Mother-in-law's tongue, pike tail - such a many-sided sansevieria. All about exotic sansevieria: what is the peculiarity of the flower, can it be kept at home, how to take care

Sansevier is an ornamental houseplant, great for beginner flower growers. Its maintenance and reproduction at home does not require much trouble. There is practically no harm from this plant, but the benefits of it in the house are quite significant. But even though the flower is completely unpretentious in terms of growing conditions, it is better to know in advance everything about the features of caring for it. And its various varieties can be seen in the photo.

Description of sansevier

This plant belongs to the Asparagus family. Its other name is sansevieria. Because of the shape of the leaves of this flower, the people often call it "pike tail" or "mother-in-law's tongue." Its leaves are dense, juicy and fleshy, come in different colors. The root system of the plant is powerful, creeping, surface type.

There are many varieties of sansevera, which differ not only in the appearance of the leaves, but also in their size. On this basis, plants can be conditionally divided into two groups:

tall sansevier

• tall with long leaves;
• compact, socket type.

The color of the leaves of sansevera is varied. They come with bright stripes, patterns or just green. But almost all varieties of the flower are approximately the same in keeping at home.

plant care

The content of sansevera is very unpretentious, and even blooms in favorable conditions. It grows well in both bright light and partial shade. But with a long stay away from the light, plants with a variegated color of the leaves gradually become just green, losing their patterns and stripes. In the bright sun, the leaves begin to dry. Therefore, moderate lighting will be more favorable for the flower, without excess and lack. Optimum temperature for sansevera is about 16 degrees Celsius. But the flower well tolerates a decrease or increase in temperature relative to this mark.

Attention! It should not be allowed that the room where the sansevera is kept is too cold. At temperatures below 5 degrees, the plant may simply die.

The plant does not require frequent transplantation. It is advisable to replant an adult sansevier no more than once every 2 years, when its roots are already completely entwined with an earthen ball, choosing for this a pot only 3-5 cm larger than the previous one. It is better to take a strong, thick-walled container for planting, since the root system of the plant is very powerful, capable of destroying a weak pot.

Drainage is mandatory; expanded clay is well suited in this capacity. And the soil mixture can be prepared independently, taking 1 part of sand and 2 parts of turf and leaf ground. In the future, feeding the plants should not be too frequent, in active time once a month is enough.

Sansevier with different patterns on the leaves

Watering the plant requires special attention. It should be moderate, without flooding, only after the soil has dried. In winter, watering is limited to 1 time per month. The savannas and deserts are the birthplace of sansevera, so the flower tolerates dry air well and does not require additional spraying. As the leaves become dirty, they can simply be wiped with a damp cloth.

flower reproduction

Sansevera is easy to propagate at home. There are several ways to reproduce it:

• seeds - collect them after flowering and ripening, plant them in fertile soil and place in a warm place until germination;
• leaf cuttings - cut the whole leaf into pieces and dry slightly. Treat the place of the lower cut with a stimulator and place in moist soil to a depth of about 2 cm;
• dividing the rhizome is the easiest way to get a new plant. You need to get the flower out of the pot along with earthy clod, separate part of the rhizome with a growth point and transplant into a separate container.

Advice. Most variegated varieties of the flower are propagated by dividing the bush. When cuttings, the leaves of such plants may lose their color and be just green.

The benefits and harms of sansevier

This unpretentious indoor flower not only pleases the eye with its presence, but also brings practical benefits. It perfectly improves the quality of indoor air, cleans it, saturates it with oxygen. The plant neutralizes fumes from furniture and finishing coatings that negatively affect humans, destroys harmful bacteria, strengthens the immune system, and protects against colds.

Sansevera cleans the air in the apartment well

The plant is rich in biologically active substances. Juice treats wounds and skin diseases. And preparations prepared on the basis of sansevier are used for sore throats, otitis media, and cystitis. But self-treatment still should not be done. The leaves of this flower contain toxic substances, which often leads to poisoning when ingesting homemade potions from this plant. And this is probably the only harm that can be called in relation to the sansevier.

Sansevera is perfect for both residential and office space. She will adorn herself flower arrangement in the house and make the atmosphere in it more comfortable. This unpretentious flower needs only a little care, and in return, the plant will give its beauty and positive energy, purify the air and protect against bacteria.

Sansevera: video

Such a flower is used for landscaping any rooms in the house, office space and other public places. Sansevieria has antibacterial properties: at night it actively cleans the air of carbon dioxide and a number of substances toxic to humans. Sansevera is a flowering plant, but they began to recognize it among other succulents due to the unusual color of the leaves - in appearance they resemble the skin of a cobra or the skin of a leopard.

What is sansevieria

Sansevieria, or sansevier, or sansevier is a perennial evergreen plant that is part of the large Asparagus family (previously a representative of succulents belonged to the Agave family). Flowers of this genus are found in the rocky dry regions of subtropical and tropical Africa, in India, South Florida, Indonesia, and Madagascar. One of the most known species is the three-lane sansevier, which is also known as mother-in-law's tongue, pike tail and snake skin.

Sansevera grows, combining in one outlet 5-6 dark green leaves with light transverse stripes. The color intensity can vary depending on the amount of light that hits the plant: with a lack of light, the stripes become dull, barely noticeable. The leaves can be up to 120 cm long, up to 10 cm wide. Under normal lighting, sansevieria blooms: an arrow with small white flowers appears from the outlet in spring.

