Shop Products
Houzz Logo Print
melissa_thefarm

Growing Sansevierias: subtleties

melissa_thefarm
16 years ago

I got my first Sansevieria around Jan 2005, a S. trifasciata 'Laurentii', of course, and placed my first order with a specialist spring of the following year. So I have a definite interest in Sansevierias, but after the better part of three years, I have more questions than answers about their cultivation, and I suspect I have a lot of company. I'm wondering if they aren't plants that require more 'Fingerspitzengefuehl'--'fingertip sense', a German word for intuition--than most, a lighter touch. So far I've only killed one plant, S. ballyi, a variety I'm assured is unkillable. But my 'Bantel's Sensation' is okay.

So here are some of my thoughts, absolutely not guaranteed to be correct. The first is that it may be worth dividing Sansevierias into two groups, the desert-y ones and the jungly ones. The ones in the first group have cylindrical leaves with spiny tips and rough skins: they would accept more sun and be more susceptible to rot through overwatering. The jungle tribe have broader, flatter leaves, are greener (fewer blues and grays), and don't prick you. They would require less sun and do better with some moisture in the atmosphere. Variegated forms are botanical freaks with their own particular needs. All this is just a hypothesis with I plan on keeping in mind, and I'd appreciate feedback if anyone has any thoughts on it.

My second thought is that subtle factors may greatly influence whether Sansevierias live or perish, thrive or mope. For example. When I got home after two months in the U.S., I found that my S. trifasciata 'Moonshine' (I think it is) had its pot broken and roots exposed, and was dying but not beyond hope. I repotted and watered it and it began to recover. It didn't return to full health, however, until a rainy spell came along. Then 'Moonshine' plumped out and began to put out new growth, and has been fine ever since. We have dry summers here, a factor I already know affects plants, my roses for example rarely getting black spot. Most of the eastern and central U.S. has humid summers, while parts of the West are quite dry. It could make a difference.

Then, temperatures. I have my Sans outside at present and have been watching the thermometer nervously as the lows lately have been around 50F and the days are getting short. I just shifted several from their spot under the pergola and the densely leafy persimmon to a place close to the southfacing house wall and under a roof for protection in case it rains. The house is masonry, that wall is over a foot thick, and the weather is sunny and dry. The wall is undoubtedly soaking up a good deal of heat during the day and releasing it at night; also they'll get a little sun there. This is where most of my succulents--not the Sansevierias, they're too tender--spend the winter. So I'm wondering whether not only temperatures, but the type of heat affect the wellbeing of Sansevierias. Our house is all masonry, which absorbs heat and then releases it slowly. My room where my Sans. spent the winter last year has our wood stove on the opposite side of one wall. The wood stove heats the wall as well as the air so that radiant heat from the wall warms the house at night when the fire isn't going. Wood heat is also supposed to be less drying. I don't know exactly what the consequences for the Sansevierias are, but it is a different kind of heat than in many U.S. houses.

I would love to hear what you other Sansevieria growers think of these ideas, and hear your own thoughts.

Melissa

Comments (4)

  • flicker
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Melissa, Everyone who wants to grow more than the most common sans has lots of problems to start with. Buy a copy of "The Splendid Sansevieria" by Juan Chahinian. It is not perfect but it will answer some of your questions. It is not amature friendly, having lots of botany vocabulary, but you can learn from it.
    I have had the same questions that you just raised. And why are such different looking plants as cylindrica and trifasciata both considered
    sansevieria?
    Johanna

  • melissa_thefarm
    Original Author
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Johanna,
    The book is on my list of things to buy, when I can find the money among other things. From what I hear I gather that it's imperfect but highly useful. I would like to get beyond the rank beginner stage with Sansevierias, but I can see that it is going to take a while.
    Melissa

  • Maryl (Okla. Zone 7a)
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I just bought the book and it is useful to an extent. It has mostly species plants, so there are lots of similar looking plants throughout. Of course it could be the fault of the genus not the book that the excitement level is low. What I've taken away from the book so far is that the cylindrical forms need high light and that the flater varieties need less (fits with deserty-tropical experience). The book is a quality publication, I just wish it had more information for we non-collectors who don't wish to collect more then the more stand out varieties.... I found your experiences interesting and am glad you posted them. Nothing like real life conditions.

  • dufflebag2002
    16 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Melissa your observations are right on. If they have a soft tip, it will require more water, thin leaves don't hold has much water and the thick leaves species hold a great deal. This is the importance of knowing the names so you may ask about the plant, and you are on the same page when you are asking a question, I find the Juan Chahinian books easy to read for a beginner. It takes years to be knowledgeable. Do any of you belong to the San. Society, that would be a great place to learn. After a while your instincts kick in and you will not afraid to use your common sense. Observe them, feel them, notice the differences, ask a lot of questions and challanges responses, ask where did they get that information. You will not learn or know in a year what it took the rest of us who collected this species for the past 30 years. So be patient with your self, learn a fact each day. If you can't afford the books then do Goggle searches, or International Sansevieria Organization much information can be found on the computer, even reading the Ebay auctions, many growers write a small paragraphe about the species he is trying to sell.(raresan) There is a SAn Journal. Endangered species has a whole book you can download. These growers are there to help you. On my other group the members give away free plants. Norma

Sponsored
MAC Design + Build
Average rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars18 Reviews
Loudon County Full-Service Design/Build Firm & Kitchen Remodeler