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Species: Sansevieria
Common Names: Mother-in-law’s Tongue, Devil’s Tongue, Bowstring Hemp, Snake Plant, Snake Tongue
Sansevieria is an evergreen, succulent, perennial plant producing long, narrow sword-shaped leaves, up to 75cm long from a rhizomatous root stock.
The plant is cultivated for its fiber in several tropical countries, but is more commonly grown as an ornamental in tropical and subtropical regions, and as a pot plant in many other areas of the world.
CULTIVATION
Sansevieria can be propagated by leaf cutting and root division, as plants grow much faster from cuttings and divisions than from seeds. From cuttings, will be enough to take a healthy leaf and cut it into few portions. These portions have to cicatrize in a dry place for few days before taking further steps. At this point you can chose to place your cutting directly into soil, or better hang them in a jar with little water on a bright warm place so that one side barely touches the water, and await roots to begin develop.
When propagating by cuttings, the new plants will lose their outer yellow edges on their leaves, but will maintain the same property and beauty. Several species are popular house plants in temperate regions, with Sansevieria trifasciata the most widely sold.
As a houseplant it does best in bright light but can also handle low light levels indoors as well. Outdoors bright light to full sun. Handles dry and poor soil conditions but appreciates good well-drained soil inside or outside. DO NOT over-water or over pot.
THE BEST PLANT FOR YOUR BEDROOM
Researches have proved that Sansevieria has the capability to purify air. NASA in its published research said that snake plant can absorb 107 dangerous pollutants in the air. Studies have shown the plant to remove toxins such as formaldehyde, xylene, toluene, and nitrogen oxidesis.
The plant purifies air by absorbing toxins through the leaves, and producing pure oxygen. In fact, this is the ideal bedroom plant. Whereas most other plants release carbon dioxide at night the Sansevieria continues to produce oxygen. Persons with allergies, therefore, should find a friend in such plants because they are a natural and cheap way to stay healthy; It is the best bedroom plant I know so far.