Sansevieria sluggish leaves. Diseases and pests of sansevieria: causes and methods of control. Sansevier Three-Lane, aka Laurenti

The sansevieria plant is more often found under the name "mother-in-law's tongue". The African flower forms long, xiphoid leaves. The total height of the crop can reach more than one meter. Sansevieria is especially prized for its tall inflorescences with small, yellow, star-shaped flowers. The pleasant scent of sansevieria can fill an entire room. The representative of succulents belongs to the Agave family. In its natural environment, the plant can be found in savannas and subtropical regions of Asia, Africa and America. There are more than sixty varieties of culture. Among them there are also epiphytic representatives (plants that live on trees and other green spaces). In most varieties, the leaves are colored dark green. There are also longitudinal, flat, oval, wide, thick and round shapes. Vegetative organs in the form of a spoon or a pencil are especially popular. The leaves have a small sharp tip. Removing the site can stop the development of the culture.

For indoor growing, it is advisable to place the flowerpot in a lighted room.

Lighting

The plant is capable of being in partial shade for a long time. It is advisable to provide the flower with uniform sunlight. The brightness of the leaves and the full development of the culture depends on the length of daylight hours.

If the flowerpot is located on the windowsill on the south side of the building, it is necessary to protect the sansevieria from direct sunlight.

Variegated varieties with a predominantly yellow tint are less demanding on the illumination of the site than the classic green representatives of the culture. For successful cultivation, place the potted plant next to a window. Colored areas are particularly susceptible to sunlight. Therefore, it is necessary to shade the windows in a timely manner using blinds or roller shutters.

Temperature regime

An unpretentious plant can actively develop in standard indoor conditions. To grow sansevieria during the growing season, you will need to provide about + 18 - +20 degrees at night. During the day, the temperature should be maintained in the range from + 21 to + 28 degrees. The plant can also withstand hotter conditions.

In the winter season, with a significant decrease in temperature, it is necessary to reduce the amount of watering.

How to water sansevieria

The plant can do without watering for a long time.

Succulents are fairly drought-resistant plants. You need to water the flower as the soil dries thoroughly. The culture can be without water for a long time. In the darkened area of \u200b\u200bthe room, it is necessary to reduce the frequency of soil moistening.

Sansevieria requires careful handling of the liquid. Water entering the outlet will cause rotting.

Sansevieria does not need additional spraying. It is recommended to clean the culture from dust in a timely manner. To do this, wipe the leaves first with a dry clean cloth, then with a damp sponge. You can also use a special broom. Initial use of a wet cloth clogs the pores with dirt.

The plant tolerates dry air well. High water levels in the environment reduce the plant's hardiness.

Transplant nuances

It is necessary to change the container and soil mixture as the culture grows. It is advisable to replant young plants during the period of rapid growth annually. The grown flowers - when the container becomes cramped.

For planting, prepare a container of medium depth.

The root system of the plant is undeveloped and superficial. Therefore, it is advisable to prepare a shallow container. The width of the container should be two centimeters larger than the one used.

For transplanting, you will need low-nutrient, light soil with good throughput. In specialized stores, you can buy potting mix for succulents and cacti.

Independently at home, it is quite easy to prepare a substrate from sod soil, leaf humus and sand of medium grain size. After mixing, it is imperative to sterilize the soil. You can also disinfect the substrate by heat treating it in the oven.

How to prune a plant

Sansevieria should periodically remove all damaged and infected areas. Pruning is also recommended to maintain decorative appearance.

The top layer of the substrate must be promptly cleaned of fallen inflorescences and leaves. Dried up vegetative organs are an excellent environment for fungal sporulation.

Other features of the mother-in-law tongue can be found in the video:

How to grow a flower in a flower bed

Sansevieria is considered to be an indigenous indoor culture. In fact, the flower can be easily bred in an open area. With proper care of mother-in-law, the tongue grows very quickly. In one growing season, a pot of sansevieria can be filled with small plants.

After the threat of spring frost has receded, the flower should be planted in open soil. In the open air of mother-in-law, the tongue will change significantly. The plant blooms profusely throughout the summer season. In the fall, you can plant the formed sansevieria in separate pots.

Transplanting into open ground not only promotes rapid reproduction. The plant has a significantly improved appearance on the site.

Features of cultivation

Composition of the soil mixture

For growing adult sansevieria, you can purchase a ready-made substrate. At home, it is easy to prepare one of the potting soil options:

1. Connect humus soil with river sand and sod soil.
2. Add leafy soil, humus, ventilated peat and sand to the soddy soil.
3. In equal parts, prepare leaf and sod land. Then add humus, sand and peat.

A drainage layer should be laid out at the bottom of the pot.

Be sure to lay out a drainage layer during planting. The substrate should be loosened periodically. The soil should be characterized by increased air permeability.

How to feed the culture

At the end of May, you can gradually start feeding the plant. For full development, it is enough to use the drugs twice a month. At the beginning of the winter period, you should stop using fertilizers.

Experienced growers do not advise using fertilizers with a high concentration of nitrogen for variegated crop representatives. The chemical element contributes to the production of chlorophyll. Which, in turn, causes an increase in green mass. Bud formation and flowering time will be significantly reduced.

How to choose the right container

It is advisable to transplant Sansevieria in early spring. The procedure should be carried out as the flower grows. With proper care, the plant will need to be replanted annually.

For flower cultivation, it is advisable to prepare heavy, clay pots. Choose a wide, stable container. During the winter dormancy stage in a dried substrate, the plant may tilt and fall.

The main problems and diseases of the plant

Failure to comply with simple conditions for caring for the plant can cause wilting.

