Intro
The Sansevieria is one of the easiest plants to care for. It is only possible to do wrong with this plant by giving too much water.The Sansevieria belongs to the family of the Agavaceae. In 2009 the plant won the prize for student plant of the year, surviving the worst neglect.
Location
The Sansevieria has few requirements for light intensity. It is advisable to place the plant a little further from the window. Near the window, lighter leaves can cause loss of ornamental value. The Sansevieria does not care much how much light there is. However, the plant does come from the desert so it would prefer a little more sunlight, but the shade is just as good.
Watering
It is very important to know that you can only give the plant the wrong water if you give too much water. So when in doubt, never water the plant. The soil should be well dried when the plant is watered again. If this doesn’t happen, there is a chance that root rot will occur and the plant may die. It is also important to know that when you place the plant on a window facing south, you will have to water 2 to 3 times as much as when the plant is facing north.
Pruning
The Sansevieria cannot be pruned. This will stop the growth. Fortunately, it is not really necessary as the plant will not grow taller than 1.5 meters.
Repotting
The Sansevieria really only needs to be repotted when the roots are pushing against the pot. This will only be the case after 3 years. Always use a new pot that is at least 20% larger than the previous pot. This way the roots have enough space. It is advisable to use universal potting soil and otherwise cactus soil.
Nutrition
The Sansevieria grows slowly so the plant needs little extra nutrition.
Origin
The Sansevieria originates from the west of Africa, from Nigeria to the Congo, and belongs to the Succulents family. Nowadays the Sansevieria is mainly imported from Costa Rica, Guatemala, Thailand and China.
Sansevieria comes in many shapes and sizes and has developed its own style.
There are grey, green, yellow-green, twisted, rosette-shaped or with (artificially) coloured buds. There is something for everyone from 20 cm to 120 cm, thick and thin etc. Thanks to its air-purifying qualities, the oxygen content in the house is increased. The humidity is also improved so that you have less problems with a dry throat or skin.
Diseases
The Sansevieria hardly ever suffers from diseases. some aphid can attack the plant, this can easily be removed with a hard jet of water. If the plant really suffers from pests, it is advisable to combat this immediately with a biological or if desired a chemical pesticide. The plant can also suffer fungal attacks if soil is constantly damp, but can be treated with a good fungicide.