Least Finicky Sans? Choosing between more light or more heat?

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

I am a habitual sans killer/overwaterer trying hard to reform. I've repotted into a perlite and grit mixed with C&S soil mix and I have stopped watering my sans 'every Saturday' and try to make sure they are dry dry dry before watering again.

Having read a little here, I think cold may be my next biggest problem. My sunniest room in winter is also the coldest--down to 58 sometimes at night, and maybe colder close to the glass doors that let in the light. It's almost never above 65 down there November thru March. To bring the plants upstairs to where it's warm, they will lose at least half the light :(For the best shot at success with my two remaining sans, should I put them in the cool, bright room or the warm, less bright room?

Zone 6, old house, smallish windows >:-( but they do all face east or west.

Also, reading here makes me aware some sans are perhaps easier to raise than others. Please recommend the least finicky/sturdiest for me to try hard not to kill. The two I have now are small varieties and I'd like to try some others but I'm not at the adventurous stage yet.

Thanks!

Featured Answer

Stush2049 Pitts. PA, zone 6

9 years ago

I have some regular sans in by back pantry room that is cold and little light and so fare they are doing fine. I don't water them at all except maybe once every month and a half. And them it's very little. They are in plastic pots and very gritty soil. Mix is poultry grit 60 to 80% to any potting soil around. Poultry grit is granite chips. Picture is from last summer outside.

They were half dead and had mealies when I got them back after two years. Treated them and re-potted them up. These are the toughest sans I ever owned. I find Sans. trifasciata Futura 'Whitney' and 'Eve' to be very hardy as well.

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Comments (6)

lme5573
9 years ago
Personally, I keep my sans upstairs, where the temps dip to 65 at night. They don't get a lot of light, but my goal is to have them survive. I water them in the morning so they have drained away the excess water when the temps drop at night. I don't keep them on the windowsill, they are on a table next to the window, and I draw the curtains at night to keep the chill away.

I believe heat is a huge factor for sans. Last summer, I moved mine to the back porch when it heated up, and some of them pupped for the first time. I brought them inside when night time temps dropped to the mid-50s, I thought that was cold enough. The jades stayed out until temps were mid-40s, they are much hardier.

Here's my disclaimer - I'm not an expert, but this is what works for me. I'm in Michigan, which I think is zone 5, so my "warm" summer would make some of you guys laugh, but my coldest winter temps would make you gasp.

Hope this helps. Lennie in SW lower Michigan.
maggiepatty thanked lme5573
floorwalker IN zone 5b/6
9 years ago
Something else that might help. Monitor the temp of the water. I can't remember who said it here...but they keep their plant water at 80. I put tap water in a plastic gallon jug...then put that jug on my oven which has a pilot light just below the metal surface. It warms the water very well. I measure the water temp. And pour as needed.
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M P
9 years ago
Thank you both. I decided to try an experiment. I got three new snake plants today. Two are upstairs, one is downstairs. I will see how they do. It's not a perfectly scientific experiment bc they are in different pots (one new terra cotta, the other in glazed ceramic) but I'm looking forward to seeing the results.
Sans2014
9 years ago
One thing to remember about grittier mixes is they dry out faster- I have had some issues with gritty type mix in terracotta- they get too dry which can also cause root damage. I find plastic pots work better with gritty mixes. You'll have to experiment to see which works best for you. For now your current experiment is enough, lol!

Let us know what happens with your plants, we all love updates!
maggiepatty thanked Sans2014
barbmock
9 years ago
Another idea, you might try one under a flourescent light in the warmer part of your home. Stush grows lots of his under lights in the winter.