Snake plant: A Superhero of Indoor Greenery
You will be wondered, if I tell you that there is a plant which can absorb your negative thoughts and negative energy. Have you any idea about such type of green marvel? If you are not aware of it there is no need to worry. It is a snake plant. This is a common house plant. Chinese love this special type of plant.
According to Feng shui believe, placing it in a classroom encourages and facilitates the process of seeking and learning. Shamshur observed that these plants are believed to absorb negative energy and eradicate bitterness and jealousy.
But the question is, why does Chinese love and believe on this plant? Because of it’s so many benefits that or something else. This is a care free resilient house plant of sword shaped leaves.
It has the ability to make a bold architectural account in your home with upright sword like evergreen leaves that resemble with artificial foliage and unique kind of variegation. Its spectacle is pleasing to eyes.
Nature and origin
It is a flowering plant of Dracaena genus. Why this plant is famous with this name? Because of its appearance that is similar with the snake. It’s shape and sharp margins of its leaves that resemble with snake. It is also well known with the name of viper’s bowstring hem. The color of its flowers is greenish white to crème colored.
Summary
A well famous plant for the indoor spaces is snake plant. It is also recognized as sansevieria or mother-in-law’s tongue in some cultures. It is appreciated because of its key features including sword shaped upright leaves that grows in rosette pattern. It makes internal environment an ideal one. It has its native belonging of West Africa but found everywhere in the world. It is a well-known plant because of low maintenance and easy to care with less water, light and fertilizer requirements. It is considered, that it can absorb negative thoughts and placing of it in learning environment is beneficial. It is an attractive resilient and a plant of numerous benefits. So, we can say that it is a superhero of indoor greenery in the realm of house plants.
Another well famous name is mother-in-law’s tongue. It is regarded as resilient succulent plant that can grow everywhere between six to several feet. But its native region is Asia and Africa. It is used as a potential weed in Australia and in South Africa it is used to treat the infection of ears.
Benefits of snake plant
This plant has numerous benefits, some of them I am listing below.
Filter indoor air
Every plant in the world has ability to filter air, but what is the uniqueness about this particular plant? It is one of the few unique succulent plants that has the ability to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen at night, and this special plant is blessed with this matchless quality.
Strength to remove toxic pollutants
This distinct plant has the ability to remove some toxic air pollutants. By growing this plant in your home, I am sure that you will never be thought about some air pollutants. These plants in small contribution can absorb cancer causing pollutants like CO2, benzene, formaldehyde trichloroethylene, and Toluene.
Low maintenance and easy growing nature and care
There are multiple reasons that make this plant, a common house plant. One of them is; its easy growing nature and minimal care. These potted plants are common in all the continents of the world. If you forget watering to your plant, but your plant will never forget you.
If you forget to put your plant under shade, there is no problem, if you forget, that plant needs no more water today but you have given them it’s okay, these will not affect severely to this plant because this plant can tolerate the both shade and direct sunlight, under watering and over watering, droughts and dry.
Effective against allergies
Out of many, one benefit of this plant is effective against allergies. It is blessed with the ability to release Oxygen even at night and ads moisture into the air. During photosynthesis oxygen glucose and water is released in the air so water moistures the surrounding environment and the temperature of the surrounding area is decreased.
As you know that poor indoor air quality has been the cause of many health-related issues like allergies and asthma but the presence of this plant in your indoor space does not grant permission to such type of ailments.
Five(05)important benefits of Dracaena Trifasciata
There are many other benefits of it that are not scientifically proven but are accepted widely by plant experts. It leaves minor physical ailments.
- It can relieve headaches
- It can reduce inflammation
- It can support standard blood pressure
- It has antibacterial properties that can heal skin wounds and burns.
- Its unique and snake like leaves contain saponins which have poisonous substances. So be careful while using this plant for healing. Saponins; an active toxic compound that is used commonly as a part of many diuretics, choleretic and laxative drugs.
Before using this for the treatment of any symptoms, make sure to consult with the doctor never eat and drink any part of this plant.
How many years does a Dracaena trifasciata plant can live?
It can survive almost five to ten years which is its average lifespan, however it can live up to 25 years or more with the most suitable conditions.
Height of snake plant
It can grow from 6 inch to 8 feet depend upon the variety you have choosen. You will be gentle with its points or tips if a tip is broken the plant will stop growing.
Propagation methods Dracaena trifasciata
It is propagated by two methods.
- Propagation by division.
- Propagation from leaf cutting.
Bloom of snake plant
If you want that your plant should bloom, you will give it enough sunlight and allowing it to become root bound that can encourage your plant to bloom.
Night blooming flower are fragrant and its appearance is similar to Lillie’s. But its all varieties are not flowering one.
Conditions required for snake plant
The condition that it requires are as following
Light
Growth of snake plant depends upon the sunlight few hours of early morning direct sunlight or 08 to 10 hours of indirect light are best for it.
Fertilizer usage for D.Trifasciata
You can fertilize your Dracaena Trifasciata once in spring and once in mid summer with the balanced slow release 10-10- 10 fertilizer diluted to give strength. Do not use fertilizer for your distinct plant in winter.
Type of soil
Like all plants it needs soil but soil will be loose and well drained, the soil that contain high percentage of peat which can retain too much water.
Water requirements
This plant does not require much water, you can water your plant when the soil is completely dried out then water deeply. In the season of winter because of cold weather don’t worry about its watering, the plant might need to be watered only once a month.
Temperature
Snake plant can grow best in warm temperature between 70
degree Fahrenheit to 90-degree Fahrenheit.
Types of snake plant
Sansevieria trifasciata hahnii
Called the birds nest snake plant it can grow only 6 inches.
Laurentiis sansevieria
It is a popular plant with yellow creamy leaf margins.
Cylindrical
Sansevieria cylinderica called cylindrical snake plant because it produces round riding leaves that can grow several feet in length.
Pest of Dracaena trifasciata
The pests of this plant include spider mites, mealybugs and scale insects. When we over watered the snake plant the roots are rotten so pest come in the soil. If this problem occurs first of all remove the dying leaves of all the plant and dry out more than usual. If the plant continues to die you can change it from its spot and plant somewhere else in in new pot with new required soil.
Conclusion
To conclude the whole discussion, we can say that mother-in- law’s tongue is a plant of beauty and many benefits. So it should be planted with love and care because its plantation is a child’s play.
