This is the approach I’d want to discuss in this article. My whale fin sansevieria had two leaves when I bought it. One of them was that lovely straight whale fin leaf you’re presumably thinking of. The other leaf was curlier, but it was still lovely. So I cut that leaf off while keeping the straight leaf attached to the underlying rhizome.
My initial step was to immerse the chopped leaf in water. Before putting it in water, I let it callus over for a day or two to help avoid rot. Then I added the cutting and some water to a vase with a few rocks. I let it go for a few weeks before noticing a few teeny tiny roots growing. Yay!
However, I soon realized that I didn’t want to rely only on water roots. As a result, I intended to move the cutting to LECA. (For additional information on how to root plants in LECA, see here.) This manner, I could presumably assure that the roots would grow to a suitable size for future soil planting. Here are some photos of my LECA leaf roots.
This leaf has been in LECA for several weeks and has made significant improvement. As I previously stated, this is a slow grower, thus the rate of growth has astounded me. When I change the LECA and get a roots photo, I’ll post an update!
Is whale fin sansevieria rare?
Small plants are reasonably easy to get online, but you’ll have to pay extra if you want a plant that’s already rather huge.
The variegated cultivar is Sansevieria masoniana variegata. Masonianas with more yellow variegation and those with more white variegation are called variegated masonianas.
The variegation appears as yellow or white stripes that appear to have been painted down from the leaf’s topalmost watermelon-like?
Sansevieria masonianas with variegated white or yellow leaves are more unusual, and you’ll pay a higher price for them!
How does a whale fin sansevieria grow?
It also doesn’t imply that they require dim lighting. It just means that they will put up with poor lighting! If your plant is not put in good light, it will steadily deteriorate over time.
Sansevieria can, in fact, thrive under a lot of direct sunlight.
I’ve had the good fortune to visit to Africa, where I’ve observed Sansevieria growing in semi-shaded locations under trees, as well as in full sun.
Because it was first gathered in Africa’s Congo, the cultivar ‘Mason Congo’ is occasionally applied to Whale Fin Sansevieria.
LIGHT
Whatever you do, be certain that your plant is as close to a window as possible. Indoors, these plants might benefit from a little direct sunlight.
These plants thrive in eastern and western exposure windows.
North windows, on the other hand, aren’t off the table, especially if they’re huge and unobstructed.
However, a little direct sunlight is preferable.
South windows, which have the most natural light, will also work!
If you reside in a region where the sun is especially intense, you may wish to screen some of the direct sunlight. I don’t have anything to worry about because I live in Ohio…
These plants are adaptable inside, but for the best development and results, arrange them directly in front of a window.
Keep in mind that greater light can cause your potting mix to dry out faster.
As a result, we arrive at…
WATERING
Always give your plants plenty of water. Yes, these plants need to dry out between waterings, but watering your plants thoroughly is always a good idea for a healthy root system.
Make sure the soil surrounding the entire pot is well soaked until water seeps through the drainage hole.
Remove any extra water and never leave your whale fin submerged in water, as this can promote root rot.
Take additional caution if you water your plant in place and it is growing in a pot with drainage holes, but it is slipped into a beautiful cache pot.
Check to see whether any surplus water has accumulated at the bottom of the cache pot.
Allow your soil to dry entirely, or near to totally, after watering, and then repeat the process. Although it can withstand a lot of neglect and lengthy periods without water, don’t wait too long after the soil has dried out before watering it again.
Your Whale Fin prefers soil that dries out rapidly between waterings to grow in.
This should not be an issue if your plant is flourishing in good light, at acceptable indoor temperatures, and in a well-drained potting mix.
I like to check the soil moisture with my finger.
You can also feel the pot to see if it has become noticeably lighter.
The good news is that these plants are drought resilient and will not complain and whimper like some others.
Finally, when it comes to watering, I strongly advise against using moisture meters.
See my blog post on the 3 Big Dangers of Moisture Meters for more information.
SOIL MIX and POTS
Sansevieria masoniana prefers a soil mix that drains quickly. I use 2 parts decent succulent/cactus potting mix and 1 part pumice for all of my Sansevierias.
If I don’t have pumice on hand, I’ll use perlite, but for species like Sansevieria that require sharp drainage and quick drying, I prefer pumice.
I’ve had success with both the Hoffman Cactus and Succulent mix and the Miracle-Gro Cactus, Palm, and Citrus mix.
Both of these can be used in two parts and are readily accessible on Amazon.
Add one part of 1/4 pumice to each of your two parts of potting mix.
Bonsai Jack’s 1/4″ Pumice is one of my favorites.
This combination will produce a well-drained potting mix for your Sansevieria.
You can use any sort of pot as long as it has a drainage hole when it comes to pots!
I prefer terra cotta pots for Sansevieria since they dry out faster and have a nicer appearance.
If you’d like to learn more about terra cotta pots, I’ve published a nice blog post about the benefits and drawbacks of terra cotta pots that you might find interesting!
FERTILIZING
Despite the fact that these plants are light feeders, I continue to fertilize them with Schultz Cactus fertilizer throughout the growing season.
