She lived forever in our basement. In a clay pot, growing taller and bigger, our sanseveria, or mother-in-laws tongue, seemed to thrive on neglect, no matter what the kids did to it.
Also known as a snake plant, it was a staple in our basement when I was growing up. And as much as I disliked that plant, it did teach me quite a bit about houseplant care.
It’s just after Valentine’s Day, and many people bought or received a new houseplant to brighten up their winter weary home, and although it looks great now, there are some things you need to know to keep it looking that way.
While most houseplants are generally pretty tough and easy to care for, there are some things that will kill it quickly. The first thing that will injure and possibly kill a plant is how it was transported from the store. Houseplants are tropical by nature and it should have been protected on the way home using either a paper sleeve or by placing it in a box. They should be in the heated part of your car, not the trunk and should not be left in the car to get chilled while running other errands. Even on the warmer days that we’ve been having, a cool breeze may do some damage.
The second thing that kills a plant is choosing the wrong container. Once you have your plant home, the first thing many people do is repot the plant and often times that is what kills it for one of several reasons. Not only is it adjusting to a new home, but that cute little container with the bees all over it that looked so adorable with the plant at the store may not have a drainage hole in the bottom. Drainage is particularly important with any plant, but especially with houseplants and good drainage is essential for healthy plants. If your pot does not have a drainage hole, you can create drainage by putting a layer of stones, bark or even styrofoam peanuts in the bottom of the pot before transplanting. Be sure you use the kind that are not edible – the ones made of starch will simply dissolve into a mess in the bottom. Another solution is to pot the plant in a slightly smaller pot then sit it inside of the larger pot using it as a decorative cover. Go up just one pot size when transplanting. Unless you have a plant that is an aggressive grower, there is no need to put a baby plant in a gargantuan pot.
The third thing that will kill your houseplant is the wrong soil. Garden soils compact and become hard when used indoors in pots and then won’t allow the drainage that your plant needs in order to be happy and grow well. Use a good potting soil that is labeled for houseplants or indoor use.
The last thing that will kill a houseplant very quickly is over watering. By keeping the soil on the dry side you are also minimizing the possibility of attracting fungus gnats which prefer moist conditions that are often found in wet houseplant soil. Consistently wet soil can rot the roots of plants, particularly during winter, when the sun is weak and the nights are long.
The easiest way to check is to push your finger down into the soil about an inch and see if it’s dry. If it is, or if your plant is visibly wilting, then it’s time to water. Watering from below using a saucer will allow them to take up water as needed, but won’t drown them.
Pay attention to light levels and temperature too. Steady, even temperatures are best. Avoid placing them near radiators, in windowsills where the temperature will vary greatly between daytime and nighttime, or in drafts. The strength of direct sun in our area can quickly scorch tender foliage.
What happened to that mother-in-laws tongue? I’m happy to say that I never killed it, but I was very happy when she did go to live in a new home when we moved and she was too large to fit in the new space. With a little care and attention and your new houseplant should live for a very long time!
