Carefully untie each tiny offset attached to its parent plant‘s rhizomes with a disinfected knife, and plant each in its tiny pot filled with well-draining potting mix.
Dracaena masoniana, commonly called the whale fin snake plant (Dracaena x variegata ‘Mediopicta), grows best when exposed to warm temperatures with indirect lighting and bright but indirect light. Its large paddle-like leaves help filter formaldehyde and benzene toxins from the air.
Temperature
The whale fin snake plant lives up to its name with long paddle-shaped leaves that resemble those found on whale fins. Easy care requirements for this houseplant are only warm temperatures and average household humidity levels.
Maintain a bright but indirect light source to prevent direct sunlight from damaging their leaves. They should live near windows, but a sheer curtain may be necessary to filter out harsher rays. If your plant can’t receive enough light, its soil may quickly dry out, indicating it needs watering, but don’t pour a puddle over its top few inches; water your plant whenever there is visible moisture present at least every few weeks in summer and every 2-3 weeks during winter for best results.
Curling leaves are another telltale sign of under-watered plants. A whale fin sansevieria can withstand dryness for quite some time before succumbing to dehydration; once this happens, its leaves begin rolling up and down along their length, suggesting it needs more moisture than it’s currently receiving from its soil. To remedy the situation, rewet with room temperature water.
Your whale fin sansevieria requires a light-textured soil that drains well; either purchase this kind of soil from a store or make your own using one part store-bought potting mix mixed with one part perlite, pumice or coarse sand from your garden center. Use a well-draining succulent fertilizer with low nitrogen levels for best results.
As with other houseplants, whale fin plants are susceptible to pests and fungal diseases such as black dots on leaves or brown scales or mushy roots, which are best killed with an anti-fungicide spray containing three parts 3% hydrogen peroxide to one part water or using Neem oil as a fungicide. If infected, roots need cutting out and washing thoroughly afterward. It is also recommended to report annually with fresh soil incorporating coarse sand or perlite for better drainage at the bottom of the pot as part of this process – including a layer of coarse sand or perlite for improved drainage purposes.
Humidity
Sansevieria masoniana, commonly called the Whale Fin Plant, can be found throughout central Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo. With a single paddle-like leaf resembling whale fins resembling those on whales, this plant earned itself the moniker “Whale’s Fin Snake Plant.” While this species thrives in many different environments, it particularly enjoys warm and dry climates where its unique properties allow purifying air.
Whale fin plants need medium indirect light. Direct sunlight may burn their leaves, so for optimal results, it’s best to place it near a window with sheer curtains or blinds that filter sunlight.
Your whale fin plant requires at least once weekly watering. When its leaves turn brown and begin wilting, this indicates a need for moisture. Use a watering can with controllable moisture levels to ensure optimal results; overwatering this houseplant often leads to root rot or other fungal infections.
One way to track humidity levels is by carefully monitoring rhizomes for signs of decay. When they show a dark or mushy appearance, this indicates too much water was retained by the soil, preventing proper drainage; to avoid this problem, use only well-draining potting soil mixes like garden soil.
Create your potting soil mix by mixing 1 part store-bought potting soil with 1 part perlite, pumice, or coarse sand. However, avoid fertilizers, which could burn their roots and suffocate their plants.
Regularly inspect your whale fin plant for pests like scale insects and mealybugs, which can be seen on its leaves and stems. Wipe them off using cotton pads soaked with isopropyl alcohol or neem oil.
Propagating a whale fin plant through division is the easiest and most rewarding method. Simply cut a section from your existing plant with a disinfected tool and allow it to callus over for several days before planting it in a new pot with well-draining soil – water only when necessary!
Light
Like many succulents, whale fin snake plants grow slowly and thrive when given plenty of time to establish themselves in their containers. Forced growth only adds stress and increases their likelihood of developing issues; once planted securely in containers, they require minimal care from you, perfect for novice indoor gardeners or busy homeowners! Water when the soil feels dry – providing warm conditions with moderate sunlight and loamy or sandy soil will ensure a healthy plant!
If your Sansevieria Masoniana leaves feel dry and papery when touched, the plant may have received too much water or has poor soil drainage. Feel the potting mix for moisture before watering again; once watered again, it should be bone dry before doing so again. When watering again, ensure it drains through its drainage hole quickly, as standing water will cause root rot to set in and further hinder growth.
Plants like succulents love direct light, so placing yours near an east- or north-facing window that receives 4 to 6 hours of direct sun daily is ideal. South and west-facing windows may produce too much natural light; in such instances, sheer curtains should be used as shade to filter or dapple it accordingly.
Like their Sansevieria trifasciata counterpart, these plants are very effective air purifiers. According to a NASA study1, these plants reduce benzene and formaldehyde emissions in indoor spaces – making them an excellent option.
Whale fin plants are generally resistant to pests. Their thick leaves help them conceal themselves from common houseplant pests like mealybugs, spider mites, and thrips; should these sap-sucking pests ever infiltrate your Whale Fin plant, spray some water mixed with rubbing alcohol to control them quickly. If it shows brown or yellow spots on its leaves due to Phytophthora ramorum fungus infestation, then try treating with three parts water mixed with one part 3% hydrogen peroxide solution or use fungicide spray designed for succulents and houseplants to help treat it effectively.
Water
Whale fin plants store water in their fleshy leaves, making them drought-tolerant, but they still need regular irrigation. When giving water, be sure to provide enough for full soil saturation – stick your finger into the soil to test whether moisture levels are appropriate; dry soil means more water is required, while wetter, more humid environments need less. Keep an eye out for overwatering, though; too much could cause root rot issues!
If you want to expand your whale fin collection, propagation is simple. Simply split a mature Sansevieria plant or take leaf cuttings as seeds for new plants; even its rhizomes can be divided and planted as new seedlings. A heat mat and air pump may speed up water propagation but are no replacement for proper culture practices.
Be wary of pests and diseases as you water. Tropical plants such as bananas can be susceptible to mildew and leaf spots, requiring treatment with neem oil applied on cloth wipes wiped over the affected areas to manage effectively.
Root rot is another frequent problem with Sansevieria plants, so if your roots appear dark, slimy, or darkened, it’s time for repotting. Carefully remove it from its pot and repot it in fresh, well-draining soil mixture with perlite, coarse sand, or pumice; these components will increase drainage, which could save your whale fin plant from root rot.
Sansevieria, or whale fin snake plant, makes an excellent indoor plant because it requires minimal care and maintenance. As an air purifier, it can help reduce formaldehyde levels in your home and pollutants like formaldehyde and benzene levels. Furthermore, its healing powers have also been known to promote healing after wounds or burns; additionally, it produces saponin, which could irritate skin if touched too often. Be wary when handling these plants as saponin could have irritating saponin that could irritate the skin, so be careful when running them or when trimming for propagation purposes or taking leaf cuttings from these plants as gloves should also be worn when pruning them or taking leaf cuttings from them for propagation purposes!
