Knowing how to propagate Sansevieria trifasciata, snake plant, or Mother in law’s tongue is fascinating because it is an ideal succulent species for beginners.
As you will see in this post, propagating the snake plant is quite intriguing.
I would like to point out that these propagation tips apply to Sansevieria trifasciata laurentii, Sansevieria trifasciata hahnii, Sansevieria trifasciata argentea and Sansevieria trifasciata variegata. That’ s great, isn’t it?
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How to Propagate Sansevieria trifasciata
Before we get into the snake plant’s propagation methods, it’s worth noting that if you live in the northern or southern hemisphere, it’s best to start propagating in the early spring or summer.
You’re in luck if you live in the tropics! You have the option to propagate at any time.
Here are four methods for propagating Sansevieria trifasciata:
- The first step is to learn how to propagate Sansevieria through rhizome division.
- Second, how to propagate by leaf-cutting; and
- Third, how to propagate snake plants in water.
- Fourth, Propagating with Snake Plant Seed.
How To Propagate Sansevieria Trifasciata By Rhizome Division
The rhizome is the root of a plant. Rhizomes are tuberous stems that serve as reservoirs for nutrients.
Rhizome division is a good method of propagation because new plants retain all of their parent’s characteristics. Remove the rhizome in early spring.
A rhizome is a tuberous stem that serves as a reservoir for nutrients. In the soil, this organ produces new roots and shoots by growing horizontally.
Do this with caution for two reasons. The first is the risk of long-leaf breakage, and the second is the risk of root injury.
The rhizome of your snake plant must be divided if you wish to propagate new plants. I’ll walk you through it, Step-by-step.
[1] Identify The Rhizome
Remove all of the soil around the plant’s roots. Depending on the size of the rhizome, you may want to dig it up completely to get a better look.
Once you identify the rhizome, take a look at its growth pattern. You should look for leaves that can be separated from the rhizome and, if possible, that already have their own root systems. If you do this, you’ll be able to grow separate plants.
[2] Cut The Rhizome
Using a sharp knife, razor, or scissors disinfected with alcohol, separate the plants one at a time.
Make a clean cut on the rhizome that connects the Sansevieria leaves with at least one root.
It is possible to divide the plant as many times as its size allows for.
[3] Let The Rhizome Heal
Whenever you cut a plant, you will create wounds on it, both in your mother Sansevieria and in the Sansevieria from which you are cutting.
There, fungi and infections can develop, causing the plant to rot. I recommend that you do the following:
- Apply a small amount of cinnamon or sulfur powder to the wounds to help heal them.
- You have the option of postponing planting until the wound has fully healed.
- Wait at least a week before watering if you plant the same day as cutting.
[4] Put It In The Ground
Put them in the dirt. They enjoy being crammed into a small space. Even two per small terra-cotta is fine, or all in a small terra-cotta, and I mean they love tight fits.
Make sure the rhizome of the new Sansevieria is completely underground before planting it. Choose a drainage-friendly container and suitable succulent soil.
Do not water for a while. Water once a month from spring to summer, and place the plant outside.
Be aware that leaf cuttings will not produce true-to-type variegated varieties. There is only one way to get the variegation back: dividing rhizomes.
Sansevieria plants can be divided again once they have grown large enough, allowing you to expand your collection at home.
How To Propagate Sansevieria From Leaf Cuttings
You should be aware that if you use this method to reproduce a Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Laurentii,’ you will not get an identical plant.
Now, the new plants will be entirely green, with no yellow stripes on the sides.
This is due to the fact that these species combine two types of tissue, and only the green part, which contains chlorophyll, is capable of producing a new plant.
If you want to learn more about colors and pigmentation in succulent plants, I recommend reading this article on how to change the color of your succulents.
If you want Sansevierias with yellow bands, I suggest you use the rhizome division propagation method I discussed earlier.
Leaf-cutting is a good option if you’re looking to grow a large number of plants quickly.
Again, I’ll go through the process step-by-step:
[1] To Begin, Pick Out A Leaf.
To get the best results, look for large, healthy, and full leaves. Before beginning propagation, I recommend watering the plant for a few days to allow it to build up its water reserves.
