Could you contact the seller and send these pictures to show how they damaged it? They should send you a replacement.

i doubt if it will die, but it will most likely take a long time to grow out of it. The leaves may straighten out a little, but I don’t think they will look very nice.

Good luck on getting a new one.

Thanks Barb, I do plan on contacting them and showing them the photos and see what they say.

Grannymarie, your sans won't die but most leaves will remain damaged. Hopefully the company will do something about it. I don't know if you're into propagating, but if you end up keeping the sans you can propagate the damaged leaves and get more Fernwood... perhaps to trade for other sansevierias. It's pretty easy to do, we can tell you how if you decide to go for it. You can also propagate your trifasciata leaves, but rules are sometimes different regarding the new plants that will be produced.

Russ

Russ, I was afraid that would be the case. I can tell it was a beautiful specimen before they boxed it up so it's a real shame.

I've read up on and watched videos of propagating sans' but so far have never done it but yes, I would like to try it. Is it something I can do anytime or best to do next Spring?

I emailed the seller and nicely explained the situation and included the photos. So we'll see what happens.

I repotted my fernwood this morning. The soil was dry when I unpotted it and the dirt came off the roots easily. I didn't even have to rinse them. The roots looked good.

I decided to separate one of the babies and put it in it's own pot. Please let me know if the pot is too big and if I took it too soon.

The crushed leaves are looking more shriveled today and are turning grey in sections. I took some photos so you can see if besides the damage does it also look parched? I'm wondering if I should water it a little even though I just repotted it. Should I cut those leaves back? Are the leaves in the two bottom photos healthy enough to propagate? (sorry for so many questions).

The seller got back to me this morning, apologized and said he will send out a carefully packaged new plant. I received notice it was shipped this afternoon. I'm holding my breath that it will arrive in good shape. I won't buy from him again but do appreciate that he is taking responsibility to try and make it right.

Hi, I'm glad you're getting a new plant.

I think the leaves in 2 lower pics are okay for propagating. The great sans expert Juan Chahinian has said it's better to prop the entire leaf, that a cutting without it's top won't produce as many plants. Let the cut end dry a few more days, then you can plant them. It's not the best time of year to propagate, but it can be done if you keep the cuttings warm enough and in enough bright light. Warmth being more important than light.

Tops of leaves that are severely crimped will die back above the crimp, you can cut them there or cut the entire leaf where it joins the stem. If the bottom part is in fair shape you can propagate it even tho it doesn't have a top. The danger is that you are overrun with Fernwoods in every room.

In my opinion, the offset is overpotted. How long are the roots on the offset and how big is that pot? My initial pot for new offsets is one that will just fit the roots, even if roots are curled against pot sides to make them fit. Too much soil stays wet too long and can potentially rot roots, small pots require more attention to drying and watering, but far less likely to have rot issues.

More questions are no problem, even encouraged.

Are you in a state with very cold winters?

Russ

Russ, the offset I potted is in a pot that has a 6" top diameter and 4" top/bottom depth. The roots just about touch the sides of the pot with 2" amount of soil under the roots. I can put it in a smaller pot if that would give it a better chance.

I know what you mean about being overrun with possible propagated Fernwoods! I want to see what condition the new plant is in before I decide to propagate or not. A relative already is begging me for the damaged plant!

I'm in Ohio with very cold winters so we have the heat on from around middle Oct/Nov-March. Inside winter temp is 69/70F. And I use a humidifier in winter.

What do you think about watering the mother plant now or should I still wait longer since I just repotted it? I've never had a Fernwood before so can't determine if the deep middle crease on the undamaged leaves are normal or signs of being a little parched?

Grannymarie, I am happy to hear that you are getting a replacement! I think you will like growing this one.

Fernwood has become one of my favorites. Easy to grow and attractive. I love those tapered leaves. When I got mine several years ago, it was a bunch of 6 inch cuttings all crammed into a tiny mesh cup. This was hidden in a small pot of soil. Must have been 15 or 20 tiny plants in there. I gave away quite a few extras. i kept a clump of 6 little plants. Now I have a nice full plant. Will have to repot one of these days.

