Nitrogen is the most critical element in most nurseries in terms of limiting the rate of plant growth. Fertilizer rates should be reduced slightly when temperatures below 45°F are anticipated, or when cold water will be dripping on the plants.
Propagation:
Snake plants produce rhizomes and are easily divided. Although this can be done any time, spring is best. Your newly propagated plants will also grow faster as summer is growing season. You can also propagate snake plants through leaf cuttings. Just cut 2 to 3 inch pieces of a leaf and place them about 1 inch deep in soil appropriate for snake plants. Make sure to plant cuttings facing up, the same direction they were growing.
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