Sansevieria is prized for its "complaisance". Failure to comply with growing conditions can still cause a significant decrease in immunity. As a result, the plant becomes a potential victim for dangerous pests and diseases.

The combination of waterlogging of the substrate with a sufficiently low air temperature causes the formation of dark spots on the leaves of the plant.

Yellowness is formed on the vegetative organs due to insufficient lighting. A cramped space in a small container can cause similar symptoms. Both factors should be excluded.

The softness of the leaves along the entire length leads to bending of the vegetative organs. The leaves can also bend vertically. Sansevieria's leaves stretch out from insufficient sunlight. The plant cannot support its own weight.

If the areas at the base of the leaves turn yellow or become soft, check the outlet. Often, liquid gets into a group of leaves during watering. Long-term exposure to water leads to fungal diseases.

If only the tips of the leaves turn yellow, dry or fade, the air in the room is too cold. It is necessary to gradually increase the mark of the thermometer. It could also be due to insufficient lighting or excessive watering.

Prolonged exposure to a dry substrate causes the leaves to wilt.

Thrips, spider mites and mealybugs can settle on the plant. Large pests can be collected mechanically. The leaves should be treated with a solution of green soap and chamomile. After 24 hours, you need to wash off the remaining funds. The procedure must be repeated at least 3 times. Large colonies can be destroyed with insecticides.

A tiny spider mite cannot be seen. After the appearance of the characteristic white cobweb, a solution of laundry soap should be prepared. A peeled flower can be treated with an insecticide.

Sansevieria is often infected with anthracnose. It is quite easy to recognize the disease by the characteristic small spots on the leaves. Inaction contributes to the spread of the disease. The marks increase in size. The central part of the spot turns white. A shell of green or yellow tint is formed.

The affected leaves will dry out in a few days. Excess watering contributes to the appearance of anthracnose. Excessive wetting of the substrate should be avoided. When infected, it is imperative to treat sansevieria with a fungicide.

Flowering secrets and application of culture

Indoors, sansevieria rarely produces inflorescences, even with proper care. White flowers with long stamens emit a strong pleasant aroma. Brushes are formed on long peduncles.

All areas of sansevieria have a beneficial effect on human immunity.

Sansevieria is rightfully referred to as medicinal crops. Parts of the plant are used to effectively treat cystitis and inflammation of the appendages.

According to the studies carried out, the pike tail has a beneficial effect on human health. The plant increases resistance to viral and colds.

There are known cases of complete disposal of seasonal allergies. The plant also helps relieve chronic rhinitis.

Reproduction of sansevieria

The plant at home spreads quite easily in a vegetative way. You can carry out cuttings of leaves, dividing the rhizome and bush with lateral layers.

To divide the bush, you must use a clean, decontaminated knife. The rhizome should be cut at the junction of the shoot with the parent plant. The cut site must be treated with crushed wood ash. Then plant in a container with a prepared substrate. The plant should be watered evenly. It is not recommended to moisten the soil for the next 30 days. Layers of mother-in-law's tongue take root quickly.

Sansevieria stalk.

Cutting is much more difficult. The method has a significant advantage. You can get several plants at the same time. For reproduction, you need to prepare healthy, large leaves. As a rule, the lower vegetative organs are used. Cuttings with a total length of ten centimeters must be dried in the fresh air within 48 hours. Avoid direct sunlight. Then you can plant the leaves in a container with a damp substrate.

It is recommended to use vermiculite or peat as a filler. The distance between the cuttings should be at least two centimeters. After evenly distributing the soil, cover the container with a transparent jar or bag. After 20 days, roots will appear on the cuttings. After 2 months, the small plant will form babies. After another 90 days, the resulting stem cuttings can be planted.

Why does the plant not bloom

For flowering, it is necessary to provide the culture with winter rest. It is necessary to feed the mother-in-law's tongue in a timely manner. To form buds in the summer, you can move the flowerpot to the open air. You can also take the plant out onto the balcony.

For a lush bloom, you will need bright sunlight and a spacious container.

You can stimulate the flowering of sansevieria using bright sunlight.

Planting material

The average price for a sansevieria braid 1 meter high is 9600 rubles.

The sansevieria plant officially has another version of the name - sansevieria. In our people, it is also called the mother-in-law's tongue and the pike's tail. Someone compared this flower with a reptile and called it “snake skin”, “snake braid”, “snake plant”. The British saw in it a "leopard lily", the Chinese - "the tail of a tiger orchid", the Turks - "the sword of the pasha", and the Brazilians even "the sword of St. George." Surely there are many more original names, such as "wolf's tail", "devil's tongue" and the like, but this all only indicates that sansevieria settled for a long time next to people. She has become so homely and familiar that she is not always noticed, and this is a beautiful plant, in response to minimal care, bringing great benefits to humans. We will tell you about what conditions to create for a plant for growth and reproduction in the article.

The origin and appearance of the plant

Sansevieria is a perennial evergreen plant of the asparagus family, a guest from hot and dry, rocky regions of the tropical and subtropical zones of our planet. The harsh conditions of arid places made it very hardy: it learned to do without moisture for a long time and survive, keeping it in the leaves.

The natural growing conditions of sansevieria made the plant hardy

In natural conditions, sansevieria is common in India and the Indonesian islands of the Pacific Ocean, in Africa and on the island of Madagascar. It also grows in the western hemisphere - in southern Florida.

Leaves in various species can be upright erect or growing horizontally, green, yellowish or brown in color, with silvery, white or yellow dots, stripes, patterns, sometimes bordered by a strip along the edge of the leaf.

