If you’re looking for a low-maintenance, easy-to-care-for houseplant, then you can’t go wrong with the sansevieria cylindrica. Also known as thecylindrical snake plant or dracaena angolensis, this hardy succulent plant is native to Angola and thrives in hot, dry conditions.
Quick facts about the Sansevieria Cylindrica:
Common names: Cylindrical African Spear, Mother-In-Law Tongue, Spear Orchid, Skyline Spear Sansevieria, Cylindrical Snake Plant, Elephants Toothpick
Botanical name: sanservieria cylindrical
Family: Asparagaceae
Genus: Dracaena (recently all Sansevieria plants were reclassified to the dracaena genus).
Origin: Angola
Height: up to 4 foot tall
Width: spread of 1 foot
Flowers: sporadically produces fragrant cream-white flowers.
This slow-growing succulent has a striking appearance and requires very little attention to thrive. The fan-shape of the plant is created by stiff, dark green leaves with cross bands of lighter green that act as air purifiers. It makes for the perfect addition to your outdoor garden or indoor plant collection!
How to grow cylindrical snake plants
Sanservieria cylindrica grows horizontally through rhizomes that are very easy to propagate. You can do so by division or by cuttings.
How to propagate cylindrical snake plant by division of the rhizomes:
Sansevieria cylindrica can be easily propagated by division of the rhizomes. The best time to do this is in spring or early summer.
1. Carefully dig up the plant, taking care not to damage the roots.
2. Gently pull the plants apart, making sure each section has a few leaves.
3. Plant the divisions in well-drained soil and water thoroughly.
4. Keep the soil moist until the plants are established.
How to propagate cylindrical snake plant by leaf cuttings:
Sansevieria cylindrica can also be propagated by leaf cuttings. The best time to do this is in spring or early summer.
1. Cut a 6-8 inch section from a healthy leaf.
2. Remove the bottom 2 inches of the leaf, and then cut the leaf into 2-3 inch sections.
3. Place the sections in a pot of well-drained soil, and water thoroughly.
4. Keep the soil moist until the plants are established.
Where to put a sansevieria cylindrica plant.
Now you know how amazing and easy these plants are to grow, you need to find the perfect place to plant them!
Finding the perfect spot outdoors:
Sansevieria cylindrica is perfect for filling in gaps in your garden bed or as a border plant. It’s also drought tolerant, so it’s perfect for hot, dry conditions.
When choosing a spot outdoors, make sure to choose an area with well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade.
Finding the pefect spot indoors:
Sansevieria cylindrica is a perfect plant for growing indoors. It is tolerant of bright light conditions and thrives under a north-facing window. This beautiful succulent also tolerates low-light conditions, although its colors may not be as bright and it won’t flower.
It is a powerhouse when it comes to filtering toxins from the air in your home! Consider placing it in your bedroom or living area where you spend most of your time.
Caring for cylindrical snake plants
Sansevieria cylindrica is a drought-tolerant plant that can withstand long periods without water. Really, it does best when left alone!
Water requirements:
Sansevieria cylindrica is a drought-tolerant plant that can withstand long periods without water. However, it will appreciate being watered every 2-3 weeks (longer for established plants) during the growing season. Allow the soil to dry out completely between watering. During the winter months, water only once a month or less.
The leaves also don’t like being wet, so be mindful when watering to aim at the soil surrounding your plant and not the actual plant itself.
Fertilizing:
You can use a weak cactus feed once a month to promote the healthy growth of your cylindrical snake plant. But it isn’t vital, so don’t worry if you forget!
Light requirements:
Sansevieria cylindrica does best in bright, indirect light or full sun. It can tolerate low light, but will not flower in this environment.
Temperature requirements:
Sansevieria cylindrica is a succulent plant and does best when temperatures are above 50 degrees Fahrenheit but below 85 degrees Fahrenheit. It loves these milder temperatures, however extreme heat or extreme cold will make your snake plant unhappy and go dormant!
Soil requirements:
Sansevieria cylindrica needs well-drained potting soil and a pot that has great drainage. A potting mix with a sandy base formulated for cacti and succulents is a perfect choice to keep these plants happy and thriving.
Sansevieria cylindrica is a great choice for those looking for a low-maintenance, easy-to-care-for houseplant. Once planted, you can almost completely forget about it and it will thrive while purifying your air for you. What more could you want in an indoor plant?
What to do if your plant is not thriving.
If your sanservieria cylindrica is failing to thrive, the first step is to try to determine the cause. Some common reasons for plants to become sickly:
– Vine Weevils: Sansevieria cylindrica is relatively pest and disease free. However, it can be susceptible to vine weevils. These nasty critters attack the edges of the leaves, eating them away. If not caught and treated quickly, your plant may suffer irreversible damage. You can treat with a neem oil soil drench to get rid of the adult vine weevils.
-Apids and mealybugs: if your plant is showing signs of a bug invasion you can use a neem oil drench or insecticide soap wash to get rid of those pesky pests!
– Disease: sanservieria cylindrica is generally resistant to disease. However, it can be susceptible to root rot if the roots are allowed to stay wet for too long. If you think your plant may have root rot, try to improve the drainage of the soil, stop watering so much and make sure the roots are not sitting in water. You may also need to repot your plant in fresh, well-drained soil.
– Environmental stress: sanservieria cylindrica is a tough plant, but it can still be stressed by its environment. Too much or too little light, water, or fertilizer can all cause problems. If you think your plant is stressed, try to adjust the environment and see if that helps.
– Damage to the spear tip: The tips of the leaves of these plants are protected by a tough spear-like point (hence the different names). If this tip becomes broken that leaf (or spear) will no longer grow.
– Toxicity: Whilst being an amazing air purifier, this plant is toxic to pets and humans so be mindful not to place it where it can be nibbled on!
If you can’t figure out what’s wrong with your sanservieria cylindrica, or if the plant continues to decline despite your best efforts, it’s best to discard it to prevent the spread of any problems to your other plants.
If you’re looking for an easy to grow, no-fuss houseplant that will thrive on neglect then the cylindrical snake plant is definitely worth checking out. These plants are virtually indestructible and make a great addition to any outdoor garden or indoor space. With next to no care and attention, your sansevieria cylindrica plant will soon be thriving and purifying the air in your home.
