Sansevieria Silver Queen is an ornamental plant that is a favorite among gardeners and hobbyists all over the globe.
If you are keen on growing a low-maintenance decorative plant, then this plant may just be the right choice for you.
In this detailed guide, we list its easy care procedures and techniques to propagate the plant and also help you hassle-free tackle the most common problems. Read on to get all the exciting information in this one place.
Contents
What Is Sansevieria Silver Queen?
Sansevieria Silver Queen is an ornamental succulent with distinctive foliage and horizontal green stripes. It is a variety of snake plants and comes with long sword-like silver queen leaves and occasional greenish-white blooms. This West African native plant is a favorite among home decorators as it is low in maintenance.
Sansevieria Silver Queen Care
The plant is succulent with many names such as silver queen snake plant, sansevieria moonshine, sansevieria silver moon, sansevieria silver princess, or sansevieria trifasciata silver.
It is relatively easy to maintain, and all you need to do is pay attention to a few essential aspects and you should have a healthy and thriving plant. With these ideal requirements met, you will be able to ensure the plant grows healthy and happy. Read the below section for detailed information on each of these aspects.
– Water Requirements
This sansevieria requires just a mild level of saturation as it is semi-succulent. The plant is better equipped to tolerate long spells of drought in comparison to overwatering. Thus it is imperative to maintain a proper watering schedule. Water the soil by thoroughly soaking it, only when the topsoil is dehydrated.
Wait for the soil to dry out before watering again. Moreover, scale back on the watering in winters as the plant goes through dormancy.
If you are unsure about when to water the plant it is best to do a simple test by inserting your finger into the soil to check whether it is moist or not. This will ensure you do not overwater the plant which can result in potentially hazardous root rot.
– Light Requirements
The plant can tolerate various conditions- from low to bright light conditions. However, the ideal practice will be to place the plant in partial sunlight for at least six to eight hours each day. Avoid keeping the plant in the harsh afternoon or direct sunlight as this can scorch the leaves.
If you are growing it as an indoor plant, move it near an eastern-facing window where it can benefit from morning sunlight that wouldn’t be very harsh. Additionally, you can also opt to grow them under artificial grow light.
– Soil Requirements
The sansevieria variant requires aerated free-draining soil. The ideal potting mix must thus include organic matter such as mulch, peat or perlite. Additionally, you can consist of compost or worm castings to keep the soil nourished with organic matter. The plant requires slightly acidic soil with a pH of 5.5 to 7.0.
– Temperature Requirements
The plant thrives in a moderate temperature range between 60 degrees Fahrenheit to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. It can quickly be grown in average room temperatures at home and office spaces.
What the sansevieria won’t be able to tolerate is sudden fluctuations and temperatures lower than 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep the plant away from frost and chilly winds by moving it indoors as soon as winter sets in.
– Humidity Requirements
Similar to other sansevieria variants, this variety too prefers to grow in a humid environment between 40 to 60 percent. In a humidity level over this, you may need to scale back on your watering.
The plant seldom thrives in dry climates, so you will have to increase moisture levels by using a pebble tray below the pot or by misting the plant frequently. If you are growing the plant indoors in an arid zone, use a humidifier to kick in some moisture.
– Fertilizing Requirements
The plant does not require the use of fertilizer as they are robust enough, however, light over-the-top feeding before the growing season helps the plant retain its vibrancy. If you wish to boost growth, use a diluted organic formula. Do not over-fertilize that plant
– Pruning Requirements
Sansevierias are easy to maintain plants and seldom have an unruly growth. Thus, frequent pruning is not needed. The only time you may wish to consider pruning is to snip away damaged, burnt or diseased leaves. Always remember to sterilize your garden shear before pruning to prevent fungal diseases. Pruning also helps to boost the growth of new foliage.
Propagation
The plant can be easily propagated and cost-effectively. Using the process of stem cuttings or division, new offsets can be developed hassle-free. In the section below, we explain both the processes in detail so that you have a unique offset of the plant. Read on to know it all.
– Right Season to Propagate
Choose the right season to propagate to ensure the new offset is healthy. Spring and summer with their warmer days prove to be ideal as they help the further compensation establish their roots. The growth rate is high in these months in comparison to the cold winter months, thus utilize the warmth and you will notice faster development of the young plant.
– Tools Required
Before you begin the process, ensure you keep the following tools at hand. A sterilized garden pruner or knife, make sure you sterilize it inn order to avoid any type of bacteria or harm to the propagation process.
Furthermore, keep in mind to have serated potting mix with peat, mulch or humus, these are the ideal soils for propagation. and lastly, a container or pot to plant.
– Method Through Stem Cuttings
One of the easiest ways to propagate the plant is using stem cuttings. The process is not only faster, but the success is also higher in comparison to using seeds to propagate.
Begin by gently snip away a stem section from a mature mother plant with the help of a sharp pruner. After the latter, you have to allow this section to callous for two days.
After which, place the cut end into a container filled with potting soil. Keep the soil lightly moist and place the pot in a warm place with diffused light. Care for the stem section as you would regularly do for the plant.
Lastly, with a moderate growth rate, the stem will develop roots in a couple of weeks. In a month or so the stem section will develop nascent leaves and establish itself as an independent plant.
– Method Through Division
Another alternative method to propagate is through division. As the sansevieria naturally produces rhizomes, we could utilize it to propagate a new offset. Here are the steps involved.
