Sansevieria (also known as Mother-in-Law Tongue or Snake Plant) is an amazing plant. The sansevieria originally came from Africa and made its way to Europe in the 18th century.
The scientific name for this particular sansevieria is Dracaena Trifasciata. It has striking sculptural beauty and the care is very simple. I have snake plants in almost every room of my house, and they make the space look very interesting.
Researchers have found that the sansevieria takes harmful chemicals out of the environment and releases oxygen, which makes it good for cleaning the air. People are still not sure how well it cleans the air, but I still have one in almost every room
You can’t go wrong with this unique plant as a first plant, and it’s also very easy to take care of. In this post, I’ll give you some tips on how to take care of your sansevieria.
You need to know what to do with your new sansevieria whether you get it from a garden store or a friend gives you a piece of theirs. First, snake plants LOVE well draining soil. Avoid compact soil because this kind of soil will hold more moisture and could lead to root rot.
Root rot is when the soil gets waterlogged. If the plant stays wet for too long, the roots can rot and eventually, your plant will die. This is the quickest way to kill a sansevieria.
These plants are very similar to cacti when it comes to their care. They don’t like to be sitting in water for too long. One of the main things that will keep your plant from root rot is well draining soil.
It’s a mix of sand and soil that you can buy already made for cacti and succulents. Most garden stores carry it. Because there is sand in the soil, it stays airy and lets water flow through it.
Adding a scoop of Perlite is a wonderful addition if you’d like to maximize the soil’s aeration. Perlite is naturally derived and comes from volcanic eruptions. Make sure the sand you add to your soil mix is made for gardeners and growers if you do it yourself.
Other sands (like play sand) are actually more compact and not the best for drainage in your plants. It may go without saying, but never use soil that has been outside. This will make your plant susceptible to pests or other organisms found outdoors.
I did this once and quickly learned my lesson. This time I brought in extra bugs that were bad for my plant.
For pots, I love terracotta pots. These are the reddish clay ones that you can find almost anywhere. The terracotta allows the dirt to “breathe” so the moisture isn’t trapped inside. Terra cotta pots help with avoiding root rot as well.
Because the clay wick’s water comes from the soil, the plant will dry out much faster in a terracotta pot. There are some plants in lovely earthenware pots that aren’t terracotta that I have as well. The bottom of all of them has a drainage hole.
Every pot should have a drainage hole so water can get out. If water sits at the bottom of your pot for too long, root rot will kill your plants. Sometimes, I will find a gorgeous clay pot but there is no hole on the bottom!.
This is easily fixed by drilling a hole using a specific drill bit. If you’ve never drilled a hole in a pot before, that’s okay. Just watch a quick YouTube video.
I only move my sansevieria plants when they need a little more space to move around or when I buy a new plant and need to take it out of the plastic pot it came in. I choose pots that give my new plant about 2 inches of space to grow all the way around the pot.
This gives the plant room to grow but it’s still a bit snug. If you plant your sansevieria in a pot that is too big, the soil will stay wet for longer, which can cause root rot.
If you use a terracotta pot, keep in mind that the water will probably end up on the surface that the pot is on because the pot lets the water breathe.
Put a plate or something else that doesn’t absorb water under the pot if it’s on a wood floor or surface. This will keep the pot from damaging the surface.
With its upright sword-like leaves and nearly indestructible nature it’s no wonder Mother-In-Law’s Tongue is such a popular houseplant. Also called snake plant or sansevieria, this sturdy succulent tolerates neglect like a pro yet thrives with minimal care. Read on to master growing and caring for this beginner-friendly plant.
Overview of Mother-In-Law’s Tongue
Native to tropical Africa, Mother-In-Law’s Tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata) is an evergreen perennial plant in the asparagus family It forms dense clumps of stiff, erect leaves that emerge from thick rhizomes underground The leaves are banded light and dark green with a sharp point.
This plant earned its common name from the long, sharp foliage resembling a mother-in-law’s sharp tongue. Other nicknames include snake plant, snake tongue, viper’s bowstring hemp, and St. George’s sword
While not the showiest houseplant, Mother-In-Law’s Tongue adds intrigue with bold, architectural leaves in green, yellow, or variegated forms. Small flowers occasionally bloom but are rare indoors. These hardy succulents thrive for years with minimal care.
Growing Conditions for Mother-In-Law’s Tongue
While adaptable to various conditions, Mother-In-Law’s Tongue grows best in:
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Light: Bright, indirect light indoors. Can tolerate some direct sun but avoid hot afternoon rays.
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Temperature: Average room temps between 65-80°F. Avoid cold drafts.
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Water: Allow soil to partially dry out between waterings. Reduce in winter.
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Soil: Fast-draining potting mix. Loamy soil amended with perlite, sand, or gravel.
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Fertilizer: Liquid fertilizer every 2-3 months during growth. Avoid overfeeding.
