Sansevieria trifasciata, the snake plant, has previously been discussed. The propagation of snake plants wasn’t something we explored in detail, which is long overdue.
To start new snake plants, we’ll explore the different methods available. While each has its benefits and drawbacks, they all expand your Sansevieria collection.
Techniques to Choose
You have to select your rooting method before you can begin rooting. Plants are propagated in a variety of ways like most other organisms. In some cases, a method is more reliable than another.
Let’s talk about the pros and cons of each method and how it can be applied. It won’t take you long to start a ton of new plants!
Leaf Cuttings In Soil
Most commonly used method, this one uses a cactus dressing to root plants.
Select a leaf that is thick and healthy. Select one that looks perfect and vigorous, with no cosmetic damage. Plants grow healthier when they have healthy leaves, rather than damaged ones. To remove the leaves, cut them at an inch above the soil with sterile shears.
You can measure out leaf segments that are 2-3 inches long with a ruler. Make sure that the edges are flat and clean after cutting them apart. Make a mark with a pen on the bottom of every segment at the part closest to the original leaf. Which end of the plant should be planted.
After your leaf segments have dried for a couple days, remove them and store them. The cut edges have time to dry and scab, so there is less likely to be rot. Planting begins as soon as the seeds appear dry.
Make sure your cactus mix is moist when you put it in small pots. Next, dip the bottom of each leaf segment into water and then into rooting hormone. Roots will be able to develop as a result. You should insert the segment around half an inch deep into the pot.
Light your new cuttings with indirect, bright light. The soil should be checked every day or two, and if it is nearly dry, it should be re-watered. Once you’ve drained excess water from the pot, make sure there isn’t any standing water.
Sadly, when propagated in this manner or in water, some cultivars lose their unique qualities. It has been observed that the “Golden hahnii” cultivar loses its golden color and reverts to the “hahnii” cultivar. In many cases, the moonshine cultivar was originally a Robusta variety. So you might not get a clone of your parent plant if you’re growing a variety that’s unusual.
Leaf Cuttings in Water
Rooting snake plants in water is possible. To do so may be riskier for your cuttings, but it is still possible.
Cuttings rooted in potting medium should be more than three times longer than those rooted in soil. The segment should begin about 4 to 5 inches below the leaf’s tip. As with a soil-based propagation, you should allow the cut end to heal for a few days.
Fill a clean, room-temperature glass or jar with an inch of clean, room-temperature water. To prevent falling out of the cutting, you need a base that is tall enough. Ensure that the cut end of your cutting is submerged in water before adding it.
Water should be changed twice a day in your jar. Once a week, clean the container itself to keep algae at bay. If you are cutting, you should do so in a bright, indirect area.
Allow the roots to reach a length of at least two inches once they form at the base of the cutting. After transplanting, moisten the potting mix.
In this method, you run the risk of your cutting starting to rot. Keeping most of the cutting out of the water, only letting that lower part of it sit in liquid. Furthermore, keep pests away from your young cuttings, as pest damage can be fatal during this fragile period.
Dividing Snake Plant
It is possible for sansevieria plants to become root-bound or too tightly packed into their available space over time. Repotting snake plants is common at this time. If you can grow two or more plants from one, why transplant?
Remove the pot from the snake plant. The root tangle should be examined. Is it entangled with other roots around the pot? In this case, you should divide the plant.
The plant itself should be examined. Divide it into segments that will look good when potted separately. Each clump should have at least one healthy stalk and a few leaves.
Gently pull the clump away from the main mass by wrapping your fingers around it the base or bases. The goal is not to rip off the roots, but to separate as many as possible. The remaining part can be cut through with a sterilized knife once you’ve separated it mostly.
The segment can now be planted into prepared potting mix at the same height as before. It may be necessary to support larger plants while the leaves establish themselves in their new location. You should be able to secure the stakes easily with a couple of wooden stakes.
Dividing cultivars is a good method for propagating cultivars that would not propagate well from leaf cuttings. As a result, you’re not just taking a piece of the plant itself, but a whole smaller one as well. Consequently, this is the best method to propagate unusual cultivars.
Is Seed Starting Reliable?
From seed, you can produce snake plants… but is the effort worthwhile?
“No” is usually the answer in most cases. Many cultivars remain true to type only through rhizome and root division. Hybrid plants tend to develop from the original plants that created them, not from their seeds.
Seed germination rates are unreliable as well. At best, many snake plant seeds don’t germinate very well. Although you can get a plant to grow, it would be best to divide them or have them cut.
Buying seeds from a reliable source is essential if you want to grow one from seeds. You’ll get a better yield from an established seed company, though it may cost you a bit more. It is possible that seeds purchased from individual sellers were not harvested correctly. Moreover, many seed scams exist. A lot of time and money will be wasted if those seeds don’t germinate!