The plant does not have a separate trunk - the leaves grow from the rhizome. When blooming, sansevieria throws out an arrow with white sweet-smelling flowers. It mainly reproduces by basal processes.

In the old days, fibers were obtained from the leaves of this plant, which were used to make bowstrings for bows. Since the beginning of the 20th century, the plant has become a popular home flower. There are more than 60 species and even more varieties derived from them.

The leaves of many indoor sansevieria can reach a height of more than 1 meter.

Ozonizer and air washer with prickly tips: the benefits and harms of sansevier

If you remember that sansevieria is inedible, pricks a little and does not experiment in this regard, the presence of a plant in the room will significantly affect the constant refreshing of the air due to the released oxygen. It is one of the most active room ozonizers, which also actively absorbs and neutralizes such hazardous substances as nitrogen oxide, benzene, formaldehyde and trichlorethylene. These substances are released into the air by various synthetic materials and means, which are sufficient in any apartment.

Sansevieria is used in African folk medicine. According to the healers, the smoke from burning dry leaves relieves headaches. Decoction - treats scabies and relieves itching. Pounded fresh leaves disinfect wounds and help with skin diseases.

Sansevieria leaves contain saponin. This substance is irritating to the mucous membranes of the nose, mouth and eyes if the plant sap gets on them. In contact with the skin, it does not cause irritation. But in both cases, it must be washed off with plenty of water. When the leaves are eaten (which does not happen - children and pets are not careful), saponins cause nausea and vomiting. A certain danger is posed by sharp and hard tips of the leaves, which can be pricked.

It is necessary to restrict access to the plant for children and pets.

Video: meet the flower "mother-in-law's language"

Variety of species and varieties

Of course, this is a bold attempt - in a short article, try to list all the varieties and varieties of this amazing plant. The originality of the hybrids is manifested in the shape and color of the leaves. Endurance for all species remains the same. The original natural species that gave rise to the selection of varieties is three-lane sanseviera (three-lane).

Table: natural species of sansevier

Photo gallery: natural plant varieties

Sansevieria is graceful, or graceful

There are detailed information about 41 varieties of sansevieria. But this diversity is based on one species - three-lane sansevieria (Sansevieria trifasciata Prain.) And its two subspecies: Laurenti and Hana. The most popular varieties of sansevieria were bred in the thirties of the XX century. and subsequently patented.

Table: hybrids of three-lane sansevieria with longitudinal stripes and yellow border

Photo gallery: breeding varieties of home sansevier

Sansevier Sensation Bentle Sansevier Robusta Sansevier Nelson Sansevier Silver Han Sansevier Twisted Sister Sansevieria Silver Cream Sansevier Futura

Sansevieria transplant

For normal growth and flowering of the plant, a fairly tight pot is needed. Therefore, the transplant is carried out only as needed, approximately once every 2-3 years.

The transplant is rarely carried out, only when the roots become cramped in the pot

It should be remembered: the root system of sansevieria is so powerful that when the entire volume of soil in the pot is occupied by the roots, they either break the pot or begin to protrude upward. This will be a signal that it is time to transplant sansevieria.

What soil and pot are needed

The soil for sansevieria should be moderately sandy, well permeable to water and air. The classic formula is “leaf land: turf land: sand \u003d 1: 1: 2”. Purchased land for cacti and succulents is quite suitable... It is desirable to add sand, pebbles and a little clay to it. A prerequisite is the presence of a strong drainage layer at the bottom of the pot (for example, pebbles or expanded clay balls). It should occupy at least 1/4 of the pot's volume.

You need a deep pot, 2-3 cm wider than before. For vertically growing varieties, it is best to use massive clay pots that provide resistance to long, heavy leaves.

Important! When transplanting a plant into a new pot, it should be tied to a support during rooting and soil compaction, since the leaves can outweigh and pull the plant out of the ground.

Transshipment with replacement of land

Step by step description:

1. Take a pot slightly wider than the previous one, add layers of drainage and then wet soil.
2. Water the plant well. After a while, remove it from the old pot, holding the leaves at the base.
3. Remove old soil from the roots, being careful not to damage them.
4. Place the plant in the center of the new container, add soil mixture until the roots are completely covered. Tamp down.
5. For the next 2 days, keep the plant in the shade and do not water: this will cause the roots to start growing into the soil.

Important! When transplanting a plant into a new pot, it should be tied to a support during rooting and soil compaction, since long and heavy leaves can outweigh and pull the plant out of the ground.

To care properly - to water less?

If we recall the harsh conditions of natural growth of sansevieria, it becomes clear that this is one of the most unpretentious plants that can withstand significant temperature changes, various illumination and drought.

Important! The only trouble for the plant during care can be excessive watering and water ingress into the center of the leaf outlets (especially in winter).

Nevertheless, there are comfortable, acceptable and unacceptable modes for keeping sansevieria. In particular:

Table: plant requirements for temperature and other conditions of detention

Watering and feeding

The only mistake that creates serious maintenance problems is over-watering the plant and water getting into the leaf rosettes during watering, especially in winter, when moisture evaporation is slow (the rosettes dry out too slowly). The first signs of waterlogging are:

• loss of leaf elasticity, their yellowness, lethargy;
• yellowing and drying of the tips of the leaves.

If watering is not limited in time, the root system will begin to rot. In this case, it is necessary to transplant the plant, after carefully examining the roots and removing all those damaged by rot.

In the warm season, the pike tail is fed once every 3-4 weeks with compositions for cacti and succulents. This is not required in winter. In principle, the plant is so unpretentious that it will live completely without fertilization at all. It is worth remembering that frequent and abundant feeding are dangerous for sansevieria: the leaves will lose their elasticity. And an excess of nitrogen application to the soil leads to a uniform color of the leaves.