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Humidity: Average to dry humidity. Tolerates low humidity well.
How to Care for Mother-In-Law’s Tongue
Caring for this succulent houseplant is simple with a few basic guidelines:
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Light: Place in bright, indirect light for best growth. Some morning sun is tolerated. Leaves will scorch if light is too intense.
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Soil: Use a loose, sandy potting mix that drains quickly. Amend garden soil with sand or perlite.
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Water: Allow the top inch of soil to dry out between waterings. Water less in winter.
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Temperature: Average room temperature between 65-80°F. Avoid cold drafts.
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Fertilizer: Feed monthly in spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted by half.
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Repotting: Repot every 2-3 years in spring, or when rootbound. Size up 1-2 inches.
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Pruning: Remove dead leaves as needed. Cut back overgrown plants or separate offsets.
Watering Mother-In-Law’s Tongue
As a succulent, Mother-In-Law’s Tongue prefers drier conditions and resent overwatering. Allow the top inch or so of soil to dry out between waterings. Water less frequently in winter when growth slows.
Check soil moisture before watering. Stick your finger into the potting mix to gauge if its dry or still damp beneath the surface. Only water when needed.
When watering, pour water slowly until it drains from the container’s bottom holes. Avoid getting moisture on the leaves, as wet foliage can lead to fungal issues.
If planted in ground, provide supplemental water during droughts, especially if in full sun. A thick layer of mulch helps retain soil moisture.
Fertilizing Mother-In-Law’s Tongue
While Mother-In-Law’s Tongue grows well in poor soil, occasional fertilizer benefits healthy growth. Use a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer diluted to half strength.
Fertilize monthly during the active growing season in spring through summer. Discontinue feeding over winter when growth slows.
As a succulent, it’s easy to overfertilize Mother-In-Law’s Tongue. Avoid overfeeding, as excess salts can burn the tender root tips. Flushing the soil periodically removes any built up salts.
If desired, top-dress containers with worm castings or compost to provide slow-release nutrition without risk of fertilizer burn.
Repotting Mother-In-Law’s Tongue
Mother-In-Law’s Tongue enjoys being slightly rootbound, so repot every 2-3 years in spring at most. Repotting yearly can lead to overwatering issues in oversized containers.
Move plants up just one pot size, about 1-2 inches wider. Use a container with drainage holes and well-draining cactus/succulent soil amended with extra perlite or sand.
To repot, gently loosen the root ball and transfer to the new container. Fill gaps with fresh potting mix, tamp down gently, and water well to settle soil.
Propagating Mother-In-Law’s Tongue
This easy plant propagates readily from divisions or leaf cuttings:
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Divisions: Gently divide crowded clumps, ensuring each division has some roots. Replant sections in small pots.
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Leaf cuttings: Cut a leaf near its base and insert upright into moist potting mix. New plants will sprout at the cut end.
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Rhizome cuttings: Cut sections of the underground rhizomes with leaf nodes attached. Bury in soil like leaf cuttings.
Keep new plants warm and moist, avoiding direct sun until established. Pot up plants once rooted.
Common Problems With Mother-In-Law’s Tongue
When provided proper care, Mother-In-Law’s Tongue remains pest and disease free. Potential issues include:
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Leaf tips turning brown from inconsistent watering or dry air. Improve watering and increase humidity.
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Leaf spots or soft rot from overwatering. Allow soil to dry between waterings.
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Leaf yellowing with soggy soil indicates root rot. Repot in fresh mix after removing diseased roots.
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Wrinkled, shriveled leaves signify under-watering. Resume regular watering.
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Mealybugs, aphids, or spider mites can sometimes be bothersome pests. Wipe away with cotton swabs dipped in alcohol or insecticidal soap.
With its minimal care needs and near-indestructible nature, Mother-In-Law’s Tongue makes an excellent low maintenance houseplant worth adding to any indoor garden.
How Much Light Does a Snake Plant Need?
The wonderful thing about sansevieria is that it can handle diverse lighting situations. The plant does better in bright light, like near a window, but it can also grow in a darker area of your home.
The plant can handle low light, and it will do well in a room with low light. When my son goes to school, there is a room with no windows that has a very pretty sansevieria. The only light comes from fluorescent bulbs that are on during the day.
It’s amazing to see this plant thrive in what appears to be poor lighting conditions. It really is a very flexible plant. I have sansiervieras all over my house, and each one is in a different light situation. The ones near the windows will grow faster for sure, but the ones that don’t get much light are still fine (almost as big).
When it comes to lighting, remember that just because something can live in low light doesn’t mean it will do well in it. They will definitely grow better in bright light.
I feel better about my snake plant when I forget about it. Only water it when the soil is dry. To make sure the soil is dry, I like to stick my finger about 3 to 4 inches into it. If there is a little moisture in the soil, then I will check it again in a week.