Kinds

The plant has been cultivated for many years. Many varieties with different leaf shapes and colors were selected from the original species:

• Three-lane sansevieria (sansevieria trifasciata) is the most common species. The socket has predominantly 6 leaf plates, painted in dark emerald color, with whitish transverse stripes. The leaves are flat, elongated-belt-shaped, tapering towards the apex, ending in a spike. The border is green.
• Sansevieria Laurenti (sansevieria laurentii) is the progenitor of many varieties. The leaves are straight-growing, along the edge they have a clear yellow border, the width of which is different for each plant. The pattern is colorful, decorative.
• Sansevieria hahnii (sansevieria hahnii) is a low-growing indoor flower, bred in 1941 from the Laurenti variety. The bush reaches 30 cm in height, the rosette is shaped like a vase, the tops of the leaves are bent outward. The color is dark emerald, mottled with bright whitish stripes.
• Sansevieria cylindric / cylindrical (sansevieria cilindrica) has cylindrical leaves with a longitudinal deep groove. They are up to 2 cm across.
• Sansevier Robusta (sansevieria robusta) - a flower with dark malachite-colored leaves that do not have a border.
• Sansevieria futura (sansevieria futura) - has wide short leaves with a yellow thin border. The variety originated from Laurenti.
• Nelson (Nelsonii) - a variety derived from Laurenti. The leaves are dark green, grow upward, in the rosette they are thicker and shorter than in the original species. Sanseviera grows slowly, retains its characteristics when propagated by dividing rhizomes. If you make cuttings of sheets, you get a plant of the original species.
• Compact (Compacta) - a descendant of Laurenti, resembling him in appearance: the center of the leaf is dark, along the edge there is a yellow border. Some of the leaves are twisted, which gives the plant a great decorative effect. When propagated by dividing the rhizomes, the variety is preserved; if a new bush is grown from leaf cuttings, the original species or specimen is formed, similar to Nelson.

Sansevieria care at home

Not only novice amateur flower growers, but also those who have never encountered representatives of the flora will be able to grow such a plant at home, because sansevieria is the leader in all endurance ratings. The mother-in-law's tongue still has some needs, so before planting, the future owner should learn about the features of the agricultural technology of growing it: what place will be comfortable for placement, how often do you need to water the pike tail, feed it, replant it.

Growing conditions

The plant has gained such immense popularity among the population for its unpretentiousness. Care and maintenance provides for minimal participation of the owner in the life of the flower: you only need to provide sansevieria comfortable conditions with some recommendations:

• Lighting. The homeland of the sansevera is rich in sunlight, so it is better to put it in a well-lit place, for example, on a windowsill on the southeast or southwest side. Northern windows should be avoided, because the bright decorative color will turn pale.
• Air temperature. In summer, the plant can be left even at +30 degrees - it will not harm it. In winter, the flower is able to tolerate a short-term drop in temperature to +5 degrees, but it will be better if the mark on the thermometer does not fall below +16 ° C - under such conditions, the roots will not rot.
• Air humidity. The sansevera plant prefers dry air. She does not need spraying, only infrequent rubbing of the leaves from dust with a damp sponge.
• Soil composition. The soil should be light, include 1 part sod land, 1 sheet and 2 pieces of sand. Permissible use soil mixture for cacti and succulents, which contains small stones, sand, clay, pebbles, peat. A mandatory requirement is the presence of powerful drainage, which occupies at least a third of the volume of dishes.
• Size, shape and material of the pot. The root system of the flower is actively growing to the sides, so the capacity for growing mother-in-law's tongue should not be deep, but wide. The roots of sansevieria are powerful, for this reason it is recommended to choose a durable ceramic planter with thick walls.

Watering

The pike tail houseplant is drought-resistant, so it is not recommended to fill it with water. Watering should be regular, but moderate. Schedule in different times year is different:

• in winter - 1-2 times / month, a day after the soil dries;
• in spring and summer - 1 time in 5-7 days (in cloudy weather, the number of waterings can be reduced) after the soil has dried.

Water can be used distilled, rain or settled room temperature. It is important to avoid excessive watering of the plant (especially if the mother-in-law's tongue is in a cool place), make sure that the liquid does not get on the outlet. Otherwise, the leaves of sansevieria will become lethargic and soft, then turn completely yellow and begin to rot at the base.

fertilizers

It is recommended to apply top dressing 1 time / month, regardless of the age of the flower. The recommended option is weakly concentrated fertilizers for cacti. It’s great if they contain phosphorus or calcium compounds - this will help sansevieria to develop successfully, but nitrogen-containing mixtures should be avoided. If the pot is in a poorly lit or cool place, then fertilizers must be reduced or completely stopped. You should not get carried away with top dressing - the leaf plates will lose their decorative effect, become monophonic or even die.

Diseases and pests

The sansevier flower does not cause trouble for its owner, but some troubles are possible. Improper care can lead to a number of diseases:

• Dark spots appeared on the leaves - the cause is excessive watering of the plant at low temperatures.
• The leaves turned yellow - the flower grows in a pot that is too small or stands in a poorly lit place.
• The tips of the leaves have dried up, withered or turned yellow - the reasons are lack of lighting, too low temperature of the content, excessive watering.
• The leaves have become soft, bending - most likely, they reached for the light and bent under their own weight.
• The leaves are curling due to the fact that the plant was not watered long time.

