Table of Contents
If you desire to try out the growing of a succulent plant this season, then you should check out the Sansevieria masoniana plant.
This plant is very easygoing and doesn’t require much stress while growing. With the right care and maintenance, you will have a successful growing season.
If you want to know more about this plant as well as its basic requirements that can aid its growth, then keep scrolling as we have compiled the list of the most common essential requirements.
What Is A Sansevieria Masoniana?
Sansevieria masoniana which is also known as Mason’s Congo or a whale fin snake plant is a species of succulent-like plant that originated from central Africa precisely Congo. It has thin, upright leaves with a leathery texture that has a height of 3 tall and 8 wide by size.
The foliage is usually dark green with a lighter green and a red margin. However, each rhizome produces one or two leaves and inflorescence with 1 long, greenish-white flower.
Furthermore, the upright erect leaves of this plant can become tall. Wild specimens are documented with leaves four feet in height and nearly a foot wide. It is found growing in the dappled shade beneath trees and occasionally in bright, direct sun.
Sansevieria Masoniana Light Requirements
The first essential requirement is knowing the type and the amount of sunlight to expose your plant to daily.
However, your sansevieria masoniana plant loves to be kept in a place with medium indirect light of about 750 lux / 75-foot candles) and it can tolerate 5-6 hours of direct morning sunlight per day.
Furthermore, If you notice that your leaves are growing narrow, then it is a clear sign that your plant isn’t growing.
Read Also: Snake Plant Not Growing Straight? [Do These 3 Things]
Watering Requirements
The next essential factor is the amount of water that your plant needs.
For your Sansevieria masoniana plant to grow healthy, it will require minimal watering. You should do well to water your plant when it is dry. To know when it is right you should use your finger and drop it inside the soil.
During the summer, you should water the plant once every 10 days while in the winter, when the plant is dormant, you may need to water only once every 2–3 weeks.
However, you should avoid overwatering your plant to prevent the infestations of pests, diseases and the root of your plants from getting infected.
Furthermore, you should water the plant with lukewarm water and avoid using cold water or hard water.
Sansevieria Masoniana Best Soil Type
The best type of soil for your plant is well-draining soil which can be formed from the mixture of some items such as 1 part of any store-bought potting mix and 1 part of perlite, pumice, or coarse sand.
Using the best suitable soil type will help your plant to grow effectively and yield productive flowers.
Suitable Temperature & Humidity Level
The best temperature for Sansevieria masoniana to grow healthy is between 18° C To 24 C° (65 to 75 ° F). So avoid any location that doesn’t have the amount that suits the plant or is below 16C (60 F).
Furthermore, the humidity level must be between 5% and 25%. However, the plant adapts well to any humidity level even if the humidity in your home is over 70%, this plant will grow healthy regardless.
Fertilizer
The best fertilizer to grow your plant is with a low-nitrogen fertilizer with an N-P-K ratio of 1-2-2. Fertilizing your plant must be done once every 2-4 weeks.
When fertilizing, make sure to follow the instructions on the fertilizer packaging and do not use more fertilizer than listed on the packaging.
Additionally, you should avoid fertilizing your plant when it is not actively growing. This is because the plant won’t be able to use the nutrients, they will accumulate in the soil and this can lead to the burning of your plant.
Potting & Repotting Your Sansevieria Masoniana
You should repot your plant every 2–3 years to replenish the nutrients through the new fresh potting soil.
To repot your Sansevieria masoniana plant, follow the steps below:
A. Take the plant out of its pot and slightly loosen the root ball.
B. Inspect the roots and cut off any dead, soft, mushy roots.
C. Fill up 1/3 of the new pot with fresh soil and place the plant into the new pot.
D. Fill the pot with soil and press the soil lightly around the plant and water it if the soil has been dry before repotting.