How your plant holds moisture will depend on where you live. Where you live will determine how quickly it dries out. If it’s dry where you live, it will hold water longer. Never water my succulents or other plants that like it dry out when it rains. This is a very important tip that I have learned.
Watering on rainy days keeps my plants soggy and they take longer to dry out. Or, if there is rain in the forecast, I will wait to water until the rain is over. I water my sansevierias every 2-3 weeks. In winter, I taper off watering and water about every 4 weeks.
When watering, my rule of thumb is to just water the first 6 inches of soil. I don’t soak my plants with water because of the threat of root rot. I’d rather under water than over water them.
People who have Sansevierias should be careful not to get water on the leaves when they water. Instead, pour the water on the soil. When new growth is coming in on sansevieria, little leaves form rosettes.
These rosettes do not like getting wet or especially don’t like water pooling in them. Water in the rosettes can be detrimental to your plant, so try to avoid that at all costs. Sansevierias like room temperature water.
If you water your plants with city or tap water, you can leave it out in the open for 24 hours to get rid of some of the chemicals. After 24 hours, the water is cleaner and healthier for our plant.
It will be better for your sansevieria in the long run if you leave the water out. Fluoride and chlorine can build up in it. Using filtered water or collected rain water is a great option too!.
Dusting the leaves is a wonderful habit that your sansevieria will thank you for. I grab a slightly damp cloth (not too wet!) and wipe the leaves down on both sides. This will help the sun hit the plant and not block photosynthesis from taking place.
I turn my plant every time I water it. Turning your plant will promote even growth (especially if your plant is near a window). Keep your windows clean, both inside and out. This can make a big difference in how much light gets to your plant. Squeaky clean windows will let in more light!.
Propagating a sansevieria is a fun and wonderful process to watch. You can propagate in water or in soil. I personally love propagating in water because you can see the new root growth happening before your eyes.
If you’d like to propagate your sansevieria, simply cut off a leaf using a freshly washed tool. Scissors are great because you can cut the bottom of the leaf straight or in a “V” shape. This “V” gives your plant more real estate to grow new roots.
Grab a glass vase or jar and stick your newly cut leaf in it. I like to sill my water about 4 inches above the bottom of my freshly cut leaf. Keep your plant in the water and watch little roots start to sprout!.
Change the water and rinse the vessel anytime the water gets cloudy. I place my new cutting in front of a window so they can soak up lots of light. You can leave the leaf in the water once the roots start to grow—I’ve done that for months—and it will still be fine.
When the roots have sufficient growth (1-2 inches is great), you can pot it in soil! Super easy!
If you want to use the soil method to make more plants, just cut your plant in half like we did above and put the new plant in a pot with damp soil. You can’t see the roots growing with the water method, so you need to make sure the soil doesn’t dry out too much.
As the roots spread out and grow, they will need to stay in touch with the soil. If you are trying to make more plants, don’t let the plant dry out too much. I’ll check on my freshly propagated leaves and give them more attention than usual.
If the soil has become bone dry, then I will give them a good soak in water. It is very satisfying when your new plant takes root and even begins growing new leaves!.
Finally, one of the best things about sansevieria is that it has many species. This plant belongs to a large and beautiful plant family. The classic and most popular plant is the sword-shaped leaf that you see EVERYWHERE (like in this post).
Don’t be afraid to try new species because their care is very similar. Here are two different sansevieria I have in my home. It’s amazing how unique each one is!.
Mother-in-laws Tongue Plant Care Snake Plant – Sansevieria
FAQ
How do you care for a mother in law plant indoors?
How often should you water your mother-in-law’s tongue?
How much light does a mother-in-law plant need?
Should I mist my mother in law tongue plant?
How do you care for a mother-in-law’s tongue plant?
Put the jar in bright, indirect sunlight. Change the water every few days until roots appear at the base of the snake plant. Once you have a rooted leaf cutting, plant it in an appropriate potting medium. Water thoroughly and put in bright light, protected from direct sunlight. Care for the new mother-in-law’s tongue plant as usual.
What is a mother in law plant?
No matter what you call it, mother in law plant, sansevieria trifasciata, viper’s bowstring hemp, St. George’s sword, or snake plant, this is one of the all-time favorite houseplants around the world. The noticeable popularity of the mother in law tongue plant is not by accident, it is elegant, it is low-maintenance, and offers several benefits.
Where do mother in law plants grow best?
As a houseplant, it is best you locate it in a spot with indirect but steady light with some direct sun. They also survive in full sun or dimly lit conditions. Mother in law plant grows best in warm weather. But in cold conditions?
How to trim mother in law tongue plant?
Use a clay pot (snake plant’s strong roots can easily crack weak pots) and use gloves to handle the mother in law plant to avoid skin irritations. Keep in mind that it is better to re-pot your plant in spring. How To Trim Mother-In-Law Tongue Plant? You can trim the mother in law plant with sterile scissors or a sharp knife.