Snake Plants aka Good-Luck Plants, Mother-in-law’s Tongues
Plants that Detoxify the Air
The Snake Plant (Sanseveria sp. /: Agavaceaeis) is an evergreen herbaceous perennial plant that is often used as an air filtering plant because it has a tendency to absorb certain airborne poisonous substances, as well as being natural humidifiers. Snake plants - together with broad sword ferns and rubber plants - are among the top ten air purifiers recommended by experts
They are quite beautiful plants, and their looks are ever-changing because the patterns on the leaves change each time they grow new leaves. It is common for the leaves to be dark green with yellow stripes on the edges. Sometimes they can be speckled, or have a variation of other designs. It is now used predominantly as an ornamental plant, outdoors in warmer climates, and indoors as a houseplant in cooler climates.
Care:
- They’re easy to care for and grow and, therefore, are popular houseplants.
- They are tolerant of low light levels and irregular watering; during winter it needs only one watering every couple of months. Note: The snake plant will rot easily if overwatered.
- Their ideal conditions include low light and not much water. In the winter, they can go two months without any water.
- It can be propagated by cuttings or by dividing the rhizome. The first method has the disadvantage that the variegation is likely to be lost.
Safety Around Pets:
Toxic Principle: Entire plant, Leaves, Organic acids, Flowers, Hemolytic saponins
Clinical Signs: Nausea, Vomiting, Destruction of red blood cells, Dermatitis, Irritation to mouth, throat, and gastrointestinal tract(Ref.: OSU Center for Veternary Health Sciences)
Description:
The snake plants forms dense stands, spreading by way of its creeping rhizome, which is sometimes above ground, sometimes underground. Its stiff leaves grow vertically from a basal rosette. Mature leaves are dark green with light gray-green cross-banding.
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