As for pests, then, like any other indoor flower, a pike tail can also become their victim. Sansevieria is more likely to suffer from:

Realize this process better in spring or early summer. Sansevieria grows well, so it is recommended to transplant a young flower every 2 years, an older one - once every 3 years. The signal will be that the roots will begin to bulge out of the pot. In order not to damage the rhizome, check out how to transplant a pike tail at home step by step:

1. Remove only the purchased plant from the pot, completely remove the store earthen lump.
2. Check carefully root system for rot or damage.
3. Lay out a drainage layer (expanded clay is better) on the bottom of a new thick-walled, wide, but shallow pot so that it occupies at least 1/3 of the dish.
4. Plant a flower, then press down the roots a little with earth, water the soil abundantly. It is worth noting that, having transplanted an adult tall plant, it is better to tie its leaves to a support.

Propagation of sansevieria

Even a novice grower can make several indoor plants from one bush. Propagate sansevieria with vegetative ways: carrying out cuttings of leaves, dividing the bush with lateral layering or dividing the rhizome. It is important to remember that leaf propagation is only suitable for plain types, and the division of the rhizome is applied to any type of plant.

leaf

The procedure is not difficult, but takes a lot of time. To reproduce in this way, you need to perform the following steps in sequence:

1. Cut an old, but beautiful and absolutely healthy leaf into pieces 5 cm long, leave them for several hours. fresh air.
2. Treat the lower sections with a root stimulator. Immerse the cuttings in sand (or a mixture of peat and sand), placing them at an angle of 45 degrees 1-2 cm deep.
3. Cover the planted leaves with cut plastic bottles or jars, put the cuttings in a warm place with diffused lighting.
4. After 30-40 days, when new leaves appear, remove jars or bottles, leave the plants for another two weeks.
5. After 14 days, you need to transplant the cuttings into a container with soil. For the splendor of the bush, several cuttings can be placed in one pot.

division

This method of reproduction is used when transplanting sansevieria. For the procedure to be successful, it is recommended to follow the sequence of actions:

1. Remove the bush from the pot, gently shake the earth from the roots.
2. With a sharp knife, cut the rhizome so that each part has its own growing point.
3. Treat the cut sites with crushed wood or ordinary activated charcoal to disinfect wounds.
4. Plant parts of the rhizome in a peat-sand mixture, placing each of the blanks in a separate pot.
5. Provide plants with moderate watering, soft diffused lighting.

Video

Sansevieria three-lane "Gold Flame"

Sansevieria , or sansevier (Sansevieria), in the genus there are about 70 species of evergreen stemless perennials, the family Asparagus (Asparagaceae). For the shape and color of the leaves they are popularly called - pike tail, cuckoo tail, mother-in-law's tongue , English - leopard lily, tongue of the devil, snake plant, Americans - snake skin, Germans for the fibrous leaves - African hemp. Latin from the name of the Neapolitan prince von Sansevierio, who contributed to the development natural sciences. They grow in savannahs, semi-deserts and deserts of tropical regions of Africa and Asia.
Perennial herbaceous plants and shrubs with fleshy, dense, linear, flat or rounded leaves, extending in a dense bunch upwards from the nodes of thick short rhizomes. Sanseviera has underground creeping rhizome with basal hard leaves. The rhizome has powerful rhizomes that can break the pot. Some species of sansevier leaves covered with a thin wax coating characteristic of succulents, which protects them from moisture evaporation. The leaves of many species end in a point. Leaves up to 1 m long or more. Sometimes they are directed upwards, sometimes they are extended to the sides, sometimes they are directed almost horizontally to the ground.

Sansevieria cylindrical sprawling (Sansevieria cylindrica var. patula "Boncel" variegated)

leaf coloring- various shades of brown and green, striped or spotted. AT last years many varieties with yellow, silver coloring have been bred. Greenish white or yellowish flowers with narrow petals and long stamens, collected in a dense cylindrical inflorescence on a long erect peduncle, very fragrant- open in the evening and emit a strong vanilla aroma at night. The flowers and branches of the inflorescence secrete drops of nectar that attract pollinating insects in nature. Sansevieria Kirk has the most beautiful flowering. The fruit is a berry with 1-3 seeds, indoor floriculture fruiting is rare.
Used as a hedge. The leaves contain valuable technical fiber (the fibers of the leaves of sansevieria were used by the natives to make strings for bows, therefore sansevieria is also called arc), for the sake of which some species - Ceylon sansevieria (S. zeylanica), three-lane sansevieria (S. trifascista), etc. - are cultivated in tropical countries. Sansevier is a medicinal plant. It can be used to treat diseases such as inflammation of the appendages or cystitis, increases adaptive capacity and resistance to colds, viral and other diseases.
Hardy and unpretentious in room culture, suitable for a beginner grower. The spectacular leaves of sansevieria create a winning backdrop for plants with feathery leaves or small flowers, so it is almost an indispensable component of compositions from potted plants. In summer, almost any species can be exhibited outdoors, thus creating a majestic decoration of artificial landscapes. A variety of garden forms of sansevieria are successfully used for landscaping premises and winter gardens, creating large compositional arrangements.

