help with cutting sansevieria bella

10 years ago

last modified: 10 years ago

Hello,
I have had this plant for about a year. I got it from the local botanical
garden with a tag 'Sansevieria Bella'.
About half a year ago it started spawning this side part, which has by
now grown to be about the size of the original plant. It's quite
lopsided now.
How do I cut and replant it without killing one or both of them?

Thank you very much! :)

PS: I know this is a very basic question, but I haven't been able to figure it out from the web. Some plants have to be just cut and left to dry and then plant, and some have to be put in the water.. but I'm not sure which to do. I really don't want to kill it.. and everyone here seems to know what they're talking about..

Featured Answer

Russ1023 (central Fla)

10 years ago

The offset will produce some nubs of roots near the base of the plant, and if left alone those roots will grow longer in search of soil. I usually cut the plant away once it has roots from nub-size to an inch or so, any longer and they interfere with potting it in an appropriate pot size.

However, it'd be good if you can wait until spring and warmer temps before you cut and pot it. If you want to let it root into a pot of soil as was suggested, just place the pot on an empty inverted pot or something else to raise it to the level of the offset. Obviously no point in doing this until you see roots.

Keep us posted, pics appreciated!!

Russ

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

lmontestella
10 years ago
Hi,

Sorry no one seems to have seen this or responded.

That's a great looking plant you've got there! If mine, I'd leave it be, as is. Is there a reason you want to cut it? Limited space problems I could understand.

(I've never seen that Sans name before.) Not sure where I'd cut it if I did cut it, maybe 2 -3" below the base of the newer growth, so you have some stem w/ which to insert it into the new mix? Leave it out to dry for a couple of days & insert into mix?

Let's see what others have to say.

Lena
Mentha (East TN, Zone 6B-7A)
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
If it were my plant, I'd pin the offshoot into another pot or air layer it then when it's rooted well, stage it in a an oblong pot and let the pup root into the other end. I wouldn't cut it off either.
Related Professionals
California Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Aurora Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Kenosha Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Fort Collins Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Leominster Landscape Contractors · Murrieta Landscape Contractors · Montrose Landscape Contractors · Yakima Landscape Contractors · Cowansville Landscape Contractors · Rocky Mount Architects & Building Designers · Wilmington Architects & Building Designers · Burlington Architects & Building Designers · South Sioux City Architects & Building Designers · Middletown Architects & Building Designers · Marinette Architects & Building Designers
Stush2049 Pitts. PA, zone 6
10 years ago
Leave it alone. It will produce it's own roots under the plant. You could place it above a pot and watch it grow roots into it. Then cut it if you want. It may continue to grow another off shoot and go off like a snake.

Stush
barbmock
10 years ago
I hope this person is still reading along here. I agree with the others, the charm of this type of plant is the cascading effect of the pups. Eventually you may want to remove some of them, but the fun of it is to see where it's going with the new growth. Nice plant!
otsihpem41
Original Author
10 years ago
Hi, yes, I'm still reading along! I've learned more things from lurking, and found out I actually have another Sans as well, with a new pup that looks more conventional, according to all the pictures here. I'm not at home, so I can't show..

I'm very happy I got answers for my plant situation. The winter plant window (facing south) is quite full right now, so I thought about what could be changed. My plants are spilling over, and they keep multiplying.. it should still be possible for a while, and then it will be time to move to the summer window (facing west, on the then-off heating) which has more space.

So everyone agrees to just leave it if possible. Putting another pot unterneath would be hard because the shoot is going up from the place it starts, which is already ~1cm above the soil.Or will it actually try to go down that far?

I could try air layering- thanks for the suggestion! It's a new concept to me and looks a bit scary at first glance. Maybe I'll just observe the situation a bit, since I now know it's fine.

Thank you everyone for your generous advice! :)

Katja
Mentha (East TN, Zone 6B-7A)
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
The plant will eventually weigh itself down enough to be level with the mother plant as it grows.
hellkitchenguy Manuel
10 years ago
Air Layering can be fun. I tried it once on my poinsettia. Just something to keep in mind going forward. You might want to try it in the future with this, or with some other plant