Important! For plants with stripes and patterns on the leaves, the recommended dose on the fertilizer package should be diluted 3 times with water. Otherwise, the leaves may become monochromatic.

Why wipe the leaves

The area of \u200b\u200bthe leaf surface of sansevieria is quite significant and is gradually covered with dust, therefore it is periodically necessary to remove it with a damp sponge. In this case, you should not press hard on the sponge, since some species have a semblance of a wax coating and its erasure will not be beneficial for the plant. As mentioned above, sansevieria actively purifies the air and enriches it with oxygen, therefore, a clean surface of the leaves is necessary not so much for the flower as for its owners.

Do I need to form a crown

Of course, as such, this flower does not have a crown, there are only rosettes of leaves that form a neat circle completely independently. But there is evidence that varieties with thick leaves growing in a spiral, such as robusta sansevieria, can be flattened. For this purpose, young leaves are bent with sticks and left for a long time. When the clips are removed, the given shape of the rosette is retained.

So that in search of light your sansevier does not "tumble" to one side, the pot should be turned from time to time.

Bloom

In comfortable conditions, adult plants bloom in spring or summer, depending on the species and variety. Flowers in the form of a brush appear on an arrow separately driven from the rhizome.

To stimulate flowering, sansevieria must be placed in a lighter place compared to the one on which it stood before.

Sometimes there are drops of nectar on the flowers. The flowers have a rather strong, pungent, honey or bitter odor. Most often they bloom every evening, and close in the morning. Flowering lasts up to two weeks... The faded arrow needs to be cut off.

Photo gallery: buds and flowers of sansevier

The buds appear in spring or summer. The inflorescence of the sansevier has the shape of an ear on a long peduncle. Peduncles of low-growing varieties are more compact

Video: "pike tail" blooms

Reproduction methods

The plant can be propagated by dividing the rhizomes, leaves, cuttings and seeds. The preference is usually given to the first method, that is, the transplanting of lateral shoots.

How to plant children (lateral daughter shoots)

In order to use a rhizome or lateral shoot, do the following:

Note! A rhizome with a side shoot in a cramped pot may not be completely buried in the soil.

Propagation by cuttings

Propagation of sansevieria by cuttings is carried out as follows:

Important! If the leaf taken for the cutting had a light strip of edging, the cutting should be inserted into the sand only with the edges having a light strip. To do this, make a deep cut up the central green part of a piece of sheet. Rooting should only take place on the edge parts with a light strip, otherwise the new leaf will be without edging.

Video: how to root a Sansevier leaf segment

Germinating seeds in soil

This type of reproduction for sansevieria is used less often. The sequence of actions is as follows:

Solution of problems

As a rule, pests bypass sansevieria - it is quite well protected from them. However, if the plant is weakened by improper care, sooner or later traditional pests of home flowers can reach it: spider mites, mealybugs or thrips. Therefore, you should know the signs of a deterioration in the health of a flower and ways to eliminate lesions.

Table: difficulties encountered in growing

Table: disease and pest control measures

Photo gallery: insects that can appear on sansevieria

Spider mites appear from dry air Mealybugs start when waterlogged Thrips are usually brought into the house along with bouquets

The indoor plant sansevieria, better known as "mother-in-law's tongue", is quite unpretentious in care and rarely gets sick. However, even this unpretentious plant can be affected by a pest or infection. This article tells about which diseases and pests of sansevieria are the most dangerous and why they occur. Knowing this, it is possible to prevent disease and death of the plant.

Why are diseases and pests of sansevieria dangerous?

Mother-in-law's tongue is a plant native to the arid and desert regions of the African regions. Pests are rare, and diseases often occur against the background of improper care.

The homeland of this flower is arid, desert, sunny and warm places. Knowing this, you can avoid the most common problems that arise when caring for this flower.

Infectious diseases

This indoor flower is most often affected by infectious diseases. They are:

• soft rot;
• leaf rot.

The table below shows the symptoms of diseases and the causes of their occurrence.

Damage by pests

Sansevieria can be affected by such pests:

• spider mite;
• thrips;
• mealybug.

More information on how to recognize the presence of a disease in sansevieria caused by pest damage is described in the table below.

Growing environment problems

The main reasons why sansevieria does not grow at home are the wrong conditions of detention. These conditions include:

• waterlogging of the soil;
• low room temperature;
• high humidity.

What the wrong conditions for keeping this flower are fraught with is described in the table below.

Before you start growing your mother-in-law tongue, study the natural habitat of this plant and try to provide it with the same conditions in the room.

As you can see from the information described in this article, most of the problems that arise with the mother-in-law's tongue during its cultivation and breeding depend on the habitat, the soil in which the flower is planted and the correct planting of the plant in the soil. If you decide to purchase this plant, pay attention to the soil in which it is planted and the health of the leaves. Never buy a flower that looks sluggish, sickly, has soft, curled, yellow or oddly shiny leaves. Pay attention to the root zone of the leaves - it should be whole, healthy, firm, there should be no larvae in it. Under the right conditions for keeping mother-in-law, the tongue blooms for many years, and it rarely needs to be transplanted - once every 2-3 years. With regular inspection of the leaves in order to early recognition of the disease, treatment will rarely need to be done.

Video about sansevieria

Evgeny Sedov

When your hands grow from the right place, life is more fun :)

Content

Such a flower is used for landscaping any room in the house, office space and other public places. Sansevieria has antibacterial properties: at night, it actively purifies the air from carbon dioxide and a number of substances toxic to humans. Sansevier is a flowering plant, but it became recognizable 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 that is part of the large Asparagus family (previously, the representative of succulents belonged to the Agave family). Flowers of this genus are found in stony dry regions of subtropical and tropical Africa, in India, South Florida, Indonesia, Madagascar. One of the most famous species is the three-striped sansevier, which is also known as the mother-in-law's tongue, pike tail and snake skin.

