posted
Someone gave me a Snake Plant,(Mother-in-law's tongue, Family-Agavareae, Genus-Sansevieria, Species- Trifaseiata....it does NOT have the yellow strips on the edges.
#1 IS IT a different variety than listed above since it is all green with the lighter color stripes?
#2 It is not very bushy.....have a friend who topped his within a couple inches from soil and said it grew back fuller. What is your opinion of chopping it back??? Sure don't want to kill the poor thing but would like more leaves.
Thanks in advance Catlover
* * * * Plants: 7129 | From: California | Registered: Mar 2003
| Seeded: 68.66.244.5
posted
I don't know anything about cropping a snake plant back.....
I started one from a single stalk in spring of 01. By the end of summer 2 new stalks had grew out, and then 3 the following year and so far 3 this year (a fourth popping up right now) At this rate it should be pretty full in just another year or two.
Plants: 31 | From: Charlotte | Registered: Jul 2003
| Seeded: 66.100.136.213
posted
I have a Snake plant with no yellow on it, so I am assuming they are just different varities. Mine puts out a new leaf (stalk) or 2 a year, and they are 2 to 3 feet tall!. As for topping them off, my friend did that over a year ago, and has ended up with a short, squat, plant with no height at all. She now wishes she hadn't done that and wants my plant now!! LOL I told her - NO WAY!
posted
Your plant is more than likely a Sanseveria zeylanica rather than S. trifasciata. I wouldn't recommend whacking it back..... good things take time and patience. If you do opt to whack it, you can cut the leaf into 3 inch sections and insert them into moist sand (after they callous over for a couple days) The leaf cuttings are slow to root, but each one will produce a new plant for you!
* * * * Plants: 11227 | From: Cedar Hill Washington | Registered: Aug 2002
| Seeded: 66.248.100.134
posted
Yep Bill you are exactly right it is a zeylanica! Another mystery solved. Been trying to label all my plants....o n e by o n e!!!! I will do it you just watch!!
Mich 168 I wonder why it would come up shorter. Did it start out real tall. I know there is a variety that is shorter. You mean you didn't share yours with your friend.
Sclewis2 this is a weird plant. I thought they would come up right next to the mother one but they are coming up on the opposite sides of the pot.??????? Is this how yours are coming up? Catlover
* * * * Plants: 7129 | From: California | Registered: Mar 2003
| Seeded: 68.66.244.5
Will Creed
guest
posted
If you keep your snake plant very tightly potted and in a sunny window, then you will eventually get a very full and tall plant. If it is overpotted there is a high probability that it will rot eventually and if it doesn't, the leaves will flop over.
This plant has an undeserved reputation as doing well in the lowest of light. It desn't. It survives in low light for a long time if you water very minimally, but gradually declines and falls apart. To thrive, it really belongs in front of a bright window.
Seeded: 24.239.134.109
posted
Will, the snake plant is in a clay pot just outside the front door. There are ficus planted on each side of the front door that are planted in the ground and growing to know end. Behind the snake plant, there is a croton placed next to the glass growing very well.
#1? Is there enough light since the ficus are growing great in the same area as well as ferns, begonias, impatients. The house has short eaves with an open trellis area butting up against the eave. Very open.
#2? Are those ficus (which I did NOT plant there, previous owner) going to uplift the house....if so how long before they need to be ripped out?
#3? Have you ever heard of chopping the tops off (I'm not going to) and if it stunts their growth? Catlover
* * * * Plants: 7129 | From: California | Registered: Mar 2003
| Seeded: 68.66.244.5
quote: Sclewis2 this is a weird plant. I thought they would come up right next to the mother one but they are coming up on the opposite sides of the pot.??????? Is this how yours are coming up?
Mine all come up inside each other and then expand out.......I realize that doesn't make sense but I might ramble in the explanation (if so sorry)
The mother was a single stalk about 8" high, it had an off shoot that was at most 1/2" high and hasn't grown at all (so I don't call it a stalk), the flat portions of these two pieces faced each other.
Each new stalk has grown from the center of those two pieces. As they grow straight up, the sides are curled in and when the reach full height they open up. When more than one pop up (and it is pop, one day nothing the next an inch of new growth) at the same time, one of them grows curled up inside the other one. I am excited because right now there are two growing up and I can see the makings of a third inside both of them .
I haven't had a stalk grow away from teh originas at all, sorry.
Plants: 31 | From: Charlotte | Registered: Jul 2003
| Seeded: 66.100.136.213
I had to buy some spray to keep my away from it, the only plant they like better than the snake is the jade and they've just about killed that.
If they weren't so stinkin' cute Plants: 31 | From: Charlotte | Registered: Jul 2003
| Seeded: 66.100.136.213
Will Creed
guest
posted
Catlover,
Your snake plants should have enough light as long as the Ficus trees are not shading them too much.
I am only experienced with Ficus trees that are grown in pots, so I don't know about the extent of their root systems when grown in the ground.
Seeded: 24.239.134.109
posted
sclewis I understand what you are saying. Mine are doing the same but in addition they are sending out new starters on the edges of pot as well. Hope it fills in enough where they don't fall over.
Thanx Will....the ficus are cut back regularly and does not shade that area. Just concerned about the ficus uplifting the side of house now. Wondering what else I can plant in there when the time comes. Catlover
* * * * Plants: 7129 | From: California | Registered: Mar 2003
| Seeded: 68.66.244.5
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Catlover 
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