Barbmock, that's encouraging! I love this plant even with the damage. It's so graceful and yet strong just like the sans attitude should be. I am really enjoying all the different 'varieties' and growing my collection. So far I have two Shark Fins, one Laurentii, one little Cylindrica, and three birdnests and the Fernwood. There are more I want but don't have the space. The fine people here have helped me immensely to learn how to take care of them properly.

Granniemarie, personally I would pot down to a 4" or even 3 1/2". 6" is too big for it, especially going into your cold winter. Twisting the stem as you lower it into the small pot will gently curl the roots against the sides of the pot. Regarding the big plant being parched, I take your meaning to be dehydrated, and it could be if the leaf creases are very deep. I would go ahead and water it but be sure to keep it as warm as possible. When you repotted, how much bigger is the new pot vs the old one? Also, what potting mix are you using?

Granniemarie, personally I would pot down to a 4" or even 3 1/2". 6" is too big for it, especially going into your cold winter. Twisting the stem as you lower it into the small pot will gently curl the roots against the sides of the pot. the big being parched, I take your meaning to be dehydrated, and it could be if the leaf creases are very deep. I would go ahead and water it but be sure to keep it as warm as possible. When you repotted, how much bigger is the new pot vs the old one? Also, what potting mix are you using?vs the old one? Also, what potting mix are you using?

Good to see you Barb! I thought of you yesterday when I watered the tiny, creeping philo you sent me.

Russ

PS... your Shark Fin sans is a species called S. masoniana. It's old name was Mason Congo, or Mason's Congo, also erroneously marketed as Whale Fin and several other names. It can get leaves nearly 4 feet tall and over a foot wide.

Thanks Russ, I will repot the little one into a 4" pot tomorrow if I don't have a 3 1/2". I'm using Espoma C/S mixed with 50% pumice and a tiny amount of small bark pieces I had. Was going to add grit and pumice but ran out of grit.

I planted the big plant into a maybe 2" bigger pot. Ignore the awful pink colored pot which was the only one I had that size. The outer lower leaves are almost touching the sides of the pot with about 2" of soil under the roots. The empty black pot is the same size pot the plant came in which was a tight fit. I can try and buy one that's between those two sizes if that would be better.....or plant it in the black pot?

Yes, I meant dehydrated (couldn't think of the word). I will add some water tomorrow morning.

I am looking forward to my masonianas getting bigger though I may have to get rid of some furniture! The first one I bought at a local nursery and it had no name, not even 'snake plant'. The second was purchased online and was labeled a whale fin sans. Then I read people called it a shark fin sans. Then I learned it was actually a masoniana. So wasn't sure what to call them so they wouldn't be insulted. Will start referring to them as masoniana. Thanks.

PS: I also always add lots of extra holes to the bottom of the pots I use.

That pink pot looks perfect and 2" bigger is ideal. Your potting mix also sounds good, so I think you're all set.

I wasn't criticizing on the masoniana, just didn't know if you knew the official name. Many growers prefer Mason Congo, and it does lend a note of "dark continent" mystery to the plant. Whale's Tail and Shark Fin were undoubtedly made up by sellers who didn't know what it was and didn't care enough to find out.

Yay, glad I'm on the right track!

No worries, I knew you weren't criticizing. I appreciate your input. There's so much confusing info out there for us novices it's refreshing to be able to talk to people who can help sift through it all so it makes sense.

Grannymarie, Did you ever get a new Fernwood? Did the damagedon perk up?

Just being curious.

Barbmock, the replacement Fernwood is beautiful! It arrived packaged much better with no damage. Here's a photo. I need to figure out a way to support it because when I move it to water it if it's tilted at all it pulls out of the dirt very easily.

The damaged one is hanging in there but I had to cut off some of the bad leaves since they were getting worse, turning grey and shriveling.