All the Dirt on Gardening

The Sansevieria Cylindrica pup we were given in 2009 has been happily growing into an adult. Sansevieria Cylindrica Flower bud For the past few weeks it has been on a trek to full bloom. The bud appeared around Thanksgiving and we've been watching its progress as it formed a flower bud, bloomed and then grew a few feet tall. Sansevieria Cylindrica is the typical shades-of-green but instead of the thin sharp edged leaves, it has round leaves, making some call it an inelegant  oddball . But, no matter. We love Sansevieria because it is so easy to get along with. Low water needs. Low light preferences. What could be a better interior decoration for dull winter rooms? Sansevieria Cylindrica Flower stalk I'll admit that it isn't all peaches and cream like an African Violet with soft, fuzzy leaves and pretty flowers but for us minimalists, the structural form suits us just fine. We've agreed that it is time to give it a larger pot now. And, in this pho...

Sansevieria is a wonderfully tolerant plant. You see them in hospitals, hotels, shopping malls, banks and homes. Sansevieria trifasciata, known as Mother-In-Law Tongue or snake plant may be the most common one. It is recommended as an indoor air purifier, since it converts carbon dioxide to oxygen at night. Sansevierias will put up with most conditions including low light, lack of water and lack of repotting. They will not survive soggy soil or temperatures much below 65-F. And, they propagate easily. One leaf can be cut horizontally into 3-inch pieces and stuck into damp sand where they will grow into plants. Just notice which way the leaf was growing and put its edge right side up into the rooting mix. Sanseveria or Sanseviera was named for Raimondo de Sangro, the prince of San Severo, Italy who lived 1710 to 1771. In its native Africa, Sansevieria trifasciata is said to be a favorite gourmet food of elephants. The medicinal uses include ulcers, parasites, earaches and toothaches (ww...