Snake Plant Profile

Snake Plant Profile

Snake Plant (Dracaena trifasciata formerly Sansevieria) is also known as mother-in-law's tongue, Saint George's sword, and viper's bowstring hemp. It has sword-like foliage that is quite striking.

There are several cultivars available with a variety of striping patterns and growth habits.

It is a popular houseplant because it is undemanding and low-maintenance. It tolerates low-light levels and infrequent watering. It is best to plant them in a well-draining cactus potting mix in a clay or terra cotta pot.

During the winter, water it only every couple of months. It will rot if it is overwatered. Do not water them in the center rosette.

In the spring, mature Snake Plants can develop green-white flowers that later turn into orange berries.

It is native to western Africa, southern Asia, and Madagascar. They are hardy to USDA Zones 10 to 12.

Snake Plant is propagated easily from cuttings and root divisions. When taking a cutting, let it dry for a few days to form a callus, and then place it directly into well-draining potting mix to form roots. Rooting hormone is generally not needed.

Keep the plant dusted. Fertilize it with a weak liquid solution every few weeks. If a leaf is damaged, cut it off at the base.

Snake Plant: You Can Grow That!

 

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine.

Audio, Photos, and Text by Kathy Jentz

Video and Editing by Ellen Isaacson

 

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If you liked this video, we think you will like these other Plant Profiles:

~ African Violet

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2024/02/african-violet-plant-profile.html

~ Florist’s Cyclamen

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2025/03/florists-cyclamen-plant-profile.html

~ Air Plant

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2024/02/air-plant-plant-profile.html

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Florist’s Cyclamen Plant Profile

Florist’s Cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum) has heart-shaped leaves and sweetly scented flowers that come in a range of colors from white to pink to red to lavender. It is also known as Persian Cyclamen and previously was categorized as Cyclamen latifolium and Cyclaminus persica.

The plant flowers in late winter into spring and go dormant in summer.

It is native to the Mediterranean and is hardy to USDA zones 10 and 11.

Florist’s Cyclamen is grown as a houseplant in areas with cold winters. It is an especially popular flowering gift for Valentine’s Day.

It grows from a tuber and reaches 6 to 9 inches high.

Place it in bright, indirect light, such as a north- or east-facing window. They thrive in high humidity and temperatures between 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep them away from heat sources or air vents.

It is toxic to dogs and cats, so do not allow pets to access the plant.

Avoid watering the top of the plant, which can cause the tubers to rot. Wait to water until the soil feels dry. Reduce watering when it goes into dormancy. Remove the spent flowers to encourage continual flowering. Give the plants a weak liquid fertilizer every month or two during winter.

Cyclamen can be propagated by seeds and by division of the tuber. When repotting Florist’s Cyclamen, be sure to keep the top of the tuber slightly above the soil level.

Florist’s Cyclamen: You Can Grow That! The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine. Audio, Photos, and Text by Kathy Jentz Video and Editing by Madison Korman ➤ If you enjoy this video, please give it a thumbs up and subscribe to our Youtube channel (thank you!) ➤Remember to TURN ON notifications to know when our new videos are out ➤ FIND Washington Gardener Magazine ONLINE ~ WashingtonGardener.blogspot.com ~ http://twitter.com/WDCGardener ~ https://www.instagram.com/wdcgardener/ ~ Facebook.com/WashingtonGardenerMagazine ~ Podcast: GardenDC If you liked this video, we think you will like these other Plant Profiles: ~ Tillandsia aka Air Plant Plant Profile https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2024/02/air-plant-plant-profile.html ~ African Violet Plant Profile https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2024/02/african-violet-plant-profile.html ~ Oxalis Plant Profile https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2024/03/oxalis-plant-profile.html

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Oxalis Plant Profile

Oxalis Plant Profile

Oxalis is the largest genus in the family Oxalidaceae with over 550 species native to every continent except Antartica. They are often referred to as Wood Sorrels and as False Shamrocks.

Some Oxalis species can be grow in as annuals or perennials depending on your climate and zone. Note that in some regions Oxalis are considered invasive.

Oxalis (Oxalis triangularis) is commonly grown as a houseplant and gifted on St. Patrick’s Day because its foliage resembles the lucky shamrock. The Oxalis’ clover-like foliage can be variegated or solid green or burgundy. In addition to its attractive leaves, the plants have delicate flowers.

It will often go winter dormant and then recover when placed in sunlight. Give it an all-purpose houseplant fertilizer about once a month.

It prefers to grow in bright indirect to direct light and temperatures between 65°F-85°F (18°C-30°C) --never below 60°F (15°C).

Water it about once a week and let it dry out part-way between waterings. The most common cause of yellow leaves is over-watering which cause rooting roots.