[2] Cut The Leaf In Half
Remove the chosen leaf from the mother plant. Use an alcohol-sanitized knife or razor blade to make the cut as close to the root as possible.
At this point, you have the option of either reproducing the leaf as you separate it or dividing the leaf into multiple pieces to create new plants.
[3] Cut The Leaf Into Several Pieces
Make horizontal cuts about every 10 centimeters with the same tool you used to disinfect it.
Keep the leaf’s original shape in mind as you work. Roots and tillers will grow from the lower part of the leaf, so if you reverse the order, you won’t get them.
If this happens to you, I’ve got three simple tips to help you avoid it:
- Making a small grimace with your scissors or knife will help you identify the lower portion of your cutting line.
- Mark the order of the leaves with a marker pen. This has no negative impact on reproduction and eliminates errors.
- Do not simply cut the plant horizontally. You can imitate the natural shape of the leaf tip by making each cutting with two diagonal cuts. This method is both more effective and more aesthetically pleasing.
[4] Allow Time For Healing
You can place the leaves or cuttings on a kitchen towel, cloth, or newspaper to allow them to dry out. Healing a succulent is a very simple process.
[5] Plant And Watering
It’s time to plant the cuttings once they’ve healed up. Set up a pot with drainage and fill it with a mixture of succulent soil.
Set the leaves or leaf cuttings on a stake. Always remember to bury the lower part of the plant in order to maintain the plant’s natural order.
Do not bury it too deeply; a few centimeters should suffice. Just enough to keep the cutting in place vertically.
Place your cuttings in a location where they will receive several hours of indirect light every day.
Water on a regular basis. It’s important to keep the substrate moist enough to encourage root and shoot growth, but not soggy that the cuttings will die.
You may have to wait for months for this process to complete. Make sure to give your cuttings plenty of water, and periodically check to see if any roots have emerged.
Once the cuttings have grown roots, they will produce tillers. As long as you wait until the substrate is completely dry before re-watering, you don’t need to maintain that much humidity.
I strongly encourage you to read my article on when and how often to water snake plants.
How to Propagate Snake Plant in Water
For snake plant propagation in water, you must follow the previous method’s steps: Pick the leaf, separate it, divide it into sections, and allow it to heal. Everything up to this point has been done in exactly the same way.
Water propagation is used to speed up the rooting process of a plant. Furthermore, if you maintain the humidity, the process will be more efficient.
I recommend reading this article on propagating succulents in water if you want to learn how to propagate other succulents in water.
After your cuttings have healed, proceed with the following steps:
- Take a clear container, such as a glass jar. This will allow you to see how the cuttings change over time. If you use a container like this, you can monitor the root growth and determine whether the water is still suitable for further reproduction or if you need to change it.
- Place your cuttings in a vertical position in the container, remembering to keep the natural order of the leaf, and add water until it covers the base by two or three centimeters.
- The trick is to remember exactly how you cut them. The bottom has to be in the dirt. Cutting will fail if they’re inserted upside down.
- Use safe drinking water, whether filtered or not.
- Make sure the cuttings are always in contact with the water by adjusting the level and assuring it is always crystal clear. Whenever the water becomes cloudy or discolored, replace it.
- When your cuttings have several roots or even new plant growth, it is time to transfer them to a potting mix (when to transfer a succulent from water to soil).
- Plant the cuttings in a succulent-friendly substrate and treat them like an adult Sansevieria.
How to Propagate Snake Plant With Seed
It’s less common to propagate sanssévieria by seed, though. The truth is that this plant rarely blooms at home, and as you know, seeds do not appear without this. In addition, it’s nearly impossible to find them for sale.
It is not difficult to germinate sansevieria seeds if you are lucky enough to have a pod with seeds. Here are the steps of snake plant seed germination.
- Allow the pod to air dry in its natural habitat.
- Before planting, remove the seeds from their pods.
- Plant them in wet sand and tamp them down a bit.
- Place the container in a warm, well-lit area and cover it with a transparent film.
- Make sure the pot is aerated daily.
- It may be a few months before the first shoots appear.
So, sansevieria trifasciata propagation is a lengthy process that requires patience, but if you follow these tips, you can enjoy your plant in a few months and reap the benefits of having it.
Has anyone out there tried any of these methods? If so, which one was the most successful for you?