Types of Sansevier (Sansevieria), with photo and description

Sansevieria large Sansevieria, photo

Sansevieria big (Sansevieria grandis)- otherwise, elephant ear, tropics of Africa, rhizomatous herbaceous stemless perennial plant with a rosette of 2-4 rather fleshy broadly ovate leaves 30-60 cm long, up to 15 cm wide, light green, with dark transverse stripes and a reddish cartilaginous border along the edge. Flowers in dense racemes up to 80 cm tall, white or greenish, up to 5 cm in diameter. On the peduncle 3-4 reduced leaves. Perianth cylindrical, swollen at the base. Its lobes are narrow, bent down. epiphytic plant. Introduced into culture at the end of the last century.
There is a variety Sansevieria large diff. Zulu (Sansevieria grandis var. zuluensis).

Sansevieria S. hyacinth, fig.

Sansevieria hyacinth (Sansevieria hyacinthoides)- up to 0-5 m tall, strong rhizome, leaves in bunches of 2-4, lanceolate, 14-45 cm long and 2.5-7.5 cm wide, gradually tapering from the middle to the base, dark green, with light - green transverse w-shaped strokes, brownish at the edges, sometimes whitish. Tropical and South Africa. Blooms in winter. Peduncle up to 75 cm, small fragrant flowers.
Sansevieria dooneri (Sansevieria dooneri). Zap. Africa. Xerophyte, not pronounced leaf succulent, rhizome, forming rosettes of leaves. Rosettes contain up to 20 leaves, usually 10-12. The leaves are flat, erect, linear-lanceolate, up to 40 (usually 25) cm long and 1.5-3 cm wide. The color of the leaves is green with transverse blurry dark green stripes. Shortened shoots with rosettes of leaves are located on the rhizome. Rhizome 6-8 mm thick, green. As a result of abundant branching of the rhizome, a dense curtain of rosettes is formed. Peduncle up to 40 cm tall, solitary, often drooping. Flowers in racemes, white, with a tube up to 35 mm long. The smell of flowers is pleasant, reminiscent of the smell of lilacs.

Sansevieria graceful

Sansevieria graceful, or graceful (Sansevieria gracilis). Tropical regions of East Africa. perennial succulent plant. The stem is 5-6 cm high. The leaves cover the base of the stem, short, up to 30 cm long, broadly elongated, oval, long-pointed to the top, leathery, gray-green with grayish-beige transverse stripes, the tops are collected in a tube. Offspring develop from the base of the stem.
Sansevieria Kirk (Sansevieria kirkii)- a plant with short underground rhizomes. Leaves 1-3 in a rosette, up to 1.8 m long, green with whitish or white-green spots. The edges of the sheet with a red-brown edging. The flowers are white, in a capitate inflorescence.
Its more common variety Sansevieria is beautiful (Sansevieria kirkii var. pulchra), which is distinguished by brown or reddish-brown leaves.

Sansevieria Liberian

Liberian Sansevieria (Sansevieria liberica). Tropical Africa. Xerophyte, unexpressed leaf succulent, rhizomatous, forming rosettes of leaves. Rosettes contain up to 6 leaves, deployed. The leaves are flat, almost parallel to the ground, lanceolate, up to 100 (usually 35) cm long and 3-8 cm wide. The color of the leaves is dark green with transverse blurred light green stripes and strokes. There is a very thin whitish-red or brown stripe along the edge of the leaf. Rhizome 6-8 mm thick, underground. When branching the rhizome, daughter rosettes are formed. Peduncle up to 80 cm tall, solitary, erect. Flowers in racemes, white, with a tube up to 55 mm long. The smell of flowers is strong, harsh.

Sansevieria three-lane variety Hahnii

Sansevieria trifasciata (Sansevieria trifasciata). South Africa. A common and very resistant plant in room culture. This hardy plant has well earned its reputation for being indestructible. It grows in sun and shade, tolerates dry air, drafts, low watering, and does not need to be repotted often. However, it does not tolerate waterlogging of the soil and a long stay at T near 0ºС. Can be grown without sunlight using LB lamps for 16 hours a day.
Herbaceous perennial with a thick, creeping rhizome, from which grow xiphoid, erect, rigid leaves with dark green horizontal stripes on a light background. The flowers are small, whitish-green, collected in a long brush, with a pleasant smell. Cut leaves of sansevieria (sansevier) are very decorative, they remain in water for a long time and form roots. Greenish-white flowers are collected in a panicle 4 cm long. It blooms in spring and autumn.
Sansevieria three-lane diff. Craig (Sansevieria trifasciata var. craigii), light yellow, almost white Sansevier with green stripes. In the taxonomic catalogs there is no this variety of Sansevieria with three stripes, perhaps this is a variety of Sansevieria with three stripes, or independent view Craig's Sansevieria (Sansevieria craigii).
Sansevieria trifasciata var. laurentii- with a wide yellow-white edging of the leaves. White flowers appear at the base of plants in the form of dense spike-shaped panicles, but the main decoration is beautiful xiphoid leaves up to 1 meter high.
cultivar Hahnii (Sansevieria trifasciata Hahnii)- a squat plant with wider, but short leaves.
cultivar Golden hahnii- along the edge of the leaf there is a wide white-yellow stripe, the size of the bush is up to 25-30 cm.
Sanseviera trifasciata chanii f. variegata (Sansevieria trifasciata f. hahnii f. variegata)- along the edge and in the center of the sheet - green blurred stripes, between them - yellow. Otherwise, cultivar Golden hahnii

