Growing a Sansevieria as a Potted Indoor Plant

Mother-in-law’s tongue plants are ornamental houseplants with rigid, upright, succulent leaves. The leaves can be dark green with lighter green or gray horizontal markings along them and the most distinguishing feature of this plant is its variegated yellow edging. Some leaves can even be more gray than green. The botanical name for this plant is Sansevieria and it is also known as Snake Plant. It is native to Africa and is supposed to get its mother-in-law name from its bitter taste. Mother-in-law’s Tongue plants grow abundantly outdoors in the tropics.

Growing a Mother-in-law’s Tongue Plant

This is one of the easiest houseplants to grow and once the ideal conditions are met it will happily grow in the same pot and spot for years. Mother-in-law’s tongue plants grow from an underground rhizome and are easily propagated but in the main they can be bought in shops and garden centers.

• Choose a plant which is in moist to dry compost. Check the base of each leaf for any signs of softness, soft stems will indicate root-rot.
• If the pot is sufficient for a few year’s growth position it in a bright spot, windowsills are favorites but do not allow direct sunlight.
• A plant placed in natural bright light will grow faster and have deeper yellow edges but lesser light will suffice.
• Mother-in-law’s tongue plants are quite happy in a pot-bound situation and only need re-potting once they have grown so tall as to have balance problems.
• Fertilize during the growing season with a liquid fertilizer.

The one most important aspect of successfully growing a Mother-in-law’s tongue plant is water, so important that it deserves its own set of rules.

• Never allow the plant to sit in a saucer of water.
• Allow the soil to dry out occasionally, especially during the winter months.
• Water the plant thoroughly and allow it to drain freely and completely before placing it back in its decorative pot or whatever.
• Remember the less light the plant is getting the less water is required.
• Too much water will result in root rot and failure.
• Too little water will cause the leaves to wrinkle and lead to failure.

Problems with Mother-in-law’s Tongue Plants

The main problem with these long lived plants is root rot caused by over-watering. The first sign of root rot is softness at the base of each leaf and also when the leaves are easily separated from the underground rhizome. Once root rot is established there is nothing for it but to remove the plant from the pot. Ruthlessly cut away any spoiled stems, even stems with a minimum of softness will not survive.

Once the rotten stems have been cleaned away re-pot in fresh compost. The new plant will benefit by the removal of the damaged leaves and in the new compost the rhizome will be rejuvenated and start sprouting new shoots in no time.

Propagating a Mother-in-law’s Tongue Plant

Increasing the stock with this plant is easy and is done very much the same way as root rot is removed. Lift the plant, look for new shoot tips along the rhizome and cut through the flesh between the parent plant and the new tip – then plant the new cutting with the tip just peeing through the compost. If no new tips are visible just cut through the rhizome and continue as above.

Sansevieria Toxicity

Mother-in-law’s tongue plants are toxic and are sometimes confused with Dieffenbachia or Dumbcane plants as they both can cause swelling in the mouth and throat if ingested even in small quantities.

For the indoor gardener, Sansevieria plants have everything. Long lasting, elegant variegated foliage and very low maintenance.