About Your Plant

Sansevieria trifasciata (san·​se·​veh·​ria try-fash-shee-ay-tuh) is a stemless, evergreen perennial native to West Africa. This resilient plant has thick, pointed leaves that inspire many of its nicknames (like mother-in-law’s-tongue). It can handle low to bright light, needs very little water, and filters nasty stuff like formaldehyde out of the air. It may take its sweet time growing, but good things take time. Plus it has the cool bonus feature of releasing oxygen at night — consider keeping your new plant friend in your bedroom.

Light

Low to bright light. Low-light situations are better than tons of blazing sunlight.

Water

When soil is very dry to touch, water the dirt directly and avoid getting any trapped within the leaves — that can lead to rot. Usually this means every 1-2+ weeks, or when the leaves look a little wrinkly. Distilled water prefered.

Dirt

Likes being tight in its pot, so repotting is infrequent. It’s time to go bigger when roots poke out of dirt. Put some rocks on the bottom of the new pot and use aerated soil like cactus or succulent mix. Avoid soils with excess nitrogen, like Miracle Gro.

Propagation

Splitting // Split 1 plant into 2 plants using a sharp knife at the roots and place in different pots. This method maintains color variation.

Rhizome // This plant produces “baby” versions of itself that are connected to the main plant under the dirt. Split these mini versions off by removing the plant from the pot and taking a sharp knife to the “rhizome,” which looks like a fat root that curves up. Replant in separate pots. This method maintains color variation.

Leaf cutting // Cut a healthy leaf at its base, then slice into 3 inch sections. Let sections “heal” for 2 days and place directly into well-aerated dirt. Instead of planting immediately, you can also place leaf pieces into a cup of water, and watch as roots form over the next month. Either way, keep cuttings in the “up” direction - they won’t root upside-down. You’ll lose color variation with this method.