Sansnvieria cylindrica

Cylindrical Sansvieria (Sansevieria cylindrica). Homeland - the tropics of the South. and V. Africa. Dark green cylindrical leaves 1.5-2 cm in diameter, 15-30 cm long, with a deep longitudinal groove, tapering upwards and ending in a small drying point, expanded into the vagina at the base. From the axils of the lower leaves, breaking through the sheath, long, obliquely ascending, rooting hard shoots come out, covered with shortened triangular leaves and bearing a rosette of normal leaves at the top. As they grow, the sockets are located at different angles. The first leaves of the children grown during the rooting of the leaves are flat, only later do the leaves of a characteristic cylindrical shape appear. Flowers in a racemose inflorescence on a peduncle about 50 cm tall, similar in structure to the flowers of the previous species, creamy white, tinted red in the upper part.
diff. sprawling (Sansevieria cylindrica var. patula). This variety has variegated form with leaves with white stripes along the entire leaf.
Sansevieria francisii (Sansevieria francisii)- compact, erect, dense rosettes of cylindrical short leaves 5-10 cm long.

Sansevieria (Sansevieria) - conditions of detention

Sansevieria francisa

Quite unpretentious, hardy ornamental and deciduous plant. With good care, some species are able to bloom, the leaves become dense, the color of the leaves is brighter (in variegated forms).
Lighting. Plants are photophilous, prefer bright diffused light, tolerate both light partial shade and full shade. For variegated plants bright intense light is needed, as the variegated color of the leaves is lost in the shade. Variegated forms are able to tolerate a certain amount of direct sunlight per day, but should be shaded from midday rays.
Optimal for growing in. from. window. On a window with a southern exposure, shading will be required in the summer only during the hottest hours. It can be grown on windows with a northern exposure, while the color of the leaves becomes dark green, and the plant does not bloom, due to lack of light, the variegated forms of plants lose their variegated color of the leaves.
With a lack of light, it can be grown under artificial lighting for 16 hours a day, using fluorescent lamps placed at a distance of 30-60 cm above the plant. In the summer, sansevieria can be taken out into the open air, while protecting it from precipitation and providing it with diffused lighting. It should also be remembered that when placed outdoors, the place should not be damp and dark.
In winter, it also needs good lighting.

Sansevieria duneri

Temperature. M. grow in both warm and cool rooms. In the spring-summer period, it prefers moderate T in the air, within 18-25 ° C, in the autumn-winter period, T should not fall below 14-16 ° C for a long time, in the event of a long decrease in T, the plant becomes ill. M. to tolerate a short-term decrease in T to 5 ° C.
Watering. Moderate from spring to autumn - the soil should have time to dry out. In winter, watering is limited, depending on the T content. When watering, especially in winter, water should not be allowed to enter the center of the outlet - this can cause decay. Overwatering is very dangerous. But it should also be borne in mind that with a lack of watering, the leaves become lethargic.
Air humidity. Does not play a significant role, the dry air of the apartments does not harm the plant. Sansevieria is valued for the beauty of the leaves and they must be sprayed from time to time and wiped from dust with a damp cloth.
Top dressing. During the growing season (spring-summer), mineral fertilizers of half concentration are applied once a month, using fertilizers for cacti or for indoor crops. It must be remembered that in mineral fertilizers the nitrogen level should be less than other elements, since an excess of nitrogen can provoke root rot, normally you can adhere to the following ratio: nitrogen (N) - 9, phosphorus (P) - 18, potassium (K) - 24.
For variegated forms, it is generally not recommended to use fertilizers, since the leaves can lose their decorative effect from an excess of fertilizers. With poor feeding, the leaves remain more rigid.

Sansevieria Kirk

Transfer. Sansevieria is transplanted only when the pot becomes cramped - after about 2 years, young plants, after 3 years, adult plants. The presence of roots protruding from the pot can serve as a signal for transplanting plants.
The roots grow more in width, the pot for it should not be too deep, but wide. With close content, the powerful roots of sansevieria (sansevieria) can break the pot. However, if you want the plant to flower, a new pot doesn't have to be. too big because abundant flowering occurs only if the earthen ball is braided with roots. At the bottom of the pot d.b. drainage from broken shards, small gravel, pieces of coal or expanded clay. Sansevieria is undemanding to the composition of the soil, but grows better in a mixture of soddy and leafy soil mixed with sand (4:2:1), to which humus or peat can be added. Successful combination: a mixture of turf and leaf soil, humus and sand in a ratio of 2: 1: 1: 1. M. use ready-made geranium substrate and 30% coarse sand to improve drainage.
Rest period. Not pronounced, in the autumn-winter period they contain at T not lower than 14-16 ° C, with good lighting, limited watering and no fertilizing.
Reproduction. Propagated vegetatively - by dividing the rhizome, side shoots (offspring), leaf cuttings or leaf division.
Variegated forms, in order to fully preserve the species characteristics, try to propagate only by dividing the rhizome.
Propagated by division of the rhizome in spring. When dividing the rhizome, they mean that each divided part must necessarily have a growth point. Divide the rhizome sharp knife without shaking the earth from the roots. The rhizome is divided, depending on its power, into three or four parts or more. Pieces of rhizome are planted with the lower end in sandy soil and kept warm with moderate watering. When rooting from below, several shoots grow, giving rise to a new plant, after which the new plants are transplanted into a pot. Plants rooted in pots are transferred to pots of the appropriate size.

