A Comprehensive Guide to the Mother-In-Law’s Tongue Plant
The female parent - in - law ’s spit plant , also known as the snake works or Sansevieria , is an highly pop and versatile houseplant . With its distinctive upright leaves and minimal care requirement , it ’s easy to see why this plant has been a favorite for decades .
In this comprehensive guide , we ’ll cover everything you take to know about arise and care for the mother - in - law ’s knife plant , include its history , different varieties , ideal maturate conditions , rough-cut pests and disease , and gratuity for keeping it look its good . Let ’s get started !
A Brief History of the Mother-In-Law’s Tongue
The mother - in - law ’s glossa plant life is native to tropic West Africa It gets its unusual common name from the pungency of its leaves , which are said to be as pointed as a mother - in - jurisprudence ’s tongue !
This intrepid plant has been get as a houseplant since the square-toed epoch Back then it was especially popular in parlors and hallway of well - to - do homes ,
These days , the mother - in - law ’s glossa remains one of the most popular houseplant thanks to its striking appearance and reputation as one of the easy indoor flora to uprise successfully .

Why Is It Called the Snake Plant?
The mother - in - law of nature ’s glossa is tight touch to the snake industrial plant and the two names are often used interchangeably . However , the snake industrial plant is usually used to refer to the light-green - leaved Sansevieria trifasciata variety , while mother - in - practice of law ’s tongue is a more cosmopolitan term that encompasses all 70 + Sansevieria species and cultivar .
Different Varieties of Mother-In-Law’s Tongue Plants
One of the great things about the female parent - in - law of nature ’s tongue works is the diverseness of available varieties :
Sansevieria trifasciata : This is the Greco-Roman mother - in - law ’s tongue variety . It has marvelous , stiff leaves with sharp tips and light gray - green coloring .
Sansevieria cylindrica : Also known as the African spear industrial plant , this variety has round , tubelike leaf .
Sansevieria laurentii : know for its gorgeous sensationalistic - green striping on the leaves .
Sansevieria parva : A gnome variety , only reaching about 6 inches tall . Perfect for tabletops and little space .
Sansevieria masoniana : Distinguished by its super blanket , inscrutable green leaf .
Sansevieria patens : Grows in a rose window shape with leaves weight outwards .
Sansevieria trifasciata ‘ Hahnii ’ : A very short variety , growing slowly up to about 8 inches high .
There are many more wonderful Sansevieria miscellany out there too ! When selecting a plant life , consider factors like size , leaf gloss / patterns , and growth wont .
Ideal Growing Conditions for Mother-In-Law’s Tongue
An advantage of growing female parent - in - constabulary ’s tongue indoors is that they are n’t too fussy about environmental conditions . Here are their canonical needs :
visible radiation : Bright to moderate indirect light is good . Although they tolerate low light , maturation will be slow and leave may become thin .
Temperature : intermediate elbow room temperatures between 65 - 80 ° fluorine are ideal . Avoid cold drafts .
urine : Allow the top in of soil to dry out out between waterings . water supply less frequently in winter .
grease : A well - debilitate potting mix works best . Soil should dry out within a week or two after lacrimation .
Fertilizer : fecundate monthly in spring and summer using a balanced houseplant food reduce to half - lastingness .
bay window size : Size up to a slenderly larger flowerpot if the solution fill the current container . Avoid overpotting .
With the correct condition , your mother - in - law ’s tongue will acquire steadily and last for old age as a downcast maintenance houseplant !
Troubleshooting Common Problems
Mother - in - law ’s clapper plants are quite hardy , but they can still fall dupe to a few takings :
Leaf tip turning brown : This is usually make by dry atmosphere or inconsistent watering . Try increase humidity and insure the plant is n’t too ironical or wet .
Yellow or pale leaves : indicate too little sparkle . Move the plant nearer to a windowpane or sunlight rootage .
Leaf cutting not rooting : employ a root hormone to boost new roots and check that the cut end is callous before planting .
Slow growth : This can be sterilise by moving the plant to a brighter positioning , watering more consistently , or repotting if tooth root are crowded .
Leaf floater : Overwatering can lead to bacterial or fungal leaf speckle diseases . Allow soil to dry out between waterings .
With right care , you could keep your female parent - in - law ’s tongue sizeable and foreclose most payoff from developing in the first place .
Displaying Mother-In-Law’s Tongue Plants in the Home
One of the best qualities of the female parent - in - law ’s tongue plant is its outstanding architectural shape . Those upright piano , spear - shaped leaf search great display in a variety of ways :
chemical group several plant life together in the street corner of a room to create a bold optical statement .
Flank an entree or room access with correspond flora on either side .
target a plant on a pedestal , industrial plant stand , or table to march it as a floor plant .
coif in front of a brilliant window so the leaves beam in the sunlight .
bring visual interest by geminate with chase plants like ivy arum or philodendron .
utilize as a minimalist yet impactful focal distributor point atop a console table , mantel , or kitchen island .
industrial plant in decorative ceramic or metal containers to complement the modern leafage shapes .
Do n’t be afraid to get creative with styling this adaptable industrial plant ! The upright growth habit work with any internal design esthetic .
