This is a public-interest archive. Personal data is pseudonymized and retained under GDPR Article 89.

Re: [SANS] Repotting Again

 About watering.  The fatal flaw in this genus is the combination of wet and
cold.  If your plants are in a warm room in winter then they can take
regular watering but if they are exposed to cold drafts or too close to a
chilly window then they may be in trouble.  I remember back in the 70's my
mother who lived in Chicago had set up a little light garden in an unused
fireplace where she was growing some of the S. t. hahnii types.  A cold
draft came down the chimney and eventually they rotted.
Also some species are more susceptible to cold then others.  I think S.
trifasciata (especially the halnii forms are more tender.  S. parva, and
subspicata seem to be hardier.  As a rule I don't overpot my plants except
to orient the rhizomes so they grow their new growths up into the pot.  But,
I do have quite a few large old plants in big pots.

Now, some growers prefer to keep their plants small and juvenile.  Many like
fischeri (singularis) look better as juveniles with short paired arching
leaves, especially in a pot crowded with such growths.  I tend to let my
plants grow up to full maturity; thus my S. fischeri produces single tall
erect leaves.  I'm always curious to see how big a variety will grow.  In
fact recently S. kirkii v. kirkii in a three gallon tub (which is all
cracked now from the rhizomes) put up a leaf that is 35 inches tall (1 meter
= 39").  Some other biggies are (longest leaf) cylindirca v. patula 50.5",
deserti (griggsby) 44", fischeri 34.5", mason's congo 32.5", stuckyi 41", S.
t. black sport 43". These are growing indoors next to large east facing
windows.

Back to watering:  Like most succulents Sansevierias need much less water in
winter than in summer.  Now they get water every 2-3 weeks.  In summer in a
hot sunny window they like lots of water and fertilizer.  Now, that I think
about it Elias is probably doing the right thing.  By keeping your plants
underpotted they will stay compact, take up less room and still be just as
attractive.  Just remember to coddle those new rhizomes on the sp. that make
big long ones because the next growth is always going to be better than the
last.

Jon Dixon
Woodside, Ca.

-----Original Message-----
From: Elias Sassoon <Esassoon1@AOL.COM>
To: SANSEVIERIAS@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU <SANSEVIERIAS@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU>
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index