Oxalis is considered toxic for pets due to its oxalic acid that can cause kidney damage.

Some oxalis are called "butterfly shamrock,” because their leaves fold up at night or on cloudy days and reopen when the sun shines.  They may also stretch out their leaves to reach as much sunlight as possible.

Oxalis: You Can Grow That!

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine.

Audio, Photos, and Text by Kathy Jentz

Video and Editing by Cassie Peo

 

➤ If you enjoy this video, please give it a thumbs up and subscribe to our Youtube channel (thank you!)

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African Violet Plant Profile

African Violet Plant Profile

African Violets (Saintpaulia ionantha) is a common houseplant that can be grown indoors year-round. They are in the Gesneriad family and are not related to actual violets. These easy-care flowering favorites have been grown and collected for more than a century and are gaining in popularity today. 2024 is the Year of the African Violet.

They are native to the tropical rainforests of Africa. African Violets thrive in filtered sunlight, never in full sun. Keep the soil moist but not soggy and use room temperature water. Avoid drafty areas and sudden temperature changes.

African violets bloom best when they are root-bound and snug in a container. Use a light potting mix and re-pot it in fresh soil once a year. Give them a few drops of African Violet liquid fertilizer every week or so.

African Violets leaves can be heart-shaped or oval -- ruffled or serrated – deep-red or light-green -- and many other colors, shapes, sizes, and forms.

The flowers are single or double – in pansy, star, or bell shapes – and in colors from white to pink to red to purple. Color patterns are numerous as well from speckles to bi-colors to chimeras.

Once you start collecting, you won’t be able to stop.

African Violets: You Can Grow That!

#yearoftheafricanviolet

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine as part of our Plant Profile series for Mid-Atlantic USA gardeners.

Audio and text by Kathy Jentz

Video and editing by Cassie Peo

➤ If you enjoy this video, please give it a thumbs up and subscribe to our Youtube channel (thank you!)

➤Remember to TURN ON notifications to know when our new videos are out

➤ FIND Washington Gardener Magazine ONLINE

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~ https://www.instagram.com/wdcgardener/

~ Facebook.com/WashingtonGardenerMagazine

~ Podcast: GardenDC

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Air Plant Plant Profile

Air Plant Plant Profile

Air Plant (Tillandsia spp.) is a common houseplant that can be grown indoors year-round or taken outside during the warmer months.

Tillandsia is in the Bromeliad family and there are more than 650 species of them. They are native to the desert and mountain regions of the Americas from Argentina up through the Caribbean and southernmost United States. Spanish Moss is a member of this family.

Of course, these plants do not actually live on air, but they do not need to be planted in soil. They hang in trees where their curled leaves have adapted to take in moisture from the air and to trap rain water for use during drought periods.

Air Plants need to be in bright, indirect light with good air circulation.

To water them, submerge then in a bowl of room temperature water for a few minutes then drain them and place them back in their display spot. Water them weekly and mist them in-between waterings as necessary.

Tillandsia: You Can Grow That!

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine as part of our Plant Profile series for Mid-Atlantic USA gardeners.

Audio and text by Kathy Jentz
Video footage and editing by Cassie Peo Filmed at Green Spring Gardens, Alexandria, VA

➤ If you enjoy this video, please give it a thumbs up and subscribe to our Youtube channel (thank you!)

➤Remember to TURN ON notifications to know when our new videos are out

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Win a $100 Gift Certificate for Logee’s Tropical Plants in our February 2023 Washington Gardener Reader Contest

 UPDATE: The winner chosen at random from the submitted entries is Beth Wasden of Laurel, DE. Congratulations, Beth!

For our February 2023 Washington Gardener Reader Contest, we are giving away a gift certificate for Logee’s Tropical Plants (value $100). 

   Logee’s Greenhouses was started by William D. Logee in 1892 in Danielson, CT. It began as a cut-flower business and soon, Logee’s interest turned to tropical and unusual plants. Today, they carry on the family tradition and offer fruiting, rare, and tropical plants, as well as hardy garden plants, easy-to-grow houseplants, begonias, and many more rare and unusual plants to thrill and delight their customers. Logee’s Tropical Plants is online at www.logees.com.

  To enter to win the Logee’s Tropical Plants $100 gift certificate, send an email to 

WashingtonGardenerMagazine@gmail.com by 5:00pm on February 28 with “Logees” in the subject line and in the body of the email. Tell us what your favorite article was in the February 2023 issue and why. Please also include your full name and mailing address. The winner will be announced and notified on/about March 1. 

Video Wednesday: Orchid Potting

Carol Allen of Behnke Nurseries demonstrates how to re-pot or pot-up an orchid.