Propagation Of The Plant
The propagation for your Sansevieria masoniana is usually done when you notice that the plant has matured enough to grow new plants. However, it is advisable that before you do so, you should wait until it has grown a few inches tall. Afterwards, you should take a clean clipper and separate the parent plants.
Allow the pup to have a few days in a dry and cool place to dry off. When it is dry, then the plant is ready to be potted and grown.
Furthermore, you can propagate this plant with the easiest and most preferred method of propagation which is the propagation through leaf cutting in water.
To carry out this method effectively, you should follow the steps below:
A. Cut off a whole leaf or cut off a single leaf into several sections and place the cut leaf in a propagation dish with water.
Ensure that they have the same leaf orientation. If you turn a leaf upside-down, it won’t be able to absorb moisture and will die.
So it is highly recommended that you try supporting the leaf with a chopstick that allows the leaf to sit in the water.
B. Put the propagation dish in bright indirect light.
C. Replace the water once a week to replenish oxygen and remove harmful bacteria.
D. Once the cuttings grow 2-3 inches of roots, pot them in the soil and water them especially when the soil is fully dry.
E. In a few months to 1 year, a new leaf will grow.
To speed up the whole propagation process, you can use a heat mat or an air pump. The heat mat will help to increase the temperature of the water as well as speed up the propagation.
Sansevieria Masoniana Common Pests & Diseases
The most common diseases that affect Sansevieria masoniana plants are fungal red leaf spots, scales, thrips, and southern blight as well as bacterial soft rot which is also known as Erwinia carotovora.
To get rid of each of these common pests and diseases, there are some effective methods that you must apply which include:
A. Scale
To get rid of this slave, you just have to first scrape off the physical scales that you can see. Afterwards, treat the whole plant with insecticidal soap, horticultural oil, or neem oil.
You can also try out this method through the use of systemic insecticides. You must apply them when they are still young.
B. Thrips
The best way to get rid of this difficult pest is through the use of a systemic insecticide.
To do so, these are the procedures:
Add 1 teaspoon of systemic insecticide per gallon of water and water the plant.
The plant will absorb insecticide through the water. As thrips feed on the plant, they will ingest the insecticide and die.
C. Red leaf spot (Fusarium leaf spot)
The lesions occur when the leaves of the plant are infected, treat it with a fungicide and keep the foliage dry.
D. Southern Blight (Sclerotium rolfsii)
The lesions lead to stem rot and wilting and the affected plants should be discarded.
Diseased plants should be discarded.
E. Bacterial soft rot
To prevent these soft rot infections from affecting, make sure that the plant leaves stay dry.
FAQs
1. How Long Does It Take For A Whale Fin Snake Plant To grow?
The Sansevierias have a very slow growth rate. All you can do is upgrade its pot every two years.
2. What Is The Graduate Sourcing Guide To Owning And Caring For Sansevieria?
Caring for your plant requires a medium to bright indirect light, but can also tolerate lower light as well as direct sun.
Water your Sansevieria only when the soil is completely dry.
Water until liquid flows through the drainage hole and discard any water that accumulates in the saucer. Your Sansevieria prefers a dry environment.
3. How Do I Increase My Sansevieria Growth?
Grow it in a place in a warm location that has a well-Lit Area. Also, a couple of hours with a direct morning sun will boost its growth.
4. Why Are Fin Plants So Expensive?
Whales in Sansevieria are so expensive because of their rarity and slow speed of growth.
Adult plants and plants with several leaves are not easy to find. Also, it can take up to 12 months for one new leaf of the whale Fin Snake Plant to grow.
5. Is Sansevieria A Lucky Plant?
According to Feng Shui teachings, the perfect plants attract money, prosperity, and good energy.
Conclusion
Sansevieria masoniana is a plant that requires low maintenance and care for the plant to grow, and produce wonderful flowers and leaves which can be used to lighten up your home or office.
We hope that this article was helpful. If you have any questions, do well to ask them in the comment section below, we will be happy to help.
