Keeping Your Snake Plant Shiny Naturally

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Snake Plant Not Appealing? No Problem!

You have a snake plant that is not as beautiful? Does it look less appealing to the eye? Are you looking for a super shiny snake plant? Do not worry, we have the solution! Just follow these steps and you will be able to bring your snake plant into shining mode!

Basic Snake Plant Care

When it comes to houseplants, can we ever have too many? Not at all. They are everywhere in my house and the plant I grow best is tough as nails and so easy to grow. I want you to also enjoy this gorgeous, glossy plant by taking care of it correctly.

About a year and a half ago, I divided my Snake Plant into three plants because it was growing like crazy and it was getting too small in its pot. Two were kept, one was given away. 

Snake plants tend to be indifferent to lighting and humidity, but can become very finicky about the amount of water they receive. Mother-in-law tongues are best grown in small pots with tightly crowded roots.

You do not need to fertilize your plants, but if you want to give them a little love, give them a half-strength houseplant food once a month during the growing season. These plants add tropical beauty to the home, and clean the air. Show off your love by growing poisonous snake plants at home and giving it as a gift to your neighbors and friends.

Snake Plant Origin and Plant Classification

There are about 60 plants belonging to the Sansevieria genus in the Agave family. S. trifasciata is the commonest of the species.

As most agaves, it’s characterized by sword-like thick leaves gathered into a clump at the base, often striped in yellow and green and silver.

A snake plant or mother-in-law’s tongue, which also commonly goes by the name viper’s bowstring hemp, is known for its variegated leaves.

It is also known by the common name, Saint George’s sword, dracaena trifasciata, and sassafras trifasciata.

The snake plant is native to Brazil and Africa. It is a succulent that prefers open and bright areas with high levels of humidity. Although a snake plant’s leaves can reach a height of 50 cm (20 in), it produces very small buds and a lily-like flower when grown indoors.

Depending on maintenance, the plant can live up to ten years indoors.

Uses of Snake Plant

Indoor foliage plants like snake plant are most commonly used in pots and planters, although small varieties are also used in dish gardens and terrariums. 

In addition to eliminating nitrogen oxides and formaldehydes, this plant is also a known air purifier 

A large variety of sansevierias are mass planted in coastal and subtropical locations for outdoor installation. The common name for this plant is “viper’s bowstring hemp,” which is a source of fiber used in making bowstrings. Also known for having antiseptic properties, the leaves were traditionally used to treat wounds as bandages.

Even though snake plants have been used for centuries in both industrial and medicinal applications, snake plants are also reported to contain poisons like hemolytic saponin which can cause excessive salivation when consumed and allergic dermatitis when consumed.

Lets go for the care

First things first: Do not shine your houseplants with leaf-shining products. EVER.

Many commercial products that beautify plants are available nowadays and they are used by many retailers. We don’t use leaf shining products because they aren’t beautiful, they are bad! Many leaf shine products can clog these pores with either wax or oil, as plants breathe through their leaves through little pores called stomata.
As plants suffocate and maybe even die when their pores are blocked, it’s like if you had too much residue blocking your pores. It’s like you get pimples on your skin, except the plant doesn’t get pimples.

A high shine style is not a good one. It looks really artificial, and it can lead you to forget that your plant is alive and not plastic decorum. Other than the cosmetic aspect, the upkeep is a major problem. Shine products leave oils and waxes on the leaves that clump, unlike au naturel leaves. Cleaning your plant becomes more challenging after dust builds up and you are forced into a reshining cycle constantly.

The plants we have are already beautiful, but here are some safer and better ways to enhance their appearance without sacrificing their health.”

Damp cloth 

This is an oldie, but a goodie. Wet your cloth (or sponge) and wring out any excess water. Wipe down each leaf very carefully, away from the stem, with one hand while gently supporting each leaf slightly from under. Do not forget to get to the undersides, which are usually where pests like to hide. If the leaves are very small or delicate, then use a soft brush.

Shower

Showering is a great option for all plants, but especially for plants with delicate leaves that are a challenge to wipe. It is best to draw lukewarm showers that are not too hot or too cold. Plants cannot tolerate hot or cold water. Hold the plant at various angles while running your hands through the foliage to make sure the water hits the undersides of the leaves too. The mixed solution works well with ferns, orchids, palms, and many other plants. Just be careful not to overuse the mix, because you don’t want a clogged pipe and you also don’t want to lose too much mix.

Soap & water

Using a solution of liquid dish detergent and water is another foolproof method. The leaves can be cleaned by either dipping a soft cloth in a soap/water solution and wiping the leaves gently, or by lathering your hands and gently applying soap/water to the plant. You should either clean the leaves top to bottom, which will help you get rid of pests such as spider mites. Rinse the plant thoroughly afterward.

Vinegar or Lemon Juice & Water

Vinegar and water can be particularly effective for removing residue from leaves. Don’t push it too far, however. This one is not meant to be a regular part of plant maintenance, but instead can be only done if necessary. Mix 1 teaspoon of vinegar with a gallon of water, and then use the cloth to gently wipe your plants with the mix . In addition, your naughty pets will be distracted by a strong vinegar scent. Lemon juice can also be used instead of vinegar, around  ½ lemons squeezed in per pint of water. Lemon juice and vinegar dissolves mineral salts to help you get rid of pests. However, lemon juice and water for dissolving hard water deposits will not rid you of pests.

Dusting feather

Then dust with a duster feather and gently brush through its leaves. Obviously, this one will work better with greater, leafier plants. For example, a Monstera delicata, ZZ plant, or Bird of Paradise. Make sure you go over the undersides as well. This method is not recommended with ferns since you may disturb their spores. For delicate plants, use a makeup brush or paintbrush.

Takeaway

Regardless of the method you choose, remember that plants need to be treated as carelessly as possible. Do not use leaf-shining products, which can clog the pores in your plant’s leaves. By keeping your plant’s leaves shiny, you will also keep away pests and diseases. This is a perfect chance to check for damage, diseases, or early signs of unhappy plants during this maintenance period.

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