Fibres for bowstrings
The strong fibres in the leaves were once used for rope and bowstrings. That is where the name bowstring hemp, and the German name Bogenhanf, comes from.
Snake plant (Sansevieria)
Snake plant (Sansevieria)
Everything you need to know about the snake plant. Varieties, care, the right spot and our large Sansevieria plants in one place.
The most important thing in 30 seconds
- The snake plant comes from tropical West Africa and stores water in its thick leaves
- Let the soil dry out completely before watering, overwatering is the number one killer
- Tolerates low light, but grows best in a bright spot with some sun
- Mildly toxic to cats and dogs due to saponins, so keep it out of reach
- Grows slowly and only needs repotting every two to three years
- At XXLplant: 'Laurentii' with a yellow edge and dark green 'Zeylanica' from 90 to 120 cm
About this Mother-in-law's tongue planting guide
Did you know?
Three facts about the Mother-in-law's tongue that you may not have known yet.
Breathes mainly at night
The snake plant uses CAM photosynthesis: it opens its stomata mainly at night, when it is cooler. That way it loses little moisture during the day, an adaptation to dry regions.
Rarely flowers, but fragrant
An older snake plant that gets plenty of light can produce a flower stalk with greenish white to cream flowers. They open in the evening, can smell sweet and feel sticky.
Mother-in-law's tongue types and differences
Sansevieria 'Laurentii'
The best-known snake plant: stiff, dark green leaves with pale crossbands and a bright yellow edge. The yellow edge stays strongest in a bright spot.
Sansevieria 'Zeylanica'
Dark green leaves with wavy grey-green crossbands and no yellow edge. Calmer in look than 'Laurentii' and just as tough.
Sansevieria trifasciata (green species form)
The wild form that 'Laurentii' comes from: green leaves with light and dark crossbands and no yellow edge. The starting point for many well-known cultivars.
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Mother-in-law's tongue care step by step
Follow these steps to keep your Mother-in-law's tongue healthy.
- 1
Watering
Only water when the soil is completely dry, including at the bottom of the pot. In summer that usually means once every two to four weeks, in winter once every four to six weeks or even less. Pour along the edge of the pot, not into the centre of the rosette, and never leave water standing in the decorative pot.
- 2
Light and position
A snake plant survives in a dark spot but barely grows there. In a bright position, ideally with some morning or evening sun, it produces new leaves and keeps its markings. Don't move a plant that has stood in the dark for a long time straight into full midday sun, or the leaves may scorch.
- 3
Soil and repotting
Use free-draining soil, such as cactus mix or regular potting soil with a good handful of perlite or coarse sand. Only repot when the rhizomes fill the pot or the nursery pot starts to bulge, usually every two to three years in spring. Choose a heavy, stable pot, as large plants are top-heavy.
- 4
Feeding
From April to September, give houseplant or cactus feed at half strength about once a month. That's enough: the plant grows slowly and too much feed makes the leaves soft. Don't feed in autumn and winter.
- 5
Temperature
Snake plants like warmth and grow best between 18 and 27 degrees. Below 12 degrees growth stops and the plant becomes prone to rot, especially in wet soil. In winter, keep it away from cold windows and draughty doors that open often.
Frequently asked questions about the Mother-in-law's tongue
Answers to the most frequently asked questions about the Mother-in-law's tongue.
How often should I water my snake plant?
Only when the soil is completely dry. In summer that usually works out at once every two to four weeks, in winter once every four to six weeks or less. Check deep in the pot with a finger or a stick: if it still feels damp, wait.
Is the snake plant toxic to cats and dogs?
Yes, mildly. According to the ASPCA the plant contains saponins, which can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea when chewed or eaten. Symptoms are usually mild, but keep the plant out of reach of curious pets anyway.
Can a snake plant live in a dark spot?
It copes with a dark corner better than most houseplants, but hardly grows there and then needs even less water. If you want new leaves and strong markings, give it a bright spot. A few hours of sun a day is fine.
Why are my snake plant's leaves turning soft or yellow?
Almost always because of too much water. The roots start to rot, after which the leaves go soft, yellow or glassy at the base and fall over. Take the plant out of its pot, cut away any rotten parts and replant it in dry, free-draining soil. Then don't water for a few weeks.
What is the difference between 'Laurentii' and 'Zeylanica'?
'Laurentii' has a bright yellow edge along every leaf. 'Zeylanica' lacks that edge and is dark green with wavy grey-green crossbands. Care is the same; 'Laurentii' just wants a bit more light to keep its yellow edge looking good.
Does a snake plant really purify the air?
A little. The well-known NASA study from 1989 was carried out in small, sealed test chambers. In an ordinary ventilated living room, the effect of a few plants is small. So buy a snake plant because it looks good and is tough, not as an air purifier.
How fast does a snake plant grow?
Slowly. In a bright, warm spot it produces a few new leaves during the growing season, often as a new shoot next to the existing leaves. In a dark spot growth almost stops. A large plant therefore changes size only a little.
When should I repot my snake plant?
Only when it's needed, usually every two to three years in spring. Signs are rhizomes pushing up out of the soil or a nursery pot that bulges. Choose a pot one size larger with a drainage hole and use free-draining soil such as cactus mix with perlite.
Plant concepts explained
- Rhizome
- A thickened underground stem from which the snake plant forms new leaves and shoots. Once the rhizomes fill the pot, it is time to repot.
- CAM photosynthesis
- A type of photosynthesis in which the plant opens its stomata at night to take in carbon dioxide. This way it loses little water during the day.
- Saponins
- Soap-like compounds in the leaves that protect the plant from being eaten. In pets they can cause stomach and bowel upset.
- Variegation
- Patterned leaves caused by cells without chlorophyll, such as the yellow edge of 'Laurentii'. Variegated plants need more light to keep their markings.
- Leaf cutting
- A piece of leaf rooted in soil or water to grow a new plant. With 'Laurentii' the yellow edge is usually lost this way; it only stays when you divide the plant.
- Root rot
- Rotting of roots and rhizomes caused by soil that stays wet for too long. The most common cause of death in snake plants, recognisable by soft, glassy leaf bases.
Resources and further reading
-
Kew Plants of the World Online
Scientific name and distribution of Dracaena trifasciata
-
ASPCA
Toxicity to cats and dogs
-
Wikipedia
General encyclopedia information
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