Sansevier grows, combining 5-6 dark green leaves with light transverse stripes in one rosette. The color intensity can vary depending on the amount of light falling on the plant: with a lack of stripes, they become dull, barely noticeable. The leaves can be up to 120 cm long and 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:

• The three-lane sansevieria (sansevieria trifasciata) is the most common species. The rosette has mainly 6 leaf plates, painted in dark emerald color, having whitish transverse stripes. The sheets are flat, elongated, belt-shaped, taper towards the apex, ending in a thorn. The border is green.
• Sansevieria laurentii is the progenitor of many varieties. The leaves are erect, along the edge have a clear yellow border, the width of which is different for each plant. The pattern is colorful and 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, speckled with bright whitish stripes.
• Sansevieria cylindrica / cylindrical (sansevieria cilindrica) has cylindrical leaves with a longitudinal deep groove. They are up to 2 cm across.
• Sansevieria robusta is a flower with leaves of a dark malachite shade 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) is a variety descended from Laurenti. The leaves are dark green, growing upward, in the rosette they are thicker and shorter than in the original species. Sansevier grows slowly, retains its characteristics when multiplying by dividing rhizomes. If you cut the leaves, you get a plant of the original species.
• Compacta is a descendant of Laurenti, resembling him in appearance: the center of the leaf is dark, along the edge of the yellow border. Some leaves curl, which gives the plant a great decorative effect. When propagating by dividing the rhizomes, the grade 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 beginner amateur flower growers will be able to grow such a plant at home, but also those who have never encountered representatives of the flora, because sansevieria is the leader in all endurance ratings. Mother-in-law's language still has some needs, so before planting, the future owner should learn about the features of the agricultural technology of its cultivation: what place will be comfortable for placement, how often you need to water the pike tail, feed it, transplant.

Growing conditions

The plant has gained such immense popularity among the population for its unpretentiousness. Care and maintenance provides for the minimum participation of the owner in the life of the flower: it will only be necessary to provide the sansevieria with comfortable conditions, taking into account some recommendations:

• Lighting. The homeland of the sansevier is rich in sunlight, so it is better to place it in a well-lit place, for example, on a windowsill on the southeast or southwest side. The northern windows should be avoided, because the bright decorative color will fade.
• 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 withstand a short-term drop in temperature to +5 degrees, but it will be better if the mark on the thermometer does not drop below +16 ° C - under such conditions, the roots will not rot.
• Air humidity. The sansevier plant prefers dry air. She does not need spraying, just occasional dusting of the leaves with a damp sponge.
• Soil composition. The soil should be light, include 1 part of sod land, 1 sheet and 2 parts of sand. It is permissible to use a soil mixture for cacti and succulents, which contains small pebbles, sand, clay, pebbles, peat. A prerequisite is the presence of powerful drainage, which takes up at least a third of the volume of the dishes.
• Pot size, shape and material. The root system of the flower is actively growing to the sides, so the container for growing the mother-in-law's tongue should not be deep, but wide. Sansevieria roots are strong, for this reason it is recommended to choose a sturdy 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. The schedule differs at different times of the year:

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

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

Fertilizers

It is recommended to apply top dressing once a month, regardless of the age of the flower. The recommended option is a slightly concentrated fertilizer for cacti. It's great if they contain phosphorus or calcium compounds - this will help sansevieria develop successfully, but nitrogen-containing mixtures should be avoided. If the pot is in a poorly lit or cool place, then the fertilizer must be reduced or stopped altogether. Do not get carried away with feeding - the leaf plates will lose their decorative effect, become monochromatic, 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.
• Leaves turn yellow - the flower grows in a pot that is too small or in a poorly lit area.
• The tips of the leaves have dried, wilted or turned yellow - the reasons are lack of lighting, too low temperature of the content, excessive watering.
• The leaves became soft, bend - most likely, they reached for the light and bent under their own weight.
• Leaves curl due to the fact that the plant has not been watered for a long time.

As for pests, like any other indoor flower, the pike tail can also become their victim. Sansevieria often suffers from:

It is better to carry out this process in the spring or early summer. Sansevieria grows well, so it is recommended to replant a young flower every 2 years, and for an older one, every 3 years. The signal will be that the roots will start sticking 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 earth lump.
2. Thoroughly check the root system for decay or damage.
3. Put a drainage layer (preferably expanded clay) on the bottom of a new thick-walled, wide, but shallow pot so that it takes up at least 1/3 of the crockery.
4. Plant a flower, then slightly press down the roots 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.

Reproduction of sansevieria

Even a beginner grower can make several indoor plants from one bush. Sansevieria is propagated using vegetative methods: by cutting leaves, dividing the bush with lateral layers, or dividing the rhizome. It is important to remember that leaf propagation is only suitable for monochromatic species, and rhizome division is applied to any plant species.

Sheet

The procedure is not complicated, but it takes a lot of time. To reproduce in this way, you need to perform the actions sequentially:

1. Cut an old, but beautiful and absolutely healthy leaf into 5 cm long pieces, leave them in the fresh air for several hours.
2. Treat the lower sections with a rooting 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 the 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.

By division

This method of reproduction is resorted to 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 soil from the roots.
2. Cut the rhizome with a sharp knife so that each part has its own growth point.
3. Treat the cut sites with crushed wood or ordinary activated carbon to disinfect wounds.
4. Plant parts of the rhizome in a peat-sand mixture, placing each of the blanks in a separate pot.

