The Sanseveria, or popularly called ‘woman’s tongues’, is a real classic among indoor plants. Long ago it was the typical houseplant for popular cafes, grandma’s living room and the windowsill at school. In 2020, the Sanseveria is considered a houseplant with a high ‘vintage’ content. Place the Sanseveria in a strikingly colored pot and it will fit perfectly into a 60s interior. But it is just as good an eye-catcher in a modern and sleek interior. You can go in any direction with this houseplant. And a bonus: even if you don’t have green fingers, the Sanseveria is indestructible. In addition, Sanseverias have an air-purifying effect.
Description of the Sanseveria
The Sanseveria belongs to the Dracaenaceae family but has many succulent properties. Sanseverias are originally desert plants, so they are resistant to adverse conditions. Little moisture or light won’t bother them. There are 70 different types of sanseverias. The most famous is the Sanseveria trifasciata or woman tongues. They have thick, sword-shaped and stemless leaves that grow straight up. The leaves can absorb moisture so that there is always a supply in times of drought. The thick rhizomes can also retain water well. The leaves are marked with gray-white or yellow-green stripes and reach a length of 45 cm to 75 cm.
Location of the Sanseveria
Sanseverias thrive just about anywhere, from a spot in full sun to a spot near a north-facing window. Still, as desert plants, they prefer a lot of sunlight. Their leaf pattern will look less beautiful in a dark place. The temperature should not drop below 14 ° for a long time. This can lead to rotting of the leaf at the bottom. The ideal temperature during the day is between 21 ° and 25 °.
Care of the Sanseveria
To water
You really don’t have to be a plant expert to care for this plant, Sanseverias are undemanding. The only thing that could go wrong is that you give too much water. So be careful with water is the message! Water moderately from spring to fall, always allowing the soil to dry completely between waterings. Only in summer, when new shoots are formed, can you give a little more water. Even then, the soil should never be really moist. In winter, water only just as much that the leaves do not shrivel. Do not place the plant in a decorative pot in which the water remains, this is very unhealthy because the soil will remain much too moist. Furthermore, it does not matter whether you give hard or soft water.
Nutrition
Feeding is only allowed in the summer, once a month or every two weeks. Cactus fertilizer is recommended, which stimulates the formation of the flowers.
Repotting
The most favorable time to repot is spring. Sanseverias grow quickly and are best repotted every two years. Preferably place the plant in an earthen flower pot so that there is good drainage. Standard potting soil works great.
Propagate the Sanseveria
Propagation can be done in two ways:
- By division: the tearing of the rhizomes.
- By leaf cuttings: cut the leaf into pieces of about 7 cm, let the pieces dry for a few hours and then place in sandy soil.
Popular variants
Sanseveria kirkii Friends
This variant was introduced in 2008 and was immediately very popular, especially with students. She was therefore awarded the title ‘student plant of the year’! This rosette-shaped plant with dark green marbled leaves owes its popularity mainly to its compact shape. The leaves do not grow higher than 30 cm. The plant is easy to care for, grows quickly and produces many side shoots.
Sanseveria cylindrica ‘Skyline’
A plant with a high decorative value and fits perfectly in a sleek, modern interior. The gray-green leaves grow upwards in a fan shape and are characterized by vertical and horizontal green bands.