Sanseviera trifasciata chania variegata

Lateral shoots are best propagated in the spring.
For leaf propagation, an old leaf is taken, which can be cut into pieces 4-5 cm long. Flip it over bottom surface up and laid out on a clean glass. Cut with a razor perpendicular to the veins into pieces 4-5 cm wide. It is recommended to dry the resulting cuttings in the air.
Before cutting, all tools and equipment must be disinfected. The vessel is filled with cutting mixture (wet sand), slightly compacted with a plank so that the surface is 1 cm below the edges. A shallow groove is made with a peg and cuttings are planted in it in vertical position. The bottom cut must be firmly held in the substrate. The cuttings are placed in 2-3 cm, in rows. To protect against diseases, the cuttings are sprayed with a fungicide such as captan or foundationazole.
So that the leaves do not dry out and do not wither, the nursery is placed in a warm (21 ° C) and humid place. Cuttings should receive adequate light, but direct sunlight, which can cause leaf burns, should be avoided. Cuttings take root in 6-8 weeks. They are transplanted into an earthen mixture. As a mixture for rooted cuttings, take 1 part of sod and leaf-humus soil, 2 parts of sand. You can mix from 3 parts of sod land and 1 part of hardwood, greenhouse land and sand.
Damaged. Spider mites, thrips.

Sansevieria three-lane. Laurentia

Precautionary measures. Sansevieria three-lane - a poisonous plant, contains saponin, in case of poisoning, nausea and vomiting are observed. Therefore, make sure that small children do not chew the leaves. When juice gets on the skin, irritation does not occur.
Possible difficulties.Leaves turn yellow, soften at the base and die. The reason is waterlogging of the soil or watering in cool weather in the center of the outlet. The only way to save the plant is to remove all affected leaves and replant it. If the roots also began to rot, then it is necessary to root the undamaged parts - the top of the rosette or part of the leaf.
Leaves become lethargic and rot even if the plant not waterlogged, the ground is dry. This is possible if the temperature in the room is too low. Then the plant urgently needs to be rearranged to a warmer room and all damaged leaves removed. If stem rot has begun, then it remains only to root the undamaged parts - the top of the rosette or part of the leaf.
Dark brown spots appear on the leaves. This happens when the soil is too wet and the plant is kept in a dark room. Hollow red-brown spots with yellow edges are a sign of infection with a fungal disease.
Sometimes physical damage the ends of the leaves dry, it is necessary to carefully cut off the dry ends of the leaves, but so that a thin dry strip remains, otherwise the leaf will dry and become lethargic.

Sansevieria (Sansevieria) is an evergreen stemless plant of the Agave family. Some sources also refer sansevier to the families Dracenovs and Iglitsevs.

Homeland sansevera: the plant grows in rocky dry regions (semi-deserts, deserts, savannahs) of subtropical and tropical Africa, Madagascar, India, Indonesia and other Asian countries.

The Latin name sansevier received from the name of the Neapolitan prince Sansevierio, who contributed to the development of the natural sciences. Its other names are sansevieria,sanseviera, pike tail, mother-in-law's tongue, devil's tongue, leopard lily, snake plant, African hemp.

The genus Sansevieria includes about 70 plant species.

At the plant creeping underground rhizome with hard basal leaves. The leaves grow to a length of one meter or more, in many species ending in a point. They are sometimes directed upwards, sometimes almost horizontally to the ground, sometimes spread out to the sides. Leaves are green to brown in color. various shades, some come with spots, others with stripes. In some species of sansevier, the leaves are covered with a thin wax coating, which is typical for succulents, because it protects them from moisture evaporation, since birthplace of sansevier had such a climate.

The flowers of Sansevieria are very fragrant, with narrow petals and long stamens, greenish-white, collected in a dense cylindrical inflorescence on an upright long peduncle. They open in the evening and emit a strong vanilla aroma at night. The branches and flowers of the inflorescence produce nectar, which attracts pollinating insects.

The use of sansevier

At home, sansevier is successfully used as a hedge. Its leaves contain a valuable technical fiber, from which the locals used to make bowstrings. Currently, certain types of sansevera are cultivated in tropical countries to produce this fiber. Sansevieria is also a medicinal plant. It is used to treat cystitis, inflammation of the appendages. With the help of this plant, you can increase resistance to viral and colds, strengthen adaptive abilities.

Sansevieria is grown in Europe as ornamental plant since the 18th century, being considered an unpretentious and hardy plant in indoor culture, which is suitable even for a novice grower. In summer, sansevieria decorates artificial landscapes because its showy leaves make a great backdrop for plants with small flowers or feathery leaves. This plant is used for landscaping winter gardens, creating compositional arrangements.

Jul 05 2018

Sansevieria (Sansevier) - unpretentious perfection

When talking about houseplant“Mother-in-law’s tongue” or “Pike tail”, then many ordinary people have before their eyes long, unattractive marsh-green leaves. But experienced growers know not only about the benefits of keeping Sansevieria, but also about various unusual plant varieties that anyone can like. In this article, we will introduce you to the most popular types and varieties of Sansevieria, as well as talk about the rules for caring for this unpretentious flower at home.

