Sansevieria, also known as mother-in-law’s tongue, tiger’s tail, lizard’s tail, cow’s tongue or St. George’s sword, is very popular as a houseplant. It is resistant, suitable for people who are not familiar with the art of caring for plants, it shows spectacular leaves and also It cleans the air of your home or office of toxic substances, what more could you ask for?

There are numerous varieties of sansevieria which differ in the color, shape, thickness and length of the leaves (they can vary from 10 cm to a meter long). There are also dwarf plants and tall specimens. The most popular variety is Sansevieria trifasciata.

Here we tell you how to take care of it so that it is beautiful and lasts a long time. In this video you will find a summary:

Where should sansevieria be placed?

Sansevieria prefers a bright and warm place. Locations near windows with temperatures of 20 to 22 ºC and humidity are ideal, but in reality it can adapt to dry, hot atmospheres and lack of light.

In any case, temperatures below 15 °C should be avoided. Bright location is more important for varieties with a multi-colored pattern; If these plants are in too dark places they will turn completely green over time.

From the end of May to August, the mother-in-law’s tongue can be in one place shaded or semi-shaded on the balcony, the terrace or the garden. It is important to gradually accustom it to outdoor conditions to avoid burns on the leaves.

How do I care for my sansevieria?

Caring for this plant is easy and requires little time and knowledge. Apart from watering as needed and regular fertilization, There are hardly any maintenance measures.

It is advisable to moisten the long leaves from time to time, especially if the plant is young. It can be done with the help of a hand sprayer. If the plant is large, the leaves can be cleaned with a damp cloth. This way you remove the dust and help it develop well.

No pruning is necessary. Plants that have grown too much can be reduced by root division, although it is not essential. It is recommended to transplant every 2 or 3 years.

Watering the sansevieria

All types of sansevieria They require only moderate watering, comparable to caring for cacti. It is important that there is never waterlogging and that excess water is removed 15 minutes after watering. It is said that the only thing that can kill a sansevieria is overwatering.

How often to water it depends largely on the ambient temperature, the amount of sunlight, the type of substrate and the size of the pot. In summer, watering every 7 to 10 days may be sufficient in a partially shaded location.

In spring and autumn you can water it every two weeks. Before watering, it is always important to check that the top layer of soil is dry.

The water requirement in winter is usually less than in summer. It may be enough to water it once a month. Check that the top layer of soil is dry before watering.

Fertilization of mother-in-law’s tongue

These plants need regular fertilization to grow and form new shoots. During the main growing period from April to August, You can supply cactus fertilizer every 4 weeks.

Also suitable is a compost for green plants, which will provide vital and growth substances. Helps the plant look healthy and fresh.

Fertilizing with fertilizer sticks is easy. With this method your plant receives all the necessary nutrients, minerals and trace elements for three months. Fertilizers can be dispensed with in autumn and winter.

How to transplant sansevieria

For good development, it is advisable Transplant the plant every 2 or 3 years in spring. Older plants do better after transplanting them into fresh potting soil.

Over the years, the pot is usually full of roots and rhizomes and the shoots only grow moderately. It is important that the substrate used is humus and well drained.

The pH should be between 6.5 and 7. Use a mixture of cactus soil and green plant soil. Don’t forget to put a thin layer of expanded clay drainage in the new pot. In this way, you avoid harmful waterlogging.

Is sansevieria suitable for the bedroom?

It is said that you should not put plants in the bedroom. Green plants produce a lot of oxygen, which is a good idea for the microclimate of the house, but only during the day. At night, these same plants emit more carbon monoxide (CO2) than oxygen. That’s why they are said to thin the air, although in reality it is completely safe to sleep with plants.

However, there are some exceptions to this rule and one of them is the sansevieria, which does not emit CO2 at night, but rather absorbs it. Therefore, it does not thin the air in the bedroom and, in fact, makes it more breathable. During the day it will provide a significant dose of oxygen.

Is it true that sansevieria eliminates toxins from the air?

This plant is not only an oxygen producer, but It also filters harmful substances from the room air such as trichloroethane, benzene or formaldehyde. And so says NASA, which has studied it to take it to space stations. where obviously the windows cannot be opened to ventilate.

However, it must be said that the amount of toxins it can remove from the air is small and cannot be compared to a purifier with a HEPA filter, for example. Of course, it is cheaper and prettier.

Is sansevieria a medicinal plant?

Although you can find instructions on the Internet for making infusions with sansevieria leaves for different indications, and it has been traditionally used in some places for the treatment of snake bites, pain, inflammation and fever, in reality it is a toxic plant due to the content of the leaves in alkaloids and saponins. So much so that it is warned that they are not within the reach of small children if they could bite the leaves.