Species mother-in-law's tongue Guide

mother-in-law's tongue

Sansevieria 'Starfish'

Cycle:

Herbaceous Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Division,Leaf Cutting,Offsets,Air Layering Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

10 - 12

Flowers:

Rarely flowers indoors Flowers

Sun:

part shade,part sun/part shade

Leaf:

Yes

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Indoors:

Yes

Care Level:

Easy

watering

For optimal growth, you should water your mother-in-law’s tongue plants once or twice a week. The best time to water is in the morning, when the sun is not too strong and the plant can absorb the water more quickly. Be sure to water in such a way that it reaches the entire root system, and that any pooling of water is removed quickly. To ensure that your plant stays healthy, water it only when the top 1-2 inches of soil is dry to the touch.

sunlight

Mother-in-law's tongue plants prefer bright, indirect sunlight and should be exposed to at least 4 to 6 hours of it a day. To thrive, it's best to position this plant in an east-facing window since direct sunlight may scorch the leaves. If you're growing the plant indoors, rotate it every few weeks so that it grows evenly and place in a spot where all parts of it receive sunlight. Additionally, the plant should be kept away from drafts that could cause damage to its leaves and quick changes in temperature.

pruning

Pruning Mother-in-law's tongue (Sansevieria 'Starfish') should be done on an as-needed basis from spring through fall. In most cases, simply removing any infected leaves or any that have turned yellow is sufficient. Depending on the size of the plant, once a year you can trim off any dried or yellowed leaves. If you want to encourage new growth and a bushier looking plant, you can prune off the top of the leaves about 1-2 inches from the top (not diagonal cutting). Do this every so often in spring and summer depending on how fast the leaves have grown.