Sansevieria trifasciata
Mother-in-law's tongue
- Height × spread
- 0.8m × 0.2m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Heated greenhouse 10C & above (RHS H1b)
- Flowers
- Summer
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This is a handsome foliage plant. Its broad leaves, held upright, are banded and mottled in deep and silvery green shade. They could be the coat of an animal that seeks to camouflage itself. The occasional flowers are small and green but emit a fragrance during the night. These do best in a partly shaded position. It is unlikely to be more than around half a metre tall in a container in the house, but can achieve nearly a metre when grown out of doors in a warm place. It is not frost hardy.
- Flower colour
- Green
- Foliage colour
- Green, Silver
- Variegated
- Yes
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Cube
- Height
- 0.8m
- Spread
- 0.2m
- Height in 10 years
- 0.45m
- Flowers in
- Summer
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Indoors, Conservatory
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun
- Soil type
- Gravelly soil, Poor soil
- Soil pH
- Alkaline
- Drainage
- Well drained soil
- Hardiness
- Heated greenhouse 10C & above (RHS H1b)
- Borders & containers
- Borders and containers
- Indoor light
- A light position not direct sun
- Indoor temperature
- 13C minimum temperature
- Maintenance
- Easycare – low/no maintenance
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring-Summer · Indoors
Feed with houseplant food
Use a balanced house plant feed that has been diluted so it is half strength. Feed the plant monthly with this from May until August.
Where food elements are listed as three numeric values on the label representing in order Nitrogen(N)-Phosphorus(P)-Potassium(K), with percentage values for each, choose one where the values are more or less equal.
Spring-Autumn · Indoors
Water regularly during growth
Water regularly while in growth.
Adopt a regime that means the plants are thoroughly watered every week so that they do not become dessicated. In hot weather watering may need to be more frequent, but less often in cool or moist conditions.
Winter
Winter-Spring · Indoors
Water lightly in winter
The soil should remain just moist during the cold months when the plant is not in growth. Trickle a little water onto the soil surface every couple of weeks if the soil is dry. Do nothing if it is moist.
The roots remain active in winter and benefit from small amounts of moisture so they don't become completely desiccated.
Planting & general
Compost · Planting
Loam based compost for repotting
Repot using any good quality standard compost.
Alternatively prepare a special compost that is best suited to the plant's needs: mix equal amounts of loam (John Innes no. 2 or 3), fine bark and grit.
Indoor temperature · Planting
13C minimum temperature
This plant requires a minimum temperature of 13 Centigrade.
Indoor plant · Planting
Position in indirect light indoors
Give the plant a position that is cool and light, and away from direct sunshine.
Found in
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