Moonshine snake plants are very popular indoor plants in many households. You will have a great time growing Sansevierias because they are robust plants that require very little maintenance.
The succulent is named Sansevieria trifasciata, and it belongs to the Asparagaceae family. The plant is native to West Africa, especially Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, and Guinea.
In addition to being able to thrive under wild conditions, Mother in Law’s Tongue (you will read about this below) is also suitable for indoor and outdoor landscaping.
How to Take Care of Sansevieria Moonshine
Soil
When planting your moonshine snake plant, use typical succulent potting mix to give the rhizomes a firm base on which to grow.
In this case, potting soil for cacti plants would also be ideal. Comparatively to loam, which is less permeable, sandy soil is easier to drain. If the roots are left in water for a long time, they will rot, and eventually you will lose the plant.
The Moonshine plant may be transplanted at any time, but it’s best to be patient so the rooting hormones and rhizomes have a chance to adapt to any acute conditions that may arise.
Watering
Note that the leaves of this succulent don’t require too much water to stay healthy and strong. Despite its hardiness, this plant can remain green during times of drought. The roots might begin to rot if the soil takes longer to drain water.
Though the Moonshine snake is drought-resistant, you still need to let the soil completely dry before watering it again.
During winter, you also need to tone down watering frequency since the rooting hormones become numb due to the extremely cold weather. If roots are submerged in water for too long, nutrient uptake and water absorption would cease.
Use an all-purpose soluble fertilizer to increase growth, but only if the growing conditions are excellent in summer or spring.
Grooming and Maintenance
I’m quite impressed by the snake plant’s ability to thrive with minimal maintenance. However, you don’t have the best leverage to deprive your plant of the attention it deserves. It wouldn’t do you any good to have a plain-looking houseplant somewhere on your balcony.
The most important thing you need to do is pluck off the dead leaves and place the medium in a spot where it gets moderate to strong light. The leaves of your plant may turn yellow if they are suffering from root rot.
Lighting and Temperature
When grown in filtered bright light, the moonshine snake takes on an impressive appearance-mostly the morning sun if you intend to grow it indoors. However, you do not need to stick rigidly to this tweak because it can adapt to both high and low light conditions. Considering USDA hardiness zones 10 to 11, it appears you should grow your plants under warmer temperatures, preferably between 55-8°C.
How to Propagate Your Sansevieria Moonshine
Divide your moonshine in order to create a rhizome structure that will sprout prolifically. Use a sterilized knife with a sharp edge for dividing the rhizome, to prevent it from catching bad bacteria.
You can propagate moonshine snakes from leaf cuttings if you have at least 2′ inch long ones and pick leaves that appear mature enough to propagate.
It is far more beneficial to use well-draining potting soil- which is permeable, helps the roots have a firm base, and prevents the roots from being soaked in water for too long.
You should also plant the leaf-cuttings at least 1 inch deep. This will allow them to develop a rigid support system and their roots will grow rapidly. Plant the growing medium in a location with filtered light since direct sun rays tend to scorch the leaves.
Common Pests & Diseases
Due to the hardiness of this plant, you won’t have to deal with any serious infections or pest attacks. Mealybugs and spider mites are the only pests you’ll probably need to worry about. Plants like this are less trouble to grow and they aren’t too hard to fix if they have problems.
In the case of persistently cold temperatures or repeatedly soaking the roots in water for long periods, dark spots tend to develop on the leaves, so you need to monitor this closely.