Mother In Law's Tongue
Common Name: Snake Plant, Mother In Law’s Tongue
Latin Name: Sansevieria
Family: Ruscaceae
Plant Type: Succulent
Origin: South Africa
Blooming Time: Rarely
Humidity: Low
Temperature: 60 – 85*F
Height: 4′
Color: Dark green, light green or creamy white
Insects and Diseases: Thrips, scale
Description:
Mother in Law’s Tongue has thick, vertical sword shaped leaves. The leaves are dark green and are accented with
lighter green bars going horizontal along the blade like leaves. Some varieties have a yellowish colored border along the leaves.
Lighting:
Bright indirect sunlight is recommended for Snake’s Tongue. The plant can survive in lower lighting conditions, but it will grow faster and have deeper colors when given brighter light.
Watering:
The soil should be kept barely moist, but not soaked. Watering can be done in sink or tub, to make sure that all the roots get water. But, make sure that there’s a hole in the bottom of the pot so that excess water can properly drain.
Soil:
Soil should retain water, but drain well to prevent root rot. A African Violet soil mixture will work very well when a little sand is added for drainage. To mix your own soil add 1 part garden soil, 1 part peat and 2 parts of Perlite or coarse sand.
Fertilization:
Snake’s Tongue should be fertilized once a month. Use a good quality water soluble mixture that is nitrate free.
Fertilizer is only needed during the growing season and shouldn’t be given during the winter months.
Propagation:
Propagation can be easily done through leaf cuttings or division of the plant. Keep leaf cuttings in evenly moist soil, provide occasional mistings and place them in filtered sunlight.
Toxicity-Poisonous:
All parts of the Snake Plant are mildly toxic, but the plant has been used in herbal remedies in some areas of the world. While low doses of the plant normally don’t produce any symptoms, large doses can cause vomiting or nausea.
The poison found in the plant can cause the tongue and throat to swell and be numb. In severe cases there may be distress in the digestive tract.
Tips:
Unlike most plants, Snake Tongue’s will droop when they’ve gotten too much water not too little! If the leaves have a wrinkled appearance or start to bend, the plant isn’t getting enough water!
Snake’s Tongue plants like to be root bound, repotting should be avoided unless the plant gets too heavy for the pot and can’t remain upright. When repotting, select a pot that is just a few sizes larger than the current pot.
Written by Connie Corder for HouseplantsForYou.com, Copyright 2008 All Rights Reserved
Hi
please help
the leaves of my snake pant easily come out of the soil. they have drooped to the left of the pot and can’t remain upright. one touch, and they leave the soil ocmpletely. What is wrong with it?
sarah
Can I planted my mother-in-law plant outdoor in the summer?
The mother-in-law plant cant tolerate temperatures much lower than 50 degrees F or much higher than 95, ideally the temp should be between 60 and 85. Keep this in mind if you decide to plant yours outdoors during the summer. If you do decide to do that it would be best to leave it in a pot so that you will be able to move it to the shade or bring it back indoors if the temperature starts to get too high or too low.
My Mother in Law plant is very large (4″ to 4 1/2″ with even some 5″ or more spikes). I have had it for 25 years or more. It rarely looses leaves. The leaves are always bright, firm and not miscolored. My problem is droopy leaves. The new, center leaves stand up but the older and outer ones droop to the floor. I have tried tying them up posted and unposted. I have tried trimming them. Nothing seems to change. I have this large, beautiful, vibrant plant with droopy leaves. Is there anything I can do?
If the plant gets too much water it will cause the leaves to just fall off and it will also cause them to droop. Most experts recommend that soil be kept just barely moist, but some say that it is best to let the soil completely dry out before watering.
Most plants will begin to wilt with too little water, but this one wilts or “droops” with too much water. Too little water causes the leaves to become wrinkled.
The leaves on my snake plant seem to be getting large brown spots in which sap secretes, also on some of the leaf stems half the stems seem to be shrinking, any ideas for me.
is it possible that spiders can cause the above damage (previous comment)
I used to have problems with the leaves of my snake plant drooping and falling out but I think I was over-watering it and I moved it into a brighter light and now the leaves are firm and upright – the plant looks so happy. Hope that helps.
I can not believe it, my snake plant has blooms that are growing out the center, it is in a pot and is about 2 feet tall and the bloom stalk is 1 foot tall it looks like the blooms will be white. I’ve never seen this, I’m in central Fl. and I keep it outside all year.
I have 2 cats. Can I keep my Mother In Law Tongue Plant?
I would if i had a cat as even though the plant is poisonous cats are clever. There are many plants in the garden which are poisonous in which their instinct tells them not to touch. (no cats but mother in law tongue plant and kids.)
MARY ANN,
WE HAVE ABOUT THREE OF THE SNAKE PLANTS AND THEY ALSO HAVE BLOOMS THAT GROW OUT OF THE CENTER OF THEM. THEY ARE ALSO KEPT OUTSIDE YEARROUND.
THE BLOOMS ARE TRUMPET SHAPED AND WHITE. THEY ONLY BLOOM AT NIGHT, AS DOES NIGHT BLOOMING JASMINE
THEY ALSO HAVE A VERY PLEASANT SMELL, MUCH LIKE THE JASMINE.
WE LIVE IN COASTAL TEXAS.