Begin by removing a few of the rhizome buds gently from the parent plant with a sharp knife that has been sterilized by rubbing alcohol. Allow this to be callous for two days.
After tqo days, you may transplant these directly into pots and care for them the same way you would care for the parent plant. In a few weeks, the rhizome buds begin to grow independently, developing their roots and sprouting fresh leaves.
Problems
Despite being an easy-to-maintain succulent, this sansevieria comes with its share of problems. Here is a complete rundown of the most common ones and how you can tackle each one of them.
– Browning Leaves
Find the leaves turning brown? You may be growing it in a dry environment. The plant requires humidity and slightly moist soil at all times. Thus keep the soil saturated and mist the plant often to bring in some moisture.
Additionally, you can opt to place the plant in a pebble tray filled with water. Much as the plant is succulent, never let it remain under-watered for long spells . It puts the plant under stress and causes the leaves to turn brown.
– Mushy Stems With a Foul Smell
Root rot causes a mushy stem and a foul odor in the plant. If you have been overwatering your plant, it has led to this condition and if not tackled right in time, it kills the plant. Scale back on the watering as soon as you spot the foul odor or mushy stem.
Gently remove the plant from the soil, snip away any blackened sections and transplant it into fresh and light soil. Monitor your watering schedule to just keep the top soil lightly moist by an inch. This should prevent future mushy stems from occurring.
– Toxicity
This sansevieria is mildly toxic to pets and humans. If accidentally consumed they cause swollen gums, throat irritation, vomiting and a sick stomach. Even though the symptoms are not life-threatening, it is recommended to keep the plant away from pets and children
– Scarred Leaves
Another outcome of overwatering as well as over-exposure to extreme temperatures is scarring on leaves. The plant requires the soil to be just slightly moist.
Temperatures need to be moderate and sudden fluctuations result in stress conditions for the plant. Maintain the plant within its ideal temperature range as mentioned in our care section and avoid exposure to any sudden changes.
If you are moving the plant outdoors from indoors, gradually acclimatize the plant first beginning with an hour a day and slowly increasing the frequency.
– Pest Infestations
Scales, spider mites and aphids commonly attack the sansevieria. These houseplant pests infect the plant in clusters and suck the juice off stems. Pest infestations make the sansevieria plants go limp and the leaves shrivel up due to the lack of vital nutrients. Thus it is important to tackle the menace as soon as possible.
Isolate the plant and snip away affected portions. For large-scale infestations, use a diluted soapy solution and spray on all areas where you spot eggs and the web-like textures of the pests. Repeat spraying after a week or until all of the problems falls off.
You can prevent pest infestation by applying organic liquids such as neem oil. The odor of neem oil repels pests, thus, reducing the chances of them laying eggs on your plant. Also, maintain good plant hygiene and avoid dust. Clean and wipe foliage and mist frequently to prevent the occurrence of these house pests.
– Stunted or Slow Growth
The long sword-like leaves of the sansevieria silver queen grow to a reasonable length. However, if you notice stunted or slow growth of the foliage, especially during spring and summer, it could be due to low light conditions. It is usual for the plant to slow down in winters and during the growing season; the plant has a high growth rate.
Ensure you place the plant in a bright and well-ventilated spot. The light needs to be partial away from the direct heat of the sun. If you are growing them indoors, avoid dingy corners and move them closer to a window. Additionally, keep the plant dust-free as excess dust does not permit light penetration causing a similar stress condition to the plant.
– Brittle Leaves
Another widespread outcome of temperature fluctuations is brittle leaves. The plant needs a steady level of warmth and any sudden spike or drop is going to result in a stress condition.
Move the snake plant indoors in winter under artificial grow lights for adequate heat and light. During extreme summers, create a greenhouse effect around the plant or place a garden sheet over it to protect it from the harsh sun’s heat.
FAQ
Can I water my Sansevieria Silver Queen with tap water?
Sansevieria Silver Queen can be watered with tap water, but it’s recommended to let the water sit for 24 hours to allow chlorine to evaporate.
Can Sansevieria Silver Queen live in a room without windows?
Sansevieria Silver Queen can survive in a room without windows, but it prefers indirect light and may not thrive in low-light conditions.
Does Sansevieria Silver Queen like its leaves wet?
Sansevieria Silver Queen doesn’t like its leaves wet; it’s best to avoid getting water on its leaves to prevent fungal diseases.
Conclusion
Having read all about this Sansevieria queen, you know that it is an easy and hassle-free plant to grow. In the below section we summarize the discussion in this article about the complete care and propagation method.
- Sansevieria Queen is a delightful ornamental snake plant that is a variant of the snake plant. With its long sword life leaf structure it never fails to grab eyeballs and being a succulent, it thrives in a range of environmental conditions.
- Keep the air around the plant humid and place it in a warm place where it can receive bright yet diffused light.
- The plant needs to be grown in light, well-draining and aerated soil, under moderate temperature conditions. Avoid sudden exposure to extreme heat or cold as the plant seldom tolerates fluctuations in temperatures.
- Propagate this sansevieria through stem division or the naturally found rhizomes of the plant.
- The most common problems faced by the plant can be tackled by maintaining a proper watering schedule, keeping pests at bay and ensuring the plant is provided with its excellent care.
After having read our comprehensive care guide, you can now indeed include this plant in your garden or home space. The plant is not only a delight, its presence will charm you and make your home and garden look all the more attractive.
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