How to Grow and Care for Sansevieria Trifasciata Laurentii
This evergreen perennial snake plant is known as “Variegated Snake Plant” or “Striped Mother-in-law’s Tongue” because of the yellow margins on the leaves. Its sword-shaped leaves have a fragrant scent and are excellent for attracting insects.
In addition to being great both indoors and outdoors, snake plant species like Sansevieria Cylindrica and Sansevieria Trifasciata are also worth considering. Although simple to maintain, raising snake plants away from the native environment may present some challenges. The following instructions will explain how to grow and care for a Sansevieria trifasciata Laurentii plant.
Benefits and Uses
A sansevieria Laurentii plant is a beautiful ornamental indoor plant.
This plant isn’t just beautiful; it’s also hardy and tolerant. It can handle temperature fluctuations as well as low light conditions. This makes it ideal for beginners as well as lazy gardeners.
Like most Sansevieria plants, it is also capable of absorbing airborne allergens by soaking them up.
Plant size and Growth
In ideal conditions, Sansevieria Laurentii can grow up to four feet tall with stiff, upright leaves that don’t spread out too much. The leaves have white edges and beautiful yellow margins. Snake plants appear to grow best under bright light conditions and an hour or two of Sun exposure each day. However, dividing a potted snake plant to maintain its size is often necessary. In general, the variegated snake plant shows a slow growth rate.
Although you can keep Sansevieria Laurentii in your indoor home as an ornamental plant, you can also grow it outdoors. Plants that are rooted in the ground will multiplies more quickly by producing new shoots from the underground stems known as rhizomes. Rhizomes enable the plant to spread by growing horizontally.
Mother in law’s tongue plants grow actively in warm spring and summer climates. Mature plants bloom in the late winter and early spring. During cold winters, they rest in their dormant state.
Ideal Soil Mix
All Sansevieria prefer warm weather and dry roots. Submerged in water-logged soil can cause the roots to rot and the leaves to become yellow and mushy. If you are growing these plants, choose a loose and fast-draining soil. A loose soil is much less likely to overwater Sansevieria Laurentii, which can grow in a variety of soils as long as it drains freely. It is possible to make your own soil mix by adding perlite, coco coir, pumice, or gravel to regular or garden soil. These additives will make your soil absorb more water.
It is best to use a potting mix that is made for succulents and cacti, preferably a tropical mix designed for snake plants. Replace the soil if it becomes too old and compact, and throw away the soil if you have root rot or fungal infections.
Pot or Container
In addition to its unique foliage, Sansevieria Laurentii stands out from other houseplants as well. A good pot will not only look nice but also bring out the beauty of the plant. Terracotta, ceramic and plastic are some pot materials that are popular options. The plants can be planted in flower pots, large clay pots, or concrete pots. They also make nice additions to wooden planters or concrete pots. You can also use unique materials like metal, bamboo, or glass, depending on how you want to decorate.
You should look for a pot with a proper drainage system. If absolutely necessary, drill holes into the bottom of your container if it does not already have any. A double potting method is possible as well, which involves placing your snake plant in a small container while placing it in a bigger decorative pot. It is important that the pot be proportional to the snake plant’s size, not too big or too small.
Watering Schedule
Watering depends on several factors, including size of the plant, season, and environmental conditions, such as temperature and humidity. The frequency of watering depends on a large number of factors, such as whether the plant is a drought-tolerant species. You may need to water more often in the summer, once a week, then less frequently in the winter. If your plants grow in low light areas, they need water less often.
Snake plants require very little water during the wintertime, so you can water them once every month or every couple of months. Make sure to water the plants first thing in the morning, so the extra water evaporates through the day. In the winter, make sure to avoid watering your plants on extremely cold nights. Read this guide on how to water snake plants. Here are some basic tips:
- Check the soil on the Sansevieria for dampness by sticking your finger in the soil between 1-2 inches (approximately 2 knuckles deep). The soil should feel dry to the touch. If not, wait a couple of days.
- In potted plants, pour the water around the pot edges close to soil surface. Make sure to thoroughly soak the soil until water starts draining. For in-ground plants, water deeply to a depth of about 4 inches.
- The potted plants should have all the water removed freely. Let the soil dry for 20-30 minutes and then discard the excess water. Avoid allowing the plant to sit in standing water.
Light Requirements
The plant tolerates bright sunlight as well as low light conditions, but do not abruptly change the lighting for your plant. If you wish to move your plant from a shadowy area to a brightly lit one, do so slowly over a few weeks. The best lighting for snake plants is indirect light, not direct solar radiation. Direct solar radiation may be overbearing all year round, so it’s better to place them in partial or full shade indoors. Extreme sunlight or deep shade may change the coloration of the leaves.
The best spot for indoor mother-in-law’s tongue is near a window behind a sheer curtain. Place them near a window near enough light to provide nutrients but not too much sun. Plants need a few hours of direct sunlight in the morning or evening. If you don’t have much sunlight coming through, bright artificial light is also okay.
