This home flower has different names: sansevieria, sansevier, sansevier. But the people call it even more interesting: pike tail, mother-in-law's tongue, snake plant. Why the plant is given such original names, how to care for and grow it at home, we will tell in the article.
Origin and application
The birthplace of the plant is America. At least 250 species of flower grow on the continent. They differ in the length of the leaves.
In Mexico, plant fibers are used to produce ropes and fabrics. Interestingly, tequila (the Mexican national drink) also has a pike tail.
In addition, the culture is actively used in garden design and in creating floral arrangements in the interior. Large leaves of sansevieria serve as an excellent background for smaller specimens in pots. The result is beautiful green thickets that are so appreciated by lovers of live compositions.
Description
If you look at the photo of the pike tail, you can pay attention to the fact that the plant has absolutely no stem. Instead, the flower has several long, sharp leaves pointing up. It is for this appearance that the plant got its original name, because the elongated pointed leaves resemble pike tails. Well, and for someone - a long mother-in-law's tongue.
As for the name "snake plant", it is explained by the motley color of the green culture.
The flower belongs to the Asparagus family, although previously belonged to the Agavs, it is an evergreen stemless plant.
The length of the “tail” depends on the variety: some grow to one meter in length, others are shorter.
Since the plant comes from the hot countries of Africa and Asia, it feels great in deserts or semi-deserts. Its rhizome refers to creeping, and on the leaves - a dense waxy coating that protects them from fumes. Due to this feature, the plant is not afraid of drought, so it perfectly survives the dry air in the room.
Varieties
Existing types of sansevieria can be divided into two groups:
- Plants with erect lanceolate leaves reaching 1.5 meters in height.
- Flowers with leaves, united in sockets.
In both species, the leaves are dense and their formation begins at the very roots.
Bloom
Sansevier is not considered a decorative foliage plant, it can bloom. The flower stalk for the bud appears from the same outlet as the leaves. Their petals are light green in color. They open in the evening, and close with the arrival of the morning. The flowers emit a pleasant smell of vanilla, for this property insects love this flower, and breeding specialists use it when pollination is necessary.
Blooming sansevieria lasts long enough.
Care Activities
The pike tail plant needs care, then it will be able to please its owner with attractive succulent foliage. In the process of leaving, you need to pay attention to the following points:
- Air temperature. The pike tail is not very demanding on temperature conditions. In nature, it grows in different climatic conditions. The most suitable temperature in summer is 18-24 degrees, in winter - 14-17 degrees. If it is lower, it can adversely affect the growth and development of the plant.
- Lighting. Under natural conditions, a pike tail flower prefers bright diffused light. Variegated varieties love the abundance of light. It is undesirable to put a flower in unlit places, otherwise it will stop its growth. In summer, a balcony or loggia is ideal for sansevieria.
- Watering. It should be performed sparingly. In winter, the plant is watered in limited quantities. In general, irrigation for sansevieria should be carried out according to the principle: it is better not to top up than to overfill. It does not make sense to spray the leaves; they can be wiped with a damp cloth from dust. The plant is drought tolerant.
- Fertilizers In order to feed the plant, you can use mixtures for cacti, as well as decorative and leafy specimens. They contain a minimum of nitrogen, along with other beneficial substances. Excess nitrogen can rot the root system.
- Soil composition. Before planting, it is important to choose the right soil for it. The pike tail will feel great in the land, consisting of five parts of turf, one part of leafy soil and part of sand. Before use, the substrate should be calcined.
- Flower transplant pike tail. When caring for him, a timely transplant is required. If the root system has occupied the entire pot, it's time to change the capacity. The new pot should have a larger size than the previous one.
- Pruning. Adult plants should be pruned regularly. This is especially necessary if the side shoots dry out. Pruning will help to renew the plant.
In general, caring for a pike tail is simple, even a beginner can cope with it.
Breeding
If desired, the plant can be propagated in different ways: by dividing the roots, leaf particles, side shoots.
Root reproduction is best done in spring. When receiving delenki, it is important that each of them has a growth point. The roots are cut with a sharp knife. Then they are planted in sand and regularly irrigated. When the first roots appear, the plants are transplanted into separate pots using the transfer method.
When propagated by leaves, they are cut into pieces 5 cm long, planted in sandy soil, watered, covered with a film. Rooting will occur in about 40-50 days.
Is there any benefit?
The pike tail has not only decorative properties, but is also used as a medicinal plant. It is:
- diuretic;
- sweatshops;
- choleretic;
- antiviral;
- immuno-strengthening;
- fungicidal agent.
Decoctions of sansevieria are used for otitis media, bronchitis, pathologies of the digestive system, genitourinary infections, and female diseases. The root stimulates the immune system well. Useful decoctions are prepared from it, helping with colds.
If the leaves are kneaded before the juice appears, then they can be applied to the wounds. The action is similar to the effect produced by plantain. The rumpled leaf also helps fight fungal skin lesions and other dermatological diseases.
Pike tail perfectly cleans the air in the apartment. In the room where the sansevier is located, the number of pathogenic bacteria is reduced, the harm of building materials and paints is neutralized. And if you put the flower next to the computer, it will absorb harmful radiation from the monitor.
Essential oils in the composition of the plant favorably affect the microclimate of the room and benefit the person. According to traditional healers, a plant is able to relieve a person from stress. Thus, with a reasonable use of human health, a flower will bring only benefits, there can be no talk of harm.
Warning
Sansevieria is strictly forbidden to eat. It is important to ensure that pets do not eat the leaves of the plant. The saponins contained in it will cause poisoning and vomiting.
In small doses, saponins are not dangerous and, as we have found, have healing properties. But exceeding their dose is becoming a truly alarming factor. If it comes into contact with the skin, the juice of the plant can cause burns. If a cat or dog eats a piece of the plant, they will experience nausea and vomiting.
Sansevieria should also be kept away from small children. If the baby takes a bite of a leaf, he will have a strong burning sensation in the digestive organs and salivation. If this happens, you should call an ambulance team and give activated carbon to the child as soon as possible.
When transplanting a flower, all work should be done with gloves, the remaining parts should be immediately discarded.
Interesting opinions
Possible harm from the plant is due to existing superstitions.
Signs of pike tail are numerous and often opposite in meaning. Should they be believed? Let's try to figure it out.
Someone argues that the pike tail at home will certainly harm all household members and lead to quarrels.
Others, on the contrary, believe that the presence of sansevieria in an apartment will help its inhabitants in building relationships and gaining many original ideas. In the room where sansevieria grows, quarrels occur much less frequently. In men, potency improves, and all households feel more confident. After all, the flower in the best way affects the work of the brain and nervous system of a person.
Feng Shui experts say that any plants with upward-looking leaves are favorable in terms of their influence on others.
What point of view should be adhered to, each one decides independently. Any plant can be a friend or an enemy. It is important to learn how to use it correctly. One way or another, this beautiful green plant can decorate any room.