Sansevieria Masoning (Whale Fin Snake Plant) Care Guide
Sansevieria Masoning (Whale Fin Snake Plant) is one of those plants that requires little attention, even though it has conspicuous leaves and a tender presence.
The Sansevieria is a rather slow-growing plant, making it a hardy plant to keep indoors if you aren’t patient. However, it is also one of the easiest indoor plants to take care of.
People who travel frequently appreciate the fact that these plants can be left on the counter without being watered for several days.
With that said, this plant also acts as a natural air purifier, making it an awesome addition to any household. So, let’s dig deeper into its care and maintenance.
Sansevieria Watering Guide
The plant will require less watering than other houseplants. You’ll have to be especially diligent in ensuring it is watered correctly. There is a danger that this plant may become too waterlogged if it does not dry out between watering sessions.
Watering Sansevieria effectively first means soaking the soil thoroughly. Since water will seep through the drainage hole, the water should be discarded. Don’t leave water standing in your drainage area as your plants could become damaged if they are in water for a long period.
The simplest way to water your Sansevieria is to place it in a sink. However, this is not always the most convenient method. The sink can be used to clean plants with water, just wait until the water seeps from the drainage and allow it to fully drain, then return the plants to their rightful spots.
You can use a pitcher to slowly apply water to the soil if bringing the Sansevieria to the sink is too inconvenient. You must ensure that any water that seeps from the drainage area is removed from the collector.
In case you leave the collection area flooded, it can cause your plant’s root to rot. Additionally, it can encourage mold spore growth.
It is very important to water the Whale Fin immediately after it dries out completely. Don’t let it go longer than a day without watering.
To check whether the soil needs water, poke it with your finger every day.
To determine when the pot needs watering without getting your hands dirty, use its weight. If the soil is dry, the pot will be lighter.
Soil and Potting Guide
The soil needed for Sansevieria plants needs to drain quickly and easily. It is ideally suited to use cactus potting soil, however you should add in some pumice to improve drainage. The ratio should be approximately 2 parts cactus potting soil and 1 part pumice.
By using a mixture like this, water drains through the soil and prevents it from becoming saturated, resulting in lethal root rot.
As a result, it is important that the pot has drainage holes to prevent the soil from getting swamped.
In addition, it is crucial to upgrade the pot every two years. Get a larger pot to allow the roots to expand further. Plants of the genus Sansevieria have strong enough roots that they can burst the pot if you don’t upgrade them.
Snake plants can grow over eight inches in diameter. However, they can also grow up to seven feet tall, depending on the environment.
In order to allow time for growth in the pot, it is recommended starting with a pot that is 4 inches in diameter and then adjusting the pot every two to four inches.
Typically, Sansevierias are a slow grower; as stated previously, you only need to renew its pot every two years.
Light Guide for the Whale Fin
Water will continue to be the next portion of the care guide before moving to light. This plant requires the proper lighting. Lighting is also another reason why Sansevierias are so popular.
While its growth rate will stagger, the plant can endure low light levels. With the right lighting, this plant can go as high as 4 feet in height, though you probably wouldn’t want that. Fortunately, its growth is also dependent on the environment.
That being said, the Sansevieria needs indirect, bright light. That means that you must place this plant near a window. North-facing windows, where the sun is not directly overhead, work as well, although east or west windows are also good choices.
So long as you give the plant sun exposure, it should do just fine. It is an extremely resilient plant!
In southern states, windows with South facing orientation will provide your plants with the most sunlight exposure. You should filter that down a bit so your plants aren’t receiving too much sunlight.
Proper Fertilization Tips
In the spring, you’ll still need to provide some nutrients, even though it’s a low-feeding plant. Fertilizers with low nitrogen levels are the best.
But, like I have said before, the Sansevieria is quite resilient, so even if you miss a few applications, it isn’t your end of the world.
It’s best to choose the fertilizer at every watering, but you can pick every other application if you prefer. It’s important to remember to water properly and take good care of the plant.
Propagation Facts
There are many people who are confused when it comes to propagating the Sansevieria plant. It is quite a long process to propagate a houseplant and your patience will be tested. This indoor plant requires quite a bit of time and patience.
The best way to propagate the plant is by allowing the pups to grow. Once they’ve grown large enough to sprout, plant them again in a new pot.
Proper Air Circulation Facts
However, Sansevierias will thrive in humid environments as well as in dry and stale air. This makes them an excellent bathroom plant.
The Sansevieria is a versatile plant that can be easily placed anywhere in your home as long as you have access to enough light.
You can keep it at a wide variety of temperatures, but you should don’t let it near air conditioning vents because the cold air causes stunting.
However, Sansevierias are able to withstand outdoor temperatures as well as anything inside, which means anything is fine.
If you are keeping Sansevieria outside, be sure it doesn’t get frost, so bring it in during storms and when it’s below freezing.
Pest Control of Your Sansevieria
It is highly resistant to insects as long as you do not oversaturate the roots with water. Do not overwater it and you ought to be fine.
It is crucial to stop the spread of pests immediately if you do spot one in the rare event that you do spot one.
Your home is sure to be enhanced by the addition of the Sansevieria Masoning (Whale Fin Snake Plant) as it is relatively low maintenance.
Make sure you drain your water properly and keep your water level away from your home. By doing that you will find most issues are minor, and your home will smell fresh and clean.