How do you sow Sansevieria seeds?

14 years ago

I am the proud owner of half a stalk of Sansevieria seeds, the first I've ever seen, that were given me. The plant was, if I remember, S. deserti; the fruits were pink-orange to red, pulpy, some wrinkled; the seeds are hard, pale, and slightly translucent. So now, what do I do with this treasure? Knowledgeable advice will be much appreciated.

I haven't been on this forum for quite a while, but I still have my Sansevierias, and by and large they're not doing badly. I haven't lost any in the last year, most look healthy, many are growing modestly. I have them outdoors against a south wall and under an awning in a September that's cooler than has been the case the last couple of years, and am wondering whether I ought to bring them in, even though I'm terrible with my Sans when they're indoors. Two plants have gotten infections ('Gilt Edge' and 'Fernwood') following a sudden dip in temperatures and excessive moisture, and had to have leaves amputated. I'm watching them all in a state of mildly worried indecision.

I gave up buying Sans from the specialist grower I was purchasing from a couple of years ago when the economy began to deteriorate, but the big stores like Ikea are beginning to carry some variety of cultivars, and I buy new kinds when I find them. Almost all are forms of trifasciata. My Sansevierias are all considered easy kinds, and I can see that it'll be a while before I'm ready for the major leagues, if indeed I ever am. I may never get beyond the basic limitations of my climate. The Sans's growing season is when they're out under the wisteria pergola in the summer, planted in free-draining potting soil with no saucers under their pots, enjoying the heat and getting watered every day, with other plants and mulch around to hang on to some humidity, as our air in summer is dry. They're happy then. The problem is that the season's too short. I didn't move my plants out until June this year, and now it's September and it's time to think about moving them back in again, to live in darkness and depression until the following May or June. I think most of my plants would like south Florida just fine, for example.

Melissa

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Comments (5)

tf.-drone
14 years ago
Hi Melissa,

there is no need to be depressed. i live 1000 km north of you and my Sans are doing fine, even the round-leafed ones. a southern window in full sun and moderate waterings do the trick. Mine are growing from march to october, no worries.

As for the seeds, that should be easy, but you should not hesitate. They germinate best when fresh. Just put them together in a rather small pot, press the seeds only slightly into the substrate, and wait. A slightly moist substrate is best. I put mine in a small green house (about 40*30*20 cm), bottom heat of 28Â° would be useful. germination rate should be 100 % then.

ATB, Helli
melissa_thefarm
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks, Helli!
I'll sow the seeds right away: thanks! About the my Sansevierias' winter existence, I'm not depressed (they are), but I have thirty-odd Sans and only one south-facing window in a heated room. That is exactly where my most light-needy Sans go, but there just isn't room enough for them all there. The rest have to pass the winter in rooms that aren't either light enough or warm enough to promote growth. But they live though, by the time they get out in late spring, they're might dusty and mighty starved. I may shift them out into the solarium for a few weeks, after all. They're almost certainly safer longer there than against the house.
Melissa
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woodnative
14 years ago
Good to see a post from you again. I can sympathize with your growing conditions, as I have the same problem here....Sans outside in summer and suffer stuffed in corners over winter.
I have not yet grown from seed, but please keep us posted. BTW, did you ever identify the Sans your hustand picked up for you.....dark green with a yellow edge?
melissa_thefarm
Original Author
14 years ago
Don't know, but I'm not fretting about it; I have several forms from supermarkets, local nurseries, etc. that are distinct but that I don't know the names of. It's pleasant to be welcomed back.
I moved the Sansevierias into the solarium, where they should do very nicely for another month or so, warm, dry, and well lit, before it gets too cold and they have to go in the house. I could do better with them in the house if I were sufficiently motivated and ingenious. I could mount fluorescent lights above them, and put them with trays below for watering, but raised on pebbles or sticks so that the roots didn't come in contact with the water that drained out. I'm too lazy or distracted, at least for the moment, but my plants are a pitiful sight by the time I take them out again in spring.
Melissa
norma_2006
14 years ago
Melissa, you may be able to just put a pot of water in the room, or in several places in the room, that is what I do in my greenhouse. You can also grow fleshy leaf plants to add humidity, that is what is done in the Huntington's Tropical greenhouse. It's worth a try. Enough plants in a room will clean the air as well as cause it's own humidity. Mine is down to 5% only. I wish it wasn't so expensive to send to Europe, or even if it was allowed. Norma