How to Grow and Care for Sansevieria Moonshine
Despite its common names, Sansevieria Moonshine is a silver-leaved variety of the familiar snake plant. The leaves are attractive, light silvery green with dark leaf margins; as the plant grows, the leaves become a soft green.
However, it is almost as robust as most snake plant varieties. It makes an unusual addition to any home and is ideal for busy gardeners. Other common names for this plant include Moonglow, Moonlight, Silver snake plant, etc. Let’s take a look at how to care for the wonderful sansevieria moonshine plant.
Plant appearance and growth rate
Silver sansevieria’s silvery green leaves are what gives it common names such as Moonlight/Moonshine snake plant, and the leaves have thin, green lines that run the entire length of the leaf. Typically growing in groups of 2-3 leaves, these leaves develop in a stunning vase-shaped form that becomes darker with age. You’ll notice the leaves turn slightly darker, while still maintaining a silvery color.
The moonshine snake plant is one of the fastest and easiest Sansevieria species to grow. It can reach a height of two feet when fully mature.
Soil
Root rot is a possibility with moonshine snake plants if water accumulates around their stem structure. Choosing a soil that has good drainage capacity is therefore essential. The soil must be sandy, coarse, and fast-draining, and you should limit the amount of time these plants are exposed to wet, drenched soil. It will surely make the roots rot over time.
If you have some soil additives, you can put together your own potting mix with Sansevieria Moonshine by using the standard potting mix for succulents and cacti. Adding gravel, sand or perlite to enhance drainage would be useful. Coir or peat would retain moisture without making the mix too dense.
Pot
Sansevieria Moonshine is a beautiful pot plant. Snake plants come in many shapes, sizes, and materials for containers. These include ceramic, terracotta, plastic, wood, and metal. Beautiful pots for snake plants are available on the market. The silvery foliage of Sansevieria moonshine needs a light colored pot to stand out, especially those of white or cream color.
Watering regimen
A succulent, Sansevieria Moonshine does not require much water to stay healthy and thrive. It is drought-tolerant, which means it can survive without much water. Never overwater this plant or it will rot away and die.
Ensure your soil is dry in between waterings by checking the top layer (1 or 1.5 inches of soil surface).
Depending on the climate and surrounding conditions of the plant, you may water only once a week or every other week. For example, plants in shade need less water than those in bright light, while those living in tropical regions may need watering more frequently.
While watering the rosette, you should make sure the leaves remain dry. Since the leaves are shaped like rosette, any water that accumulates between the leaves can eventually cause fungal infection.
It is important to water slowly until the drainage holes start dripping. Allow excess water to drain away freely. Discard the water in the drainage saucer after 30-40 minutes. Do not let the plant sit in standing water. Reduce watering frequency to once a month once temperatures start falling low.
Sunlight
This plant prefers moderate indirect sunlight, but it can also tolerate bright direct sunlight in small amounts. The plant will thrive in low light conditions as well. It does well with a little morning sun and bright filtered light during the day.
Unlike some plants, the leaves of moonshine plant can change color depending on lighting conditions. They have very light grey-green leaves that appear almost ice-white, while they have darker leaves in deep shade. Dark areas can stunt the growth of the plant.
Temperature
While Sansevieria Moonshine does well in warm climates, it does not tolerate cold as well as some other houseplants. During the winter months, it may need extra heat and dry air. In the summer, keep it in a shady position.
Moonshine plants can easily tolerate temperatures of 55-85 degrees Fahrenheit (13-29 degrees C). They are winter-hardy in regions where temperatures do not drop below the freezing point. Cold temperatures lower than 32 degrees Fahrenheit can permanently damage the leaves.
Pests and Diseases
This hardy plant is usually free of serious disease and pest problems. Snake plants have strong succulent leaves, which means they tend not to get sick very easily. If a pest bothers your Sansevieria moonshine it is most likely mealybugs or spider mites. However, these pests are easy to get rid of. There are ways to get rid of them and restore the health of your plant.
Fertilizer
Feeding your moonshine plants 2-3 times per year is sufficient and is very effective. Try a general-purpose houseplant fertilizer that’s balanced in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (N-P-K). Organic or natural fertilizers can also be used sparingly.
Feed your plants during spring and summer. Half-strength liquid fertilizer can be applied every month throughout the summer. Slow release fertilizer should be added at the beginning of summer and end of spring. Don’t overfeed your plants.
Repotting
You should repot your Sansevieria Moonshine every 2-3 years to avoid overgrowth, while making the plant look neat and tidy. Most Sansevierias grow faster than Moonshine. This makes the plant stronger because it encourages healthy root growth.
Moonshine snake plants can be transplanted at any time of the year, but spring and early summer are ideal. Here are the basic steps for repotting:
- Get a pot that is the right size. Usually it should be 1-1.5 inches wider than the old container.
- The bottom should be covered with a thin layer of pebbles to prevent water from draining, followed by a layer of soil.
- After you have carefully removed your plant from the old pot, shake off the soil, set the root ball into a new pot, then fill the remaining volume with soil mix.
- If the pot was planted before, it should be planted to the same height; do not bury the leaves. Soil should be at least one inch below the rim.
- In the end, the plant should be thoroughly watered and it should get completely dry before being watered again.
Grooming and Maintenance
Like most snake plants, Sansevieria Moonshine requires little care. It thrives best when left on its own, but this does not mean that you should neglect it completely. There are signs of root rot, such as yellowing or discolored leaves. Therefore, you may have to remove leaves that are yellowing or damaged. Some leaves will naturally die over time, and those should also be trimmed.
In addition to pruning the leaves occasionally, which is all that needs to be done, you can divide your plant from its roots and grow new plants if it has outgrown the container.
Propagation
Most snake plants are propagated by division, as they have a large rhizome and roots that expand rapidly. This requires a large plant with well established roots and multiple leaf sections. Sansevieria moonshine produces rosettes with 2-4 leaves in each section. You can do this by separating each section, making sure it has enough roots at the base. Place the pieces in their own pots and you will have new plants in no time. Another popular method is to propagate plants using leaf cuttings. Also, here’s how to do this:
- Make sure that your leaf is mature and healthy, and cut and separate it into sections no longer than 2-3 inches.
- Before transplanting the tissue, cut areas should be kept dry and calloused.
- Put the sections in a shallow container and plant them bottom side up in a well-draining potting mix. Plant the leaf cuttings one inch deep.
- Plant the cuttings in low light, where they will grow 1-2 inches of roots. The cuttings need to be transplanted after several months.
Pets and kids safety
The moonshine snake plant is toxic if chewed or eaten. It is mildly toxic to humans and animals, so you should keep it away from curious children and pets.
A large amount of it may result in nausea, diarrhea, stomach pain and vomiting. Oral and throat irritation and gastrointestinal problems may also appear if consumed.
Uses and Benefits
These plants look great in any corner or window sill. Since they have upright foliage, they are easy to place in your house. Sansevieria moonshine plants look great in any indoor pot. The plants can also be planted directly in the ground, but should be kept in semi-shade. They are more suited as an outdoor plant in warm climates than as an indoor plant in cooler climates.
The snake plant offers a number of beneficial properties. It absorbs air pollutants and releases oxygen at night, making it an excellent bedroom plant.