Common Problems On The Beautiful Sansevieria Gracilis You Can Fix (2021)

Sansevieria Gracilis

Sansevieria gracilis is a perennial succulent plant from eastern part of Africa. With runners that are 15 to 90 centimeters in length and 8 millimeters in thickness. They are covered in 12 to 25 millimeter-long scales, some of which grow into leaves. The height of the trunk varies from 2 to 8 cm.

The eight to twelve leaves on a stalk are swirling, rising, or spreading out in a tight spiral. Simple leaf blades range in length from 25 to 80 centimeters and are 6 to 9 millimeters thick. It is hollow-rutted and cylindrical at the top and is 5 to 12.5 centimeters long from the base. It’s a dark green color with unclear, thin, darker transverse bands and somewhat darker longitudinal lines on occasion. It eventually culminates with a 2 to 6 millimeter long brown or white spider tip. The spreading margin, which resembles a membrane, is white. With age, the leaf surface is smooth furrowed.


Inflorescences

Sansevieria Gracilis flower have a height of up to 30 cm The stem is a pale green color. Up to two blooms per cluster are lightly covered on the panicles. The bract is 2 to 3 millimeters long, lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, and somewhat pointed. The flower stem is between 1 and 2 millimeters in length. The bracts possess a bright white color. The floral tube is around 2 to 2.5 inches in length. The tips are about a centimeter long and a bit longer than that.


Common Sansevieria Gracilis Problems

Snake plants are a popular indoor plant since they are simple to grow and maintain. My article covers all you need to know about growing and caring for sansevieria gracilis. Even if you have a green thumb, the following can have an impact on your plants.


Root Rot

When it comes to sansevieria gracilis the most typical issue is root rot. The roots die back if there isn’t enough oxygen or if a soil fungus overgrows. Sodden soils promote the growth and proliferation of Pythium, Phytophthora, Rhizoctonia, and Fusarium fungus that spread into the roots. When good roots die, they are unable to absorb the vitamins and minerals they require.

Because root rot occurs beneath the soil surface, it is difficult to observe. In extreme circumstances, root rot can kill a plant in a matter of days if the conditions are ideal.There are a few solutions to the problem that you might not think of right away. Plants can be grown in pots that do not have holes.

Potting your sansevieria gracilis in a well-draining pot is essential, but you still want your plant to look well and add to the beauty of your home. If you have a decorative pot with plenty of drainages that you can plant your snake plant in, I prefer to place the pot on a drip tray or inside a planter. 

The roots turn brown and mushy when visible on them. The leaves turn yellow as root rot progresses. If symptoms are visible in the leaves, the problem may be past the point of being fixed, endangering the whole plant.

Repot the plant, if caught soon enough. Remove as much of the infected soil as possible adding in fresh, clean potting soil. You can add a root treatment containing beneficial mycorrhizal species, or dust the healthy roots with sulfur powder to help prevent reinfection. Beneficial mycorrhizae create a hostile environment for unwanted bacteria and fungi; sulfur acidifies the soil, making some nutrients less available and limiting the food source for the pathogens that cause root rot.

If root rot has spread significantly, dissect the plant, keeping only the healthy portions. If the whole base is affected, take cuttings from healthy foliage and root them to propagate a new plant. Water plants when the top 2-4” of the soil has dried out completely. This could mean only watering your Snake Plant every 1-2 months during the cooler, winter months when the plant is dormant.

Snake plants are ideal plants for the less attentive gardener. You can safely avoid watering them for weeks at a time. You won’t have to worry about all the ways to water houseplants while on vacation , as your snake plant will easily tolerate 3 weeks or more without water, even in warm, arid conditions.


Exposure To Extreme Temperatures

The Snake Plant is native to West Africa and likes warmer climates. Cells in leaves are damaged when exposed to cold temperatures. The plant is doomed to die from lack of water due to the damage that interrupt the pathways.

Although thesansevieria gracilis hasn’t been overwatered, the leaves have been scarred or yellow. Maintaining healthy foliage is important as over-pruning stresses the plant.

In a location with daytime temperatures between 60 and 80F and nighttime temperatures between 55 and 70F, your Snake Plant should be kept.


Pest


Mealybugs

These pink, soft-bodied insects are covered with a white, waxy, almost cottony-like material. The cottony fluff helps protect them from moisture loss and excess heat. Mealybugs are usually found in colonies in somewhat protected areas of thesansevieria gracilis such as on the leaves close to the soil surface.

Mealybugs are similar to their relatives the soft scales but they lack the scale covering and retain legs throughout their life cycle allowing them to move around. The citrus mealybug is the most common species found on succulent plants like the Snake Plant. They lay microscopic eggs within a mass of white cottony threads and then perish within 5 – 10 days.

Stunted or deformed leaf growth, especially on new foliage as mealybugs inject a toxin into sansevieria gracilis when they feed on the plant’s fluid. Mealybugs also excrete honeydew a sugar-rich, sticky liquid as they feed, encouraging the growth of sooty mold. Healthy plants may be able to handle a slight infestation if the plant is in good health overall. If left untreated, leaves will yellow, curl, and drop.

The most effective way to treat a sansevieria gracilis for mealybugs is to manually pick the adults and egg masses off by hand or wiping them with a cloth or cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. Before attempting rubbing alcohol, spot test an inconspicuous area on your plant to ensure it won’t damage foliage; the waxy succulent leaves on a Snake Plant are typically strong enough to withstand a little bit of rubbing alcohol, but it’s best to double check before treating your plant.

Carefully inspect all new plants when you bring them into your home since mealybugs easily crawl from one plant to a neighboring one. Quarantine infected sansevieria gracilis from healthy ones to prevent the spread.


Sum Up!

What else do you want to know about caring a sansevieria gracilis? Let us know by dropping a comment below.


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https://knowngarden.com/21-snake-plants-you-can-grow-indoors/

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