Schultz 2-7-7 Cactus Plus is a low-nitrogen fertilizer that you should use.
And if you forget to apply some fertilizer during the growing season, your plant will forgive you.
This fertilizer is designed to fertilize your plants every time you water them.
Simply follow the package’s instructions.
And keep in mind that fertilization isn’t a panacea for bad culture!
It should be utilized to boost the growth of your plant.
Before you consider about fertilizing, be sure you have the correct lighting, irrigation, and other factors in place.
Do you want to buy a Whale Fin Snake Plant? Etsy is one of my favorite and most convenient one-stop-shops for buying almost any plant. Today, have a look at the Whale Fin Snake Plant option (link to Etsy)!
How fast does whale fin Sansevieria grow?
Sansevieria plants prefer moist, well-draining soil. The ideal choice is cactus potting soil, but you should also add some pumice to make it drain more quickly. Two parts cactus potting to one part pumice is a good starting point.
This mixture allows water to drain through the soil rather than soak it, potentially resulting in root rot.
Keeping this in mind, make sure the pot includes a drainage hole to prevent the soil from becoming waterlogged.
Finally, the pot must be upgraded every two years. Get a bigger pot to let the roots to grow even more. Sansevieria plants have strong enough roots that they will literally shatter the pot if you don’t upgrade it.
Size: Depending on the circumstances, this plant can grow as tiny as 8 inches and as large as 7 feet.
As a result, starting with a 4-inch pot and moving up 2 to 4 inches every time you swap out pots is recommended to allow for growth.
Growth Rate: The Sansevierias grow at a snail’s pace. You simply need to increase its pot every two years, as previously stated.
Why is my whale fin folding?
Because your Sansevieria can spend weeks without being watered, overwatering is very typical. Leaves will fold but not curl if they are overwatered or have poor drainage. When a plant is submerged and then allowed to dry out over an extended period of time, it can curl.
When should I water my whale fin plant?
Sansevierias, like the majority of semi-succulent plants, such as String of Hearts, do well with little water. As a result, if you want to avoid root rot, it’s far preferable to submerge your plant rather than overwater it.
With that stated, the whale fin is a thirsty plant for a semi-succulent plant, especially in the spring and summer months when the air is dryer and the temperatures are higher. As a result, make sure the plant has a chance to dry out between waterings. Give the plant a nice soak after it’s entirely dry. When the plant is thirsty, the leaves begin to wrinkle slightly, signaling that it is time to drink.
What is a whale fin plant?
Sansevieria masoniana, often known as the shark fin or whale fin Sansevieria, is a species of snake plant. This sumptuous beauty isn’t often easy to track down.
Its massive leaves make it a fascinating plant that is well worth the effort to properly care for.
In the scientific community, Sansevieria masoniana (san-se-VEER-ee mas-oh-nee-AH-uh) is also known as Dracaena masoniana (san-se-VEER-ee mas-oh-nee-AH-uh). This plant’s common names include:
The Asparagaceae family includes the whale fin. Sansevieria masoniana is native to Central Africa’s Democratic Republic of Congo. Mason’s Congo Sansevieria is the popular name for the plant’s native habitat.
Why do Whales have dorsal fins?
“(The dorsal fin) aids them in gliding through the water.)” “Excess heat generated as they move along is expelled into the surrounding water and air via the dorsal fin much like a radiator!” Orca Live argues that the fins help control a killer whale’s body temperature.
Is a whale fin a succulent?
The whale fin sansevieria, like other succulents, is a succulent plant. Succulents, in general, are drought resilient, which means they don’t require much water. All of my snake plants, including the whale fin snake plant, benefit from a little neglect. I have a habit of forgetting to water them for weeks at a time. They require a little more water in the spring and summer, but what about the rest of the year? Take a step back.
In the summer, when it’s particularly hot and they’re getting more light from the longer days, I water my snake plants every 10 days or so. When the temperature constantly falls below 70 degrees, I reduce my watering to every 23 weeks.
Root rot and pest infestations might occur if they are overwatered. You’ll be alright if you just make sure the top few inches of soil have dried out before watering the plant again. If the soil is caked and shrinks away from the sides of the pot when you water it, aerate it a little with a fork or chopstick to break it up. Then comes the water.
Why is my Sansevieria yellow?
In order to care for a Sansevieria, it is necessary to provide adequate soil moisture (or lack thereof). Overwatering is the leading cause of yellowing leaves in Sansevieria plants. Sansevieria thrive on neglect and don’t require much water to flourish. Only water when the top half of the soil is completely dry. Fill the pot with water until the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot is clear. Ensure that any surplus water that flows into the saucer is discarded. Your Sansevieria does not appreciate “wet feet,” since this can cause root rot and eventual death.
What is a shark fin Sansevieria?
‘Shark Fin’ Sansevieria masoniana Shark fin snakes, also known as whale fin snakes, are a rare home plant that can withstand drought and low light. They are low-maintenance plants that are nearly impossible to kill. We’re pleased to be able to offer the Shark Fin Snake Plant, which is an uncommon houseplant.