Genus Sansevieria thunb. - Sansevieria.

Family: Agave.

Homeland - the tropics of Africa and Asia.

These flowers grow in the tropics of Africa, partly in South Africa and in tropical Asia (India, Sri Lanka).

Some of them produce coarse fiber (for rope production), but they are all deciduous ornamental plants in greenhouses and are quite suitable for indoor culture.

The people called the plant "pike tail" and "mother-in-law's tongue".

There are 60 types of sansevieria in the genus, a photo of some of them, along with a detailed description, will be presented below:

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What does the houseplant sansevieria look like?

Perennial herbaceous plants and shrubs with fleshy, dense flat or rounded leaves, reaching 1 m in length or more. The leaf plates are narrow, pointed at the end, can be directed upward or to the sides.

The color of the leaves can vary from green to brown. On their surface there is always a pattern in the form of circles and stripes. Some varieties of sansevieria have yellow and silver leaf color, some specimens have a thin waxy coating on the surface, which protects the plant from rapid evaporation of moisture.

When describing sansevieria, it should be noted that its rhizome is creeping, thick, with root filaments extending in different directions, which can climb to the surface of the soil and, with rare transplants, cause a break in the container where the flower grows.

Flowers on long erect peduncles, collected in lush cylindrical inflorescences. The petals are narrow, white-greenish, with long stamens, fragrant, with a vanilla aroma. Opens up in the evening and at night. Flowering continues for a week. Blooms in spring and autumn

The fruit is a berry with one or three small, hard seeds. At home, rarely bears fruit.

What a sansevieria flower looks like can be seen in the photo below:

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Under natural conditions, the sansevieria flower grows in countries with hot and dry climates. It can often be found in Africa, India, Indonesia, Madagascar. This flower is an inhabitant of deserts, since it is well adapted to the special environmental conditions, when for a long period you have to do without moisture and under the rays of the scorching sun.

Types and varieties of sansevieria: photos, names and descriptions of interesting varieties

The most interesting types of sansevieria with the following names:

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S. cylindrica Bojer - Cylindrical Sansevieria... Plants with a thick rhizome, up to 3.5 cm in diameter. Shoots with 3-4 leaves. The leaves are cylindrical, tubularly coiled, up to 1 m long, with a short apex, light green with dark green and yellowish green stripes. The flowers are white, with a pinkish tinge, fragrant. Found in the tropics of West Africa.

S. gracilis N. E. Br. - Sansevieria graceful... The trunk is short, 3–8 cm high, with branches protruding above the soil surface. Shoots with 8-12 dense cylindrical leaves, of which the outer ones are shorter than the inner ones. The leaves are cylindrical, smooth, green. Homeland - East Africa.

S. hyacinthoides (L.) Druce (S. gueneensis (L.) Willd., S. thyrsiflora Thunb.) - Sansevieria hyacinth... Plants up to 0.5 m tall. The rhizome is strong. Leaves in bunches of 2–4, gradually tapering from the middle to the base, dark green, with a light top, with light green transverse stripes tightly adjacent to each other, dense-skinned at the edges, brownish, sometimes whitish. Homeland - tropical and South Africa. Plants with flat, broad-linear leaves may have a leaf blade with green and pinkish-brown or whitish edges.

These are species such as S. trifasciata Prain (S. guineensis Gerome etLabroy) - Three-striped Sansevieria. Plants with thick rhizomes. The leaves are elongated, with a pointed hard top and a subulate pointed end, with light green and dark green transverse stripes on both sides. The flowers of old plants are whitish-green, fragrant. Homeland - West Africa.

Looking at the photo of the species of sansevieria with such names, it is not difficult to guess why they were called that: for their shape, beauty and similarity to some flowers:

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Sansevieria trifasciata Xort.ex Prain

The "snake" name was given to the plant by the people for the shape of the leaves and for the colored transverse stripes, reminiscent of the skin of snakes, and the mother-in-law's tongue for their sharpness. In Japan it is called the tail of the tiger, in Spanish-speaking countries - the tongue of the cow, and in Brazil - the sword of St. George also for the flat long leaves. The yellow-edged sansevier plants are called espada-de-santa-barbara in Brazil, the sword of Saint Barbara.

Plants with a thick rhizome, up to 2.5 cm in diameter. The leaves are oblong-lanceolate, xiphoid, with a pointed solid top and an awl-shaped pointed end, up to 1.5 m long and up to 7 cm wide, on both sides with light green and dark green transverse stripes. The flowers are whitish green, fragrant. Found in Tropical West Africa.

This is a variety of sansevieria, which is most widespread from this group, especially its garden varieties.

Sansevieria Sansevieria trifasciata var. laurentii - leaves with golden yellow stripes around the edges; found in Congo.

Sansevieria trifasciata var. craigii - Leaves with yellowish-white broad stripes.

Sansevieria trifasciata var. Hanii - low-growing plants 12–20 cm high, with a beautiful rosette of flat, green, transverse light, short, wide stripes of leaves, expanded at the base, up to 15 cm long and up to 8 cm wide.

Sansevieria large - Sansevieria grandis... This species is native to Africa. It grows in the tropics.

Herbaceous, stemless plant with a powerful creeping rhizome. It has a rosette of 2 - 4 strong, wide, fleshy leaves of a light green shade with dark green stripes and a reddish border around the edge. Leaves grow up to 60 cm long and 15 cm wide. The flowers are white or greenish, about 5 cm in diameter, collected in a racemose inflorescence. On the peduncle there are 3-4 reduced leaves. The perianth is cylindrical, swollen at the base. Its lobes are narrow, bent down. Epiphytic plant. Introduced into culture at the end of the last century.

