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Over the past few weeks the e-mail bag has been getting quite a few
responses for a good starter plant or a plant that can handle a lot of abuse. Those of you
that have been readers for a while know that I have been torturing the "ZZ" or
Zamioculcas Zamiifolia.
(I watered it 3 times in about 8 months.)
This week I want to hit on another really tough plant the
Sansevieria or the "Snake plant". Plants as with fashion seem to come and go and
come back again. Over the last few years the Sansevieria has started somewhat of a
comeback. The Snake plant has been grown in the US foliage trade since the 1920's.
There
are about 60 varieties but only about 15 varieties are grown commercially. Of these the
two most popular are laurentii and zeylanica. They are
also known by another name that isn't very "politically correct" the
mother-in-law's tongue.
Stock plants are grown in beds out in the full sun. One very
unusual thing about the production of these plants is that stock growers actually mow the
tops of the plants to force them to produce new growth. Snake's can be grown from leaf
cuttings, clumps or rhizome cuttings.
These plants are very versatile in both size and in growing
conditions. You can find Sansevieria used in small dish gardens all the way up into
14" containers about 42" inches in height. They can handle full sun and look
great on a patio during the spring and summer, but also can go inside into very low light.
This plant can hang with the best of all low light plants.
The one climatic condition which it will not tolerate is
temperatures below 45 degrees for extended periods. When the plants are damaged it can
show up slowly sometimes over a 1- 4 week period.
One Downside
Everything seems to have a downside. Sansevieria are no different.
Their downside is weight. Because of their relationship to the succulent family they hold
a lot of water. As plants reach 10" and larger in pot size the weight goes up
dramatically. I've seen 10" plants that weight 25 pounds or more.
If you're looking for a plant that:
- Is tough indoors
- Can be placed just about anywhere
- Takes up little space
- Goes a long time between watering
- Is a good plant to start with in the house
- Can start outside this spring and move inside
Take a look at the Sansevieria.
For more information on Tough Indoor Plant, or other house plant information visit the
related links below.