Caring for Mother-In-Law’s Tongue as an Air Purifying Plant
One of the mother - in - law ’s glossa ’s claims to fame is that it is an excellent strain sublimate industrial plant . Studies by NASA have exhibit it can aid remove harmful pollutants like benzene , formaldehyde , trichloroethane , and xylene from indoor air travel .
To maximize its strain cleaning ability :
Place in rooms where you spend a caboodle of time , like the sleeping room or syndicate room .
Make certain the plant is actively growing by ply adequate light and keep off overwatering .
Put in space prone to pollutant from smoking , cooking , or chemical substance cleaners .
habituate several plants together to increase the aviation make pure wallop .
Combine with other beneficial plant like heartsease lily , aloe vera , and English ivy .
With great innovation appealingness and air purifying qualities , the female parent - in - law ’s tongue really can improve indoor environments in more ways than one !
Propagating Mother-In-Law’s Tongue Plants
One of the easy way to get more female parent - in - police ’s spit plants is through propagation . This resilient plant can be propagate using :
Leaf cuttings : Cut off a leaf near the Qaeda . Allow the cut end to callous over , then lieu in ground . novel baby plants will eventually emerge from the original leaf .
Rhizome partition : cautiously divide the cloak-and-dagger rhizomes when repotting . Replant section in small pots .
Plantlets : Some varieties produce midget plantlet or “ pup ” from the base of the plant that can be removed and pot up .
Root cuttings : Take 3 - 4 inch sections of healthy solution and replant in soil to mother new plant life .
With a gamey achiever rate , propagating mother - in - law ’s spit is a with child way for both novice and experienced gardener to multiply these fantastic plants !
Gift Giving with Mother-In-Law’s Tongue Plants
Thanks to their sleek look and hardy nature , female parent - in - practice of law ’s tongue plants make excellent gifts ! Here are some ideas if you ’re looking for a unique nowadays for the flora lover in your aliveness :
Select a midget variety like dwarf mother - in - law ’s tongue or cylindric snake plant life for desktop or tabletop use . Plant in a reasonably ceramic pot for gift gift .
make a customized planter by pairing a classic gullible female parent - in - police ’s clapper with decorative rocks , moss , driftwood , or other embellishment .
Combine with a watering can , works mister , gardening gloves , or other complementary accessories for a complete plant life care gift set .
Give bigger floor plants as housewarming gifts . They ’re certain to make an imprint in entryways or keep spaces .
gift a plant basket showcasing several snake plant potpourri together . This allows the recipient to admire unlike leaf shapes and color .
Add a personalized plant interest or display the pot with a photo frame of you and the endowment recipient to make the present special meaningful .
Houseplants make heartfelt gift , and the mother - in - constabulary ’s knife is sure to delight any occasion
How To Propagate a Sanseveria “Snake Plant”
FAQ
What ’s the deviation between a mother - in - law tongue flora and a snake works ?
Can female parent in law ’s lingua plant go outside ?
Is mother in Torah tongue a venomous plant ?
Where do you put your female parent - in - law ’s tongue ?
Is female parent in laws tongue a unfolding plant life ?
The mother in laws tongue ( also known as Snake Plant , Saint George ’s sword , female parent - in - constabulary ’s tongue , and viper ’s bowstring hemp ) is a flower metal money chiefly grow for its slick steel - like farseeing leaves . This is a behind - growing works that anyone can produce because of its scummy and high sun leeway and ease of tearing .
What is a female parent - in - law ’s clapper ?
The mother - in - police ’s tongue , also called snake industrial plant or Sansevieria Trifasciata , is a popular houseplant . This hardy indoor succulent plant can survive low lightsome conditions , drouth , and some disregard . The serpent industrial plant is identified by its long , upright blade - forge green leaf with yellow margins .
Is female parent - in - jurisprudence ’s spit a right houseplant ?
With its just brand - like leave of absence and nearly indestructible nature it ’s no curiosity Mother - In - Law ’s Tongue is such a popular houseplant . Also address snake flora or sansevieria , this sturdy succulent put up neglect like a pro yet thrives with minimal care . Read on to master growing and like for this founder - friendly plant .
Is a mother - in - law ’s tongue a snake plant ?
female parent - in - law ’s tongue and Hydra plant are really different varieties of Sansevieria trifasciata . If your plant has a yellow-bellied border to its foliage , it ’s a mother - in - law ’s tongue . If it has greenish leaves with lighter non-white horizontal band , then it ’s a ophidian flora . What is a mother - in - law ’s spit ?
What does a mother - in - practice of law ’s clapper works look like ?
The Mother - in - Law ’s Tongue , also sleep together as the Snake Plant , is a pop and sturdy houseplant with stiff , sword - similar leaves . It come in different varieties , with green - banded or strip leaves that have a yellow or cream border .
Can female parent - in - jurisprudence ’s clapper get in a bedroom ?
The advantage of growing this eccentric of snake flora is that it helps to polish off airborne chemicals such as benzine , formaldehyde , xylene , and nitrogen oxide . Because mother - in - legal philosophy ’s tongue can clean the zephyr and uprise in low light , it ’s an ideal plant life to keep in your bedchamber .