Sansevieria tips & guidance for a novice

5 years ago

Hello,

So I just got my first Sansevieria (actually my first house plant), and wanted to get some tips and guidance from the pros :)

The one I got is pretty young (I think, as it is relatively short). Basically, I would love it to grow high (60-70 cm and even more) and as fast as possible (I would've got a bigger one but they didn't have any).

Here are pictures of it:

The (ceramic) pot has no drainage holes, this is how the place I got it from planted it for me. Is this critical? I can drill holes at the bottom if necessary.

I think the plant it self looks healthy? but it has several brown tips and "marks" on it. Is there anything I can do to "fix" this?

And three more critical questions:

How should I water it? I was told by the place I got it from to water it with 1/2 cup of water "every 20 days" (but I know it should be done only when the soil is completely dry)
Where is the best place to place it, so it will grow the fastest? as seen on the first picture, I can place it near a (north) window with plenty of sun.
Fertilizer - how to use it, assuming I want fast growth?

Thanks!!

Featured Answer

Stush2049 Pitts. PA, zone 6

5 years ago

All good advise given.

Only thing I will add is if your Sansevieria is a 'Futura' then it is about as tall as it's going to get but most likely it's trifasciata and will get up to 50" in good conditions and only taller if grown in the wild. Could you take it outside during your summers? If so it will respond the most during those times. Bright shade for the first month before getting it to direct sun which would burn it.

Any damage to the leaves are there for good. Could finely cut the bad sections out but I would leave well enough alone.

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Comments (6)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
5 years ago
you are not going to speed it up to grow faster other than by addressing the base cultural requirements ...

fert is not going to do such ... its genetic ..

perfect light .. and i doubt the window i see is good enough ...

perfect watering ... insert finger and learn how to figure it out. ... its not a schedule thing.. until you perfect the schedule in your house ..

find a plastic pot that will fit in your pretty pot.. and put it in the plastic pot.. and never let water accumulate in the pretty pot ... after you let it settle down.. see below ...

which means.. perfect drainage ...

and.. try not to kill it with too much love.. it will grow as well as its environment allows it.. and you are not going to speed up the process otherwise ...

its stressed.. from repotting.. and moving to your house.. give it nothing but proper water for at least a month .. and let it settle down... fert is not a response to stress ...

ken
socks
5 years ago
As Ken said, it does need to be repotted in a pot with a hole. If you drill a hole in that pot it could work unless the roots are very small, in which case you might need to size down a little. You need to repot it in commercial cactus and succulent mix combined 50-50 with perlite or pumice from your nursery. Gently remove the mix in which it came when repotting.

When you water, take it to a sink or outside and water thoroughly until it runs out the hole and allow to drain completely. You can tell when it’s dry by putting a wooden skewer into the potting mix for several minutes, and when you pull it out if it’s damp you don’t need to water.

Don’t worry about fast growth. Just enjoy it as it is because it’s a good size, beautiful plant. These plants are known for surviving in low light situations but it will benefit from the best light you can give it. If you were going to put it in the north window, transition slowly into that much light.

If you are going to double pot as Ken suggested, make sure the plant has drained thoroughly, maybe overnight, before placing it back into the green pot.

I don’t fertilize much maybe twice a year if that, half strength. Enjoy your plant!
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Yuval
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks for the quick replies! I went to the nursery and they didn't have any cactus & succulent mix. They had a "heavy soil" mix they tried to sell me as a cactus soil. From the I read, this is the complete opposite? heavy soil retains water while cactus soil helps to drain water faster?
Basia K
5 years ago
Yes, you are quite right, you need succulent soil for the sansevieria - lots of grit, perlite, small ceramic chips, lava, anything mineral and small amount of organic soil mixed into it. Very porous, very fast-draining. Good thing you did not yourself be talked into buying that "heavy" soil!
Sans2014
5 years ago
Sanseveria love it hot and love bright light. They hate cold and damp. Never put a plant into full sun without acclimating it back to full sun. I assume you are keeping it in doors, so: Bright light, good air circulation, but not A/C drafts, water when dry untill water runs through the holes and never allow it to sit in the excess water for more than 10 minutes (which allows the soil to soak up what it wants). Use a weak liquid fertilizer in summer. Gritty soil is best (potting soil with 50% perlite works) Repot as the soil breaks down. once a year or every other year is a good practice.