A Little Vegetative Propagation

Who doesn't love free plants? I know I do. I was excited, therefore, when I noticed my snake plant (Sansevierias) had two babies at its base. I purchased the plant at the end of last summer from one of the big-box stores. Like many of my plant acquisitions, it was an impulse buy. It reminded me of my mother's collection when I was a child. She called hers mother-in-law's tongue. I remember she would have me wipe each stiff leaf with a damp cloth to remove dust and make it shine.

Sansevierias in the middle of the back row

Clump forming plants such as snake plant, hens and chics, and bromeliads develop plantlets or, to use the correct term, offsets. It is very easy to propagate these plants by division. Propagating means to create new plants.

Offset on the right at the base of the plant

When you are considering propagation by division, make sure your plant is free of disease, insects, and stress. As you can see, my snake plant seems to be quite happy. I began by assembling the materials I would be using. It was too cold to work in my potting shed, so I spread newspaper on the kitchen island and used a special tray to contain the mess; it's the tray I use when starting seeds. I gathered together the plant, some empty plant pots with drainage holes, a sharp knife (not shown), trowel, and gloves. For Sansevierias I prefer an organic cactus potting mix.

I began by collecting the materials I needed for propagating my plant

I gently pulled, cuting apart the offsets from the parent plant. It is important that the plantlets have roots.

Two offsets with roots.

I soon realized that one of the pots I had chosen was not big enough. Fortunately, I had a bigger one.

Realizing one of the pots wasn't big enough, I picked another

I covered the drainage hole of each plant pot with a small rock then added the potting mix. I quickly replanted each new plant. I watered without saturating them. Sansevierias needs indirect light and a temperature between 75° - 80°F. I placed them in the garden room, near a window.

New snake plants (Sansevierias) with silver lace fern (Pteris ensiformis)

The new Sansevierias plants should have some humidity so I put them next to my silver lace fern that is sitting on a dish of small rocks covered with water. I do mist the fern from time to time, but the pebble-and-water method is more consistent. Actually, I am quite pleased with my humidity tray: I bought a footed-dish made of recycled glass from Home Goods, filled it with small rocks from the Dollar Store, and added water. It looks more attractive than the plastic humidity trays that you can buy.

Plant sitting on a dish of small rocks with water added

With the fast-approaching snow and ice storm, it was so much fun to have an indoor gardening activity. I love my new little babies.

Happy Gardening (even if, like me, you are experiencing winter where you live.)

Pamela x

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