I've just done a big re-stock of Sansevieria varieties in store and I thought I'd share my tips to success. Even though, for many these are considered very easy care, there are still a few tricks I like to share to ensure they dont suddenly drop dead in the depths of winter.

For me really understanding a plants parts helps inform its care and success. 

Sansevieria spp.  has actually be reclassified and is now Dracaena spp., but we'll just refer to them as Snake Plants from here on in this blog.

In their natural habitat they have adapted to survive full sun in tropical west Africa and arid, rocky regions. While they are adaptable to light levels, most cultivars are happiest in direct to bright indirect light. Most WILL tolerate low light levels, at least for a time or intermittently. I say TOLERATE but not THRIVE. If you can, have 2 plants, 1 in low light and 1 in better light and alternate. 

So, above the soil we have these striking long, succulent leaves in varying colours and thicknesses depending on variety or cultivar. These leaves are masters of water storage, not only do they hold an enormous amount within their cells, but they conserve that water but opening their stomata at night instead of during the day allowing less water to transpire than if they opened their stomata in the heat of the day.

But, where most mistakes are made is not taking into account that they also have rhizomes within the rootzone which also stores lots of water and that they slow their growth over winter dramatically and can't really take on any more ware into their cells (asuming they were well hydrated at the start of winter) so I completely stop watering over the winter, and dont start again until we get into the warmth of spring (don't follow what the calendar says, wait for the sun and warmth.

My tips to success:

1. Water once per month during the growing season, but NOT at all during the winter.
2. Apply a slow release fertilizer like TROFORT Pots & Plants in spring. 
3. Keep leaves dust free I like to use my Microfiber Gloves by We the Wild
4. When repotting, you can divide into smaller clumps or pot up a size, you'll know when its time if you keep your Snake Plant in it's plastic growers pot as the rhizomes will cause it to be misshaped and often splitting it open. It's a little harder to tell in a ceramic pot, but generall if you have leaves growing up the side of the pot it's time to act. I'm always here to help, but ensure you pot into a pot with drainage holes and use a free draining, Premium Potting Mix like our Grow Better  In the video below you'll see beautiful fleshy, pink healthy roots and glimpses of (pink) rhysomes. Anything brown, mushy or smelly indicates rot.

Some varieties are also very sensitive to cold feet (I'm looking at you Moonshine) so my advice is to keep them off very cold floors during the winter also. 

Reach out if you have any questions or need help in anyway. 

Tamara 🌱