The Latin name of the genus was given in honor of the Naples prince von Sansevierio: he assisted in the development of the natural sciences. In the 18th century, sanseveria was grown in European countries as an ornamental plant. This unpretentious, fairly hardy plant, suitable for growing in room conditions.
Care rules.
Lighting. Houseplants Sansevera prefer a bright diffused light, easily carry both light and full shadow. However, one should not forget that a bright intensive light is needed for a plant for characteristic variegation: in the shade, the leaves lose their mottled color. Variegated species can carry a small amount of direct sunlight, but it should be shaded from the most intense midday rays.
Temperature regime. Sansevera is a plant that grows well on the windows of the eastern and western directions. On the southern side, shading is required during hot summer hours. When grown on northern windows, the leaves become dark green in color, lose their mottled color, and because of the lack of light, the plant does not bloom. When there is a lack of light, an additional illumination is set for up to 16 hours per day. Lamps for daylight are placed at a distance of 30-60 cm from the plant. In the summer, sansevierium should be carried to fresh air in a dry, warm place, while protecting from precipitation and providing diffuse light. In winter, the plant also requires good lighting. Sansevera is undemanding to temperatures. It can grow in cool, and in warm conditions. In spring and summer, a moderate air temperature is preferred, in the range of 18-25 ° C. During the cold season, the temperature should not drop below 14-16 ° C for a long time, otherwise the plant will fall ill. Sansevieria can tolerate a temperature drop of up to 5 ° C, but only if it is short-lived.
Watering. Sansevera prefers moderate watering from spring until autumn: the soil should dry out between irrigation. In winter, watering should be limited and normalized depending on the temperature of the air. When watering in any case, do not allow liquid to enter the center of the outlet, this will cause decay of the leaves. Dangerous excess watering, and with a lack of moisture leaves lose the turgor. Humidity plays an important role. Sansevieria normally tolerates the dry air of the apartments. Do not forget to periodically spray it and wipe the leaves with a damp cloth from the dust.
Top dressing. Sansevieria should be fed once a month during the growing season (spring-summer) with the help of mineral fertilizers in half the concentration. To do this, use fertilizers intended for cacti or for indoor crops. Remember that excess nitrogen provokes decay of roots, therefore the following ratio of microelements is recommended: N (nitrogen) - 9, P (phosphorus) - 18, K (potassium) - 24. Some florists generally do not recommend feeding sansevieriyu, as excess fertilizers can lead to loss of leaf ornamentality. With poor feeding, the leaves become more rigid. With physical damage, the tips of the leaves of the sansevieria can dry out. In this case, you need to gently cut the dry ends of the leaves, leaving a small dry area in the form of a thin strip. Otherwise, the sheet will dry further.
Transfer. Transplant Sanseverer plants are recommended only when the pot is close to them: every 2 years for young and every 3 years for adult plants. A sign that the plant needs a transplant is the roots protruding from the pot. The roots of sansewieria tend to grow in width, then the pot should be chosen shallow, but wide. The powerful roots of sansevieria can break the tight capacity. On the other hand, you will receive abundant flowering only when the roots are weaved by an earth clod. Therefore, the new capacity should not be very large. At the bottom of the pot you need to make drainage from small gravel, broken potsherds, pieces of coal, expanded clay. Sansevieria is undemanding to the composition of the soil. It is recommended to use a mixture of leaf and turf ground with sand in a proportion of 2: 4: 1. Peat or humus soil is added to it. A good combination is a turf and leaf earth, humus and sand in a ratio of 2: 1: 1: 1. Sometimes mixtures are used for geraniums and 30% coarse sand for good drainage. Sansevera is well cultivated by the method of hydroponics.
Reproduction. These indoor plants reproduce vegetatively: lateral shoots, division of the rhizome, leaf or its division. The variegated forms are preferably multiplied by dividing rhizomes in order to preserve species features.
Precautionary measures. Sansevieria three-lane refers to poisonous plants, it contains saponin, which, when poisoned, causes nausea and vomiting. Take care that children do not chew on leaves. The contact of the plant juice with the skin does not cause irritation.
Difficulties of care.
- If the leaves turn yellow, become soft at the base, and then die, it means that the soil is too moist or the irrigation is not done correctly (in the cool time or in the center of the outlet). In this case, the plant requires immediate transplantation and removal of the affected leaves.
- If the roots are already rotten, then root healthy parts of the plant, for example, part of the leaf.
- If the leaves wither and rot, and there is no waterlogging, the reason is the cold content of sansevierium. Move it to a warm place and remove any damaged leaves. In the case of stem rot, root healthy parts (part of the leaf or the tip of the rosette).
- If the leaves had dark brown spots, it means that the earth is very moist and the plant is kept in a dark room for it.
- If the leaves appeared hollow red-brown spots with yellow rims, then Sansevieria is infected with a fungus.
Pests: spider mite, thrips.