Sansevieria (or Sansevieria) grows in tropical and subtropical forests. It can be found in Africa, North America, South Asia. herbaceous plant has dense decorative leaves growing from a rhizome. Sansevieria belongs to the Asparagus family. Although before, botanists attributed it to the Agaves, so this confusion still exists. The plant got its name in honor of the Prince of San Severo Raymond di Sangro. The flower was brought to Europe in the eighteenth century. Florists were attracted by its leaves, covered with beautiful stains, unpretentiousness and adaptability to adverse conditions.

The flower belongs to evergreens having no stem. AT vivo leaves certain types grow up to 120 centimeters in length. Dense leathery leaves end with a pointed end. Due to the dense surface of the leaves, the plant perfectly tolerates drought, does not require frequent watering. Sansevieria grows slowly, giving two or three new leaves annually.

At home, Sansevieria blooms annually. In the spring, a peduncle appears from the outlet, on which small flowers cream shade. The flowers are collected in racemose inflorescences, from which a pleasant aroma emanates, combining the smell of vanilla and cloves. Indoors, the plant blooms less frequently, most often in the summer for two weeks.

blooming sansevieria

Sansevieria has received many names reflecting its appearance:

1. Mother-in-law's language;
2. Pike tail;
3. Snake skin;
4. Wolf tail.

Types of Sansevieria

In nature, up to 70 types of flower are found, but up to a dozen varieties are popular in indoor floriculture. Moreover, flower growers use for this plant not only the classification of the variety (species), but also such a concept as the sport of the plant. This is the name of varieties that have significant deviations from the species, but they are not a new variety.

Conventionally, all types of Sansevieria can be divided into two varieties: plants with long vertical leaves and with short wide leaves forming a rosette. Among the people, the most famous type is Sansevieria three-lane

Sansevieria three-lane

This species is characterized by tall flat dark green leaves with transverse light stripes, unevenly distributed. The width of the leaves reaches ten centimeters in length, and in height they can grow over a meter. The leaves taper towards the top, and there is a small spike at the end of the leaf. In nature, this species is common in the desert regions of the African continent.

Its long leaves, except for transverse light stripes, have a yellow border. The color intensity depends on the lighting. With a lack of light, the stripes fade. This type of Sansevieria has become the basis for breeding new varieties.

The lanceolate leaves grow up to sixty centimeters, reaching a width of fifteen centimeters. Transverse stripes of malachite shade are combined with a reddish border along the edge of the sheet. The flowers are arranged on a long peduncle in the form of a brush and have a greenish-white color.

The leaves of the plant of this species are cylindrical, decorated with vertical stripes silvery white with yellow streaks. The ends of the leaves are narrowed and sharp. In order not to inadvertently get hurt, cork caps are put on the tips of the leaves at home. Cylindrical Sansevieria flowers are creamy white with reddish streaks.

It should be noted the types of Sansevieria that have become popular in recent years. Flower growers, both professionals and amateurs, are attracted by decorative undersized varieties. These include the following types.

The dark green leaves are shorter than the Laurenti species. Broad leaves form a rosette resembling a vase.

It differs from the previous species (Hanni) by the presence of golden-yellow stripes on the leaves, unevenly spaced.

This plant is a sport of the Sansevieria Hanni species and has leaves of a different color. They have a silver-gray hue with indistinct transverse stripes.

Belongs to new varieties, differs from the Sansevieria Laurenti variety in short and wide leaves. The yellow stripe along the edge of the leaves is narrow.

This species also belongs to new varieties and is similar to Sansevieria Futura in leaf shape. But it differs in the gray-green color of the leaves with a silvery tint.

Short thin leaves of dark green color have a yellow stripe along the edges. characteristic feature varieties is that the leaves are slightly twisted, giving the plant an unusual look.

Care rules

Sansevieria is characterized by unpretentiousness, undemanding content. Therefore, it is often put in offices. However, not everyone knows about the beneficial properties of the plant. The leaves of Sansevieria well purify indoor air from harmful impurities, saturate it with oxygen. It is believed that the plant is able to reduce aggression, instill calm in people, and mobilize mental abilities. Therefore, it is useful to breed "mother-in-law's tongue" not only at home, but also in offices. It is recommended to plant flowers in long pots in office and industrial premises so that they form a kind of partition.

Lighting

Mother-in-law's tongue is not picky about lighting, it can grow in the light and in partial shade. It is only necessary to take into account that in the shade the color of the leaves becomes paler, the stripes are less expressive. Also, you can not abruptly rearrange the pot with the plant in the bright sun. It should be accustomed to light gradually, shading from the bright rays of the sun. In summer, we advise you to take the flower to the balcony or loggia, protecting it from direct sunlight, drafts and rain.

Temperature

Comfortable temperature for Sansevieria will range from 18 to 25 degrees. In winter, the flower feels great even when it drops to 12-16 degrees. But temperatures below ten degrees can harm the plant, and it will die. At low winter temperatures, plant growth stops.

Watering and moisturizing

Pike tail refers to those plants that are not afraid of drought. Therefore, she feels comfortable in offices, where she can be without watering for a week or more. The plant is more afraid of excessive watering, stagnant water in a pot. Therefore, the following watering schedule is suitable for him:

• summer - once a week
• in winter - once a month.

Watering should be along the edge of the pot, avoiding water getting into the rosette of leaves, otherwise rotting may begin. You should also pour out the water from the pan, avoiding stagnation of water.

