Strategies For Success With Sansevieria Now Known As Dracaena

If you have no other plants, a well placed Sansevieria will kick things up a notch. The colours are striking, the style is classic, and length of the tall varieties is dramatic. This plant makes a statement, and its taller versions are a favorite feature in malls, libraries, and other public spaces.

Where this plant belongs

Reclassification

First, the elephant in the room. The Sanseviera genus has many common names: mother-in-laws tongue, snake plant Devil’s tongue, and Bowstring hemp amongst others as it is used by some to make fibre. Like many other plants in the plant kingdom it has recently been reclassified and was moved to the Dracaena family (Dracaena trifasciata) in 2017.

There has been a lot of debate about this change and some people don’t like it, but it is now a fact of life that with the advances in science, which allow the true relationships of plants to be discovered at the molecular level, it has shed new light on the connection between plant families. Previous to this plants were named after those who brought them to the attention of Europe, or based on their similarities to each other.

Personally, I don’t stress about name changes, a Sansevieria by another name will still be sweet, but it’s good to know when you are looking to buy the plant in case the supplier is using the new name.

Varieties

I have three varieties and they are easy maintenance and elegant. These are great starter plants for the beginner. For success with indoor plants is it best to know their origins, and this plant is no exception. This group of plants originates in Africa, Asia and India.

The most common ones are shown here, and the feature photo is of the Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Golden Hahnii’ also know as Bird’s nest snake plant.

There are over 70 varieties. Let’s start with some of the better known varieties. The most common is the Lauretii it is a cultivar of the Trifasciata produced by Emile Laurent. It has a yellow edge around the leaf.

Sanseviera Fernwood Mikado is like the cylindrica in that it leaves are like pointed pencils and emerge from a central cone.

Note that if you buy a cylindrica, a lot of suppliers are selling cuttings from the top of a plant. This means that the plant will remain the same size and you may wonder why it is not taking on the fan shape that is normal for this plant. It’s not you, it’s a marketing technique which makes people think they are buying a different variety, especially if hey are braided.

Care

Repotting in a container that is just a little bigger is recommended as it will send out new shoots and become a fuller plant more quickly than if you plant in a pot that it is too big. This is a plant which likes to likes to be root bound it pushes out new growth when it is root bound.

Normal household temperatures are recommended. Remember this plant grows wild in tropical countries, so it will grow inside in normal room temperature.

Water

It is a succulent so you must be careful not to over water and this will cause rot to set in. It is drought tolerant, especially in the winter, but it requires soil that has good drainage. Don’t be afraid to use pumice, or perlite to lighten your soil and encourage good drainage. Allow the soil to dry out completely before you water again. You will learn to read your plant and the leaves will definitely show you if there is a problem. Porous clay pots are good as they will dry out quickly.

They do not require humidity which is great for dry climates. They may see brown tips from time to time on the cylindrica and fernwood which is normal unless it spreads to the rest of the plant.

Light

This plant is good for any room. Without enough light it will just grow slower and look sad. The only thing is does not need is direct sunlight, so medium indirect light is good. The leaves will start drooping if it is lacking enough light, so it is a plant that will show you what it needs.

Propagation

Sansevieria/Dracaena is so easy to propagate. You can do this in water or soil. If you take 3″ cuttings and place in water and regularly change the water you will see roots in a month. I prefer soil as the cuttings can sit in soil and do not need to be watched for rot.

Air Cleaner and Night Breather

It is noted as an excellent air cleaner and removes toxins in the atmosphere as per the famous NASA studies. However, it has been noted that you really need a lot of plants to clean the air in a bedroom, and the conditions for the study cannot match those of a house.

Toxic

The plant is toxic when eaten so keep it away from pets and children, and don’t snack on it. It is such an elegant plant it is not the first thing you would think of doing.

Summary

This is a plant that is great for beginners and for people who don’t have the time or inclination for intense plant care. It is forgiving if you forget to water occasionally and grows well when root bound. This is minimalist decor plant and an eye catching centre piece on its own.