Sansevieria Liberian - Sansevieria liberica... It grows in West Africa in the tropics. Consists of a strong, massive rhizome and expanded rosettes of leaves, consisting of 6 petals or more.

The leaves bend to the ground, narrow, lanceolate, can reach up to 1 m in length and up to 8 cm in width. Their color is the same as that of other species: light green with dark green stripes, spots and strokes. A thin, barely noticeable reddish-white or brown edging runs along the edge of the leaf plate. The rhizome goes deep underground. When branching, child sockets are formed on it. The peduncle is erect, about 80 cm high. The flowers are collected in a racemose lush inflorescence, white, fragrant.

Sansevieria Duneri - Sansevieria dooneri... Originally from West Africa. A plant with a thick, well-developed rhizome. Forms rosettes, each of which consists of 10 - 12, less often 20 leaves. The leaves grow upright, linear-lanceolate, flat, strong, up to 40 cm long and up to 3 cm wide. Usually, at home, these indicators are 2 times less than in natural conditions. The color of the leaves is dark green, with blurred stripes. The rhizome has short shoots with rosettes of leaves. The rhizome can be up to 1 cm thick. When it branches, many rosettes are formed. The peduncle is single, drooping, up to 35 cm high. Flowers are collected in a racemose inflorescence, white, fragrant, with a tube about 4 cm in length.

View of sansevieria Kirk - Sansevieria kirkii recognized by flower growers as the most beautiful among others. It has short, thick rhizomes that lie underground. The leaves are long (about 2 m), stretching upward. There can be from 1 to 3 leaves in the outlet. The color of the leaf plate is dark green with whitish or whitish-green specks. A red-brown edging runs along the edge of the sheet. The flowers are collected in a capitate inflorescence, white, with a pleasant aroma. A feature of this species is the lacy shape of the leaves.

These and other varieties of sansevieria, presented in the following photos, are in great demand among flower growers:

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There is such a variety of sansevieria as "Futura" - reaching up to 30 cm in height. It is interesting for the bright color of its leaves with a yellow edging along the edge. The rosette consists of 13 leaves tightly adhered to each other.

Sansevieria variety "Robusta" has strong, wide and short leaves, decorated with bright green stripes.

Sansevieria "Silver Queen" - is an attractive hybrid variety with an unusual color of the leaf plate. Leaves can be blue, green with a silver tint. The variety may have small, dark green blotches, which makes it even more effective. It is fast growing but does not bloom.

Sansevieria "Twisted Sister" - a variety that leaves an indelible impression and changes the idea of \u200b\u200bthe traditional “pike tail”. At the first glance at the plant, it seems that it spun in a dance, since the leaves lie semi-horizontally, and not vertically, as in all other species and varieties of sansevieria. This individual has a compact size and is considered one of the smallest sansevieria. Its leaves are dark green with light blotches, there is a wide yellow border around the edges.

How these and other varieties of sansevieria look like, is shown in the photo, by looking at which, you can find the characteristic features of each of them:

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How to properly care for sansevieria

This culture is one of those that are found in almost every apartment or office space. This is due to its unpretentiousness in care, amazing vitality and attractive appearance. With proper care of sansevieria at home, a florist can observe the flowering of this flower.

Location. Sansevieria is photophilous, but grows well in shade and partial shade. Better to grow in diffused sunlight, close to the east and west windows. On the south, shading is required from the midday sun. When growing sansevieria on northern windows, the leaves turn dark green, the plant does not bloom. Variegated forms need sunlight, as their color fades in the shade. If there is a lack of light, artificial supplementary lighting can be used by placing the lamp at a distance of 40 - 50 cm from the flower.

Temperature. The optimum temperature for growth and development in spring and summer is + 20-24 °. In winter, the room temperature must be maintained at least + 16 °. Put up with temperature changes.

Air humidity. The indoor plant sansevieria freely tolerates dry air and does not need additional moisture. From time to time it is recommended to spray or wipe the leaves with a damp cloth so that dust does not accumulate on them.

Watering. During the active growing season, it requires moderate watering, in autumn and winter, watering is significantly reduced. It is necessary to try so that when watering, water does not get into the core of the leaf rosette, this can lead to rotting of the plant. It is important to monitor the condition of the earthen coma and try to prevent it from drying out. With a lack of watering, the leaves turn yellow, wither or dry out.

Top dressing. Caring for the sansevieria flower at home requires a special one during intensive vegetation. During this period, fertilizing with organic and complete mineral fertilizers is carried out alternately every 3-4 weeks. The rest of the time, one feeding per month is enough. Fertilizers are suitable for succulents and indoor flowers. When choosing a fertilizer for this crop, it should be borne in mind that it should have a small nitrogen content, since its excess leads to root rot. Fertilizers are not recommended for variegated forms, it is believed that their decorative effect is lost from them.

Pruning. Pruning is only needed if you want to remove damaged leaves or dry ends of the flower. When pruning, leave the edge of a dry crust, because if you cut it off completely, then the leaf will wither.

How to plant and transplant sansevieria into a new substrate

Knowing how to properly plant sansevieria in a new substrate, the florist will avoid mistakes that can lead to disease or death of the plant after transplantation.