Temperature
The Sansevieria Laurentii plant can tolerate a range of temperatures, preferring temperatures between 60 and 75°F (15-24°C). The plant may survive high temperatures if the sun doesn’t burn the leaves. Snake plants should not be exposed to excessive hot and cold temperatures for ideal growing conditions.
A snake plant becomes dormant in cold weather and consequently grows more slowly. If the leaves are exposed to temperatures below 50°F, their health is likely to be damaged. Wet soil combined with extreme cold can even kill the plant. As a result, you should bring your snake plants indoors during the winter season. However, if this isn’t an option, you can cover outdoor plants with a heavy cloth. This will help to retain some warmth and may prevent frost.
Feeding the Plant
In fact, Sansevieria Trifasciata Laurentii is a light feeder that doesn’t require much fertilizer and whose roots can be damaged by too much fertilizer. A single slow-release granular feeding in the year is sufficient. The majority of liquid fertilizers are best applied in spring to late summer during the growing period. Half-strength doses should be effective during this time.
The best fertilizer to pick up for snake plants is a balanced general-purpose mix. Liquid and slow release granular fertilizers are great choices, as are organic fertilizers such as cow dung, manure, and worm compost. Use them sparingly, though.
It’s true, there are instances when snake plants shouldn’t be fed.
During the winter, you should not fertilize your plants as they are resting and need minimal water and nutrients.
It is best to avoid fertilizing young plants, especially those propagated through leaf cuttings.
Plants that have been divided or replanted should not be fertilized for at least one month after transplanting. New plants from the nursery also need some time to adapt to their new surroundings.
Pests and Diseases
Since Sansevieria are tough and hardy, they are not prone to pests and diseases. However, sometimes they can get attacked by mealybugs or spider mites. These are the two kinds of insects that most commonly attack this plant. You should eliminate any pest attacks as soon as possible if you suspect a pest attack. Pests eat the plant juices which weakens the plant and makes it vulnerable to diseases.
In addition to being prone to overwatering, snake plants can also suffer from diseases, such as fungi and root rot, as a result of improper drainage or too frequent watering. A simple way to prevent fungus outbreaks is to add fungicides to the soil. To avoid plant diseases, keep the leaves and roots clean and on the drier side.
Grooming and Maintenance
The Sansevieria Laurentii is a hardy and low maintenance plant, which means that it can be grown with minimal care and does not need daily attention. You should only trim the plant to remove dead or damaged leaves.
Occasionally, leaves on the outer side of the pot may fall by accident due to natural aging or growing crowded in the pot. If the leaves are severely damaged, they may never recover. You should remove the leaves with a sterilized cutting tool to keep your plant healthy. Ensure that the leaves are cleaned once in a while by wiping them with a clean cloth.
Propagation
Propagating snake plants using the root-ball or rhizome is a simple and straightforward process. Divide the roots or plant them in soil are effective methods for producing new snake plants. Here is how to quickly propagate a variegated snake plant.
Ensure your plant has mature roots before removing it from its container. Next, remove the plant gently from its container.
You can naturally remove the roots and rhizomes by inspecting them first, and then removing any dark or mushy roots.
Make sure the plant has both healthy leaves and roots. You can take more than two sections to achieve a bigger root structure. For better roots, make more than two plants.
All the sections should be potted separately and watered thoroughly.
Snake plants can also be created by propagating just one healthy leaf. However, this method might result in a plant that is more like its parent type if all of the leaves are propagated. In other words, you might lose the leaf variegation by propagating just the leaves.
Repotting
Despite their preference for roots to get slightly root bound, snake plants can outgrow their pots and require transplantation. Sansevieria Laurentii needs repotting every 2-3 years. Dedicated pots will make the plant looks neater. It also helps the plant receive enough water and nutrients, enabling it to grow stronger and more resilient. Here are some basic steps to follow:
- You should choose a container that is proportional to the size of the plant. It should be one to one and a half to two inches wider than the current pot.
- Put a thin layer of rock or pebbles on the bottom to replenish drainage holes, and then apply enough soil to cover the rock or pebbles.
- Your plant should be removed from the old pot, and the sticky soil at the roots should be removed gently with your fingertips.
- Fill the rest of the container with fresh potting mix, then place the plant in its new pot at the same depth.
- Last but not least, thoroughly water the snake plant and allow the excess water to drain out.
Pets and kids safety
Although ingesting about one-tenth of a plant may not be fatal, it is better to take precautions and avoid eating the plant. It is toxic for cats and dogs, but you should take precautions in case this occurs. Because the plant’s toxins can harm humans, be cautious with children and pets if you have them.
It is known that Sansevieria contains a poisonous chemical saponin, which can cause mouth and stomach irritations when ingested. These symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, drooling and nausea. People with a hypersensitive reaction to the leaf juices may also get rashes or dermatitis from handling this plant, so put on gloves whenever you are trimming, propagating, or repotting it.