Does not require Sansevieria and spraying, as its leaves have a dense skin. But in summer it is advisable to periodically wipe the leaves with a damp sponge, sometimes arrange warm shower in the bathroom.

In the summer, once a month, a flower is watered with mineral fertilizers for succulents, taking half of the recommended dose.

Transplant and soil

The plant does not need frequent repotting. A sign of the need to increase the pot are the roots crawling out of the pot. Sansevier's roots do not grow in depth, but in breadth. Therefore, the pot is selected wide and stable. This is especially true for Sansevieria varieties with long leaves. Also, a growing container must be bought with thick walls, preferably made of ceramics. Otherwise, a thin plastic pot will soon crack under the pressure of overgrown roots.

The soil mixture for Sansevieria should consist of the following components:

• leaf ground (2 hours);
• sod land (2 hours);
• coarse sand (1 hour).

At the bottom of the pot without fail pour a thick layer of drainage. It can be expanded clay, pebbles, small shards or pieces of brick.

Important! After transplanting, the plant can not be watered immediately. Watering is carried out after a few days.

Propagation of Sansevieria

There are two main ways to propagate Sansevieria:

• division of the rhizome;
• division of the sheet.

The division of the rhizome is carried out during transplantation. The roots are freed from the ground and cut into pieces with a sharp knife. Each part should have several leaves with a growing point. Remember to sprinkle the cuts with powdered activated charcoal to disinfect. Each part is planted in a separate pot with a peat-sand mixture for rooting. Needs a little watering. Most importantly, containers with new plants should be in a warm place with a temperature of about 25 degrees.

Reproduction of Sansevieria leaf is easy to perform. It is necessary to take an old sheet and cut it across the sheet into pieces five centimeters long. Pieces of the leaf are dried in the air for several hours, and then planted in the prepared sand with their lower end vertically to a shallow depth.

Attention! If you plant part of a leaf top down, the cutting will not take root.

Top cover with a jar or trimmed plastic bottle, package. Water the cuttings through the pan. Rooting occurs in four to five weeks. New buds appear, and then leaves. The young plant is transplanted into a pot for further growth.

But when choosing a method of reproduction, the following nuance must be taken into account. The new plant retains varietal characteristics only during root division. When dividing a leaf, instead of a variegated plant, you can get a solid green plant.

Diseases and pests

Sanserieria is loved for its unpretentiousness and resistance to diseases and pests. But, just as the strongest person can get sick, so if the content is violated, she begins to get sick.

Diseases

The main disease of the plant is rotting from excessive watering, stagnation of water in a pot. To prevent diseases, you must follow a few simple rules:

1. moderate watering (in summer - once a week, in winter - once a month);
2. avoid getting water into the rosette of leaves;
3. in summer, wipe the leaves with a damp sponge;
4. do not keep in a dark place, otherwise dark brown spots appear on the leaves;
5. avoid low temperatures in winter.

Remove soft, rotten leaves, reduce watering. If necessary, the plant is transplanted with the removal of diseased parts. The leaves of the flower can suffer from direct sunlight, especially with a sharp change in lighting. Then on the leaves appear yellow spots, which can lead to leaf wilt.

Rubbing the leaves helps to avoid infestation of Sansevieria by pests. The main pests are spider mites, mealybugs, thrips and anthracnose.

Pests and methods of dealing with them

Pest	Signs of defeat	Causes	Fighting methods
spider mite	Whitish spots appear on the leaves, resembling cotton wool. The leaves are starting to dry up.	Too dry air, the appearance of diseased plants nearby.	Regular wet rubbing of the leaves. Can be wiped with water infused with citrus peels, soapy water. In case of severe damage, Actellik is treated.
Mealybug	Leaves turn yellow and curl. Later, the leaves die off.	The worm settles at the base of the leaf, in a rosette, feeds on the sap of the plant. Appears from diseased plants, infection with new soil is possible.	Mealybug larvae can be found at the base of the leaves. A small amount can be removed by hand, with a dry sponge. With a significant infection, insecticides are used, which can be purchased at a flower shop.
thrips	The larvae settle on the underside of the leaves, and white dots appear on the upper side. The leaves become shiny, become gray-brown.	Containment violation.	For treatment, plants must be treated with an insecticide (Fitoverm, Aktellik, Intavir).
Anthracnose	Brown spots appear on the leaves. Over time, the spot grows and the leaves dry.	Excess moisture creates favorable conditions for the appearance of pests.	A small number of pests can be removed with your hands, and then wipe the leaves with an aqueous decoction of chamomile. Wipe after a day clean water. Chamomile treatment is used several times, until the pest is completely removed. In case of severe damage or treatment failure, a fungicide is used.

With the timely detection of pests, the death of the flower can be avoided.

Conclusion

Once again we want to draw your attention to the usefulness of Sansevieria. It absorbs harmful substances, including those emitted by furniture and other synthetic materials. This has been proven by research. It is also believed that the plant brings peace to the house, tames the anger of the household. Among folk signs there is such that during the flowering of Sansevieria in the summer you need to make a wish, and it will come true. But winter flowering is a harbinger of trouble. The leaves are used to treat wounds and burns. So we recommend getting this amazing “mother-in-law’s tongue” at home. If for tall plants there is not enough space, then get a compact flower that fits on the windowsill. And peace and mutual understanding will settle in the house.

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