Transplanting sansevieria at home is done about 1 time in 2 years, sometimes more often, depending on the development of the plant's root system. If the flower is cramped, then it's time to do this work. To do this, choose a pot a little larger than the previous one, it should be wide and at the same time deep. In addition, it is better to take a container with thick walls, since the powerful root system of this crop is capable of breaking through a thin plastic pot. Usually, clay and ceramic vessels are taken for this flower. For transplanting a sensevieria, a soil consisting of sod, leafy soil, peat, humus and sand in a ratio of 2: 1: 1: 1: 1 is suitable. It is grown both in hydroponics and in a ready-made soil mixture for geraniums. It is imperative to lay a drainage layer at the bottom of the container, for example, from brick shards or expanded clay.

Before transplanting sansevieria, you need to water it and leave it for a couple of hours so that the soil is damp. This makes the flower easier to come out of the pot. The plant should be removed carefully together with an earthen lump. If the plant has babies, they can be separated and planted in a separate container. Each division must have at least one root, so it will be easier for it to settle down in a new place. If the bush is transplanted into a pot with the children, you should try not to disturb the root system and leave them attached to the common root of the mother plant. After transplanting, feed the sansevieria with fertilizer containing potassium and phosphorus.

Reproduction of sansevieria at home by leaf and rhizome (with video)

In the spring, part of the leaf, leafy cuttings, rosettes and division of the rhizome. You can pre-put the cuttings in water. Variegated varieties reproduce only by rosettes (otherwise varietal characteristics are lost).

Reproduction of sansevieria can be done with pieces of leaf, cutting them into cuttings 6-8 cm long. The surface of the slices is powdered with charcoal powder, then the cuttings are planted in wet sand. Before rooting, caring for cuttings is reduced to creating a constant temperature of 20-22 ° C and moderate humidity of the substrate and air. The cuttings take root within a month; simultaneously with the formation of roots from the base of the leaf cutting, the growth of adventive buds begins. Rooted leaf cuttings are planted in 6 cm pots, the optimum temperature is not lower than 18 ° C. When sansevieria is propagated by a leaf, the composition of the earth should be as follows: compost - 1 part, humus - 1 part, sand - 2 parts. After braiding a lump of earth with roots, the plants are transferred into 9-centimeter pots. In winter, the temperature of the maintenance can be reduced to 16 ° C and watering is significantly reduced. At low temperatures and excessive moisture in the earth, the leaves rot. The following substrate is recommended for keeping plants: sod land - 2 parts, humus and leafy - 1 part, sand - 1 part. Requires large flat dishes and monthly mullein and full fertilizer fertilization.

Reproduction of sansevieria at home by dividing the rhizome is done in the spring, usually this work is done during the transplantation of an adult plant. When dividing, it must be borne in mind that each separate part of the plant must have at least one growth point. A sharp knife is used to do this job. The roots are divided into 4 parts or more, without shaking off the earth from them. Each part of the rhizome is immersed with its lower end in a container with sand and removed to a warm place, periodically moistening. After rooting, several new shoots appear, which gives an impetus for the formation of a new plant. Juveniles are placed in separate pots and cared for accordingly.

Watch a video on breeding sansevieria, where detailed recommendations are given and additional information about the features of this work is provided:

How to propagate sansevieria by seeds

There is another way to propagate sansevieria - by seeds, but it is quite rare, since it is not easy to get its seeds. Some growers manage to collect them on their own after flowering, when a pod-shaped fruit appears on the flower. The fruit is removed, dried, then the seeds are removed.

They are planted in small but wide containers filled with wet sand, gently pressing them to a shallow depth. Crops are covered with foil or jar and removed to a warm place.

Knowing how to care for the crops of sansevieria, you can achieve the fastest germination of seeds, but you need to take into account that it lasts from 1 to 3 months. Crop care consists in daily airing, moistening the earthen coma through the pallet. After germination within a month, the seedlings should grow and get stronger, after this time they are transplanted into separate pots.

Common diseases and pests of sansevieria

The most common pests and diseases of sansevieria are spider mites, mealybugs, thrips, anthracnose.

The appearance of a spider mite is evidenced by white spots on the leaf plates, in addition, the leaves turn yellow and soon die off. The same is observed in plants in dry indoor air. To prevent disease, you should use a humidifier, spray the flower and wipe it with a cloth dampened in water. Treatment of the plant with actellik will help to eliminate the pest.

The appearance of such a pest of sansevieria as thrips is not difficult to detect; in this case, a large number of this insect settles on the lower part of the leaf plate. At the same time, small white spots appear on the upper side of the sheet. After a while, the leaf becomes gray-brown in color. Insecticides are effective against the pest.

If brown spots appear on the leaves, which are constantly increasing in size, and the leaf itself dries up, most likely the flower is affected by anthracnose. The most common cause of this disease is improper watering, namely excess moisture in the soil. Fight the disease with fungicides.

Why do sansevieria leaves dry, turn yellow, wrinkle and become lethargic

If the leaves of sansevieria turn yellow, while they become soft at the base, most likely the reason is excessive watering. You can revive the flower by removing all diseased leaves and planting it in fresh soil. After that, the flower will recover, but on condition that the roots have not rotted.

Sansevieria leaves dry and turn yellow with insufficient watering, as well as if the plant conditions are not suitable. The flower feels bad near the included heating devices, as well as in direct sunlight. To avoid yellowing of the leaves, you need to eliminate all factors contributing to its occurrence.

Florists do not always know why the leaves of sansevieria are sluggish and soft, and the reason for this may be insufficient watering and the presence of the plant in low temperatures. The diseased flower should be removed to a warm place, all damaged areas should be removed and the condition of the earthen coma should be closely monitored.

Sometimes there are complaints from the owners of these plants that the leaves of the sansevieria wrinkled, longitudinal wrinkles appeared. The reason for this is the lack of watering. The disease can be easily eliminated by increasing its frequency. As practice shows, after this the flower is quickly restored.