Sansevieria sayuri Care Instructions For Optimal Growth

Sansevieria sayuri, also known as Sansevieria Metallica or Snake Plant, is one of the less commonly know Sansevieria varieties. Originating from the tropical coasts of Africa, this plant is classified as a tropical plant.

As with most other tropical plants, Sansevieria sayuri also has slim leaves with foliage that grows upright and has high air filtration capacity.

Sansevieria sayuri is fairly easy to care for. It does need plenty of indirect sunlight, well-draining potting soil, and only needs to be watered approximately once every two weeks. Fertilizer is rarely needed and the plant will be very happy at room temperature.

Its lance-shaped elongated individual leaves can vary in color, from light green to gray. Older leaves may turn a beautiful silvery gray, which is where the nickname Sansevieria Metallica originates from. Due to their sharpened edges, the leaves can easily cut through paper, and for this reason, this plant is also called Mother in Law’s Tongue.

Here, you will find a little more information about the characteristics of this Sansevieria sayuri, which will help you to care for this plant. Let’s get started with the key facts!

Featured images by TropicalplantsFL.

General Care for Sansevieria sayuri

Sansevieria sayuri is a very low-maintenance plant, which is why it's recommended for everyone who loves greenery but lacks time to frequently check on it. However, in order to properly care for it, you should understand its basic requirements and possible vulnerabilities.

Not only can this make your plants thrive so you can eventually begin to propagate them, but they will provide you much more benefits as well.

Water

While this plan enjoys a deep and thorough watering, this should only be done once every 10-14 days. Since it's drought-tolerant, Sansevieria sayuri will be perfectly fine even if you forget to water it longer. You should always allow the tops soil to reach 50-75% of dryness between each watering.

How long it will take the substrate to dry depends on humidity levels, light conditions, and temperatures of the environment the plant is kept in. Sansevieria will require less water during spring and autumn than during the summer.

During winter, the watering should be done only once a month. Watering the Sansevieria more often will lead to root oversaturation, rotting, and the death of the plant.

Pour the water directly into the soil without it touching the plant. Keep watering until the water begins to seep put at the bottom onto the saucer.

Wait a few minutes until all the excess is drained, then empty the saucer. It's recommended to do this in the morning when the temperatures are lower so the water will not evaporate but seep into the soil.

Light

After its low watering needs, the second feature that makes Sansevieria sayuri the perfect houseplant is its ability to adapt to any lighting level. This plant can survive whether it's kept in full shade or under a bright sun.

To allow the plant to grow properly during its active phase, you should place it in a spot with moderate to bright sunlight. Too little sunlight can slow down its growth, while too much can be damage your plant.

If you keep it inside, the best place for a Sansevieria is near a window. Outdoors, the plant's ideal spot is somewhere where it only receives direct sunlight most of the day.

During the colder months, you may keep the Sansevieria in low light conditions. The plant will be in its dormant phase, so it will not be affected by the lack of lighting.

Soil

Because this plant is prone to root rot, it will only thrive in well-draining soil, such as most gritty soil types, or potting mixes for succulents. You may keep your Sansevieria sayuri in another soil type as well, but in that case, you will need to make sure the soil has adequate drainage at all times.

The soil should be kept as loose as possible so the water can carry the nutrients to the roots and leave the pot immediately after that.

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Potting

Until the plant grows, you will need to repot it into a larger container once a year. This will allow more room for the roots to grow by loosening the soil and providing more space. Repotting is best done during the spring, so the Sansevieria can thrive during its entire active growth phase.

Use terracotta pots because these do not trap water inside them. If the container has drainage holes, even better. 

Repotting will be necessary even after Sansevieria sayuri stops growing in height, albeit less frequently. Depending on the size of the previous planter, after 2-3 years, the soil becomes compacted and is depleted of nutrients.

This may lead to waterlogging issues and root rot, so it's best to refresh the substrate occasionally (every three years).

Fertilizer

Sansevieria sayuri is only able to take in nourishment during its active growth season. For this plant, this period lasts from spring to supper, and you should only fertilize it during this time.

Fertilizing it during the winter will not only be futile as your plant won't use the nourishment, but the fertilizer can also burn its roots. Even during the warmer months, fertilizing the Sansevieria once a month is more than enough.

Eventually, you may provide nourishment more often to help your plant overcome stress. Any all-purpose houseplant fertilizer can serve this purpose – just make sure to dilute it to half its strength.

Humidity

Apart from keeping a high amount of water in its roots, Sansevieria sayuri also has the ability to absorb moisture from the air. For this reason, this plant should be kept in a room with 40% to 50% humidity.

Make sure the air moisture levels never go higher than 60% because this may lead to oversaturation and rotting. Keeping an indoor Sansevieria at the optimal humidity levels will help it filter your air even more.

Temperature

The optimal temperatures for Sansevieria sayuri are between 60℉ and 85℉ (16℃ and 29℃). Since it’s an adaptable plant, it will thrive in a wide range of temperatures. As long as there is enough sunlight, your Sansevieria will be comfortable even in lower temperatures.

You should keep the plant in an environment where the temperatures are above 41 ℉ (5℃). Anything below that can cause frostbite on the leaves and the freezing of the roots.

Pruning

While most Sansevieria sayuri owners tend to leave the plant to grow freely, you may choose to keep it at a smaller size. In that case, you will need to prune it regularly. Pruning the plant is also necessary for getting rid of dead and unhealthy leaves.

It's a good idea to cut these off before they fall and begin to rot or re-root. You can easily prune your Sansevieria sayuri by cutting the leaves at their base with clean gardening shears.

Diseases

Sansevieria sayuri is quite resilient and is rarely susceptible to diseases. The only issue that you may come across with it is root rot. This is a condition that's easily noticeable by drooping and yellowing leaves. Since it's usually caused by overwatering, you can resolve the issue by letting the roots dry.

Pests

Sansevieria sayuri can occasionally be infested by mealybugs or spider mites. Both of these pests can cause very little damage to your plants but may spread to your other more sensitive plants.

To prevent this, wipe the infected leaves with rubbing alcohol. This will kill the pests without harming the Sansevieria.

To get rid of any pest on your Sansevieria you can use an organic pesticide, check this product out in my shop.

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How to Propagate Sansevieria sayuri

Having a Sansevieria sayuri plant in your home can bring you great benefits. However, since it's a rare variant, you may find it difficult to buy. Plus, depending on the size of the plant you are buying, it can also be quite pricey.

For this reason, if you want to have more than one or two Sansevieria sayuri plants in your home, propagating them is definitely a lot more economical solution. If you learn how to reproduce this plant on your own, soon, you will be able to fill your entire with these beneficial plants.

Essentially, there are only two viable methods of propagating this Sansevieria variant. One of them is through leaf cuttings – which is a very time-consuming and more difficult method. The other method is through division. This is a process that will allow you to produce new plants much faster and easier.

Division

The division is the fastest method of propagating Sansevieria sayuri and is also the safest one for the plant. With a little bit of preparation, you can go through this process quite easily and without damaging any parts of the plant.

All you have to do is remove your plant from its pot and carefully shake the roots to remove the excess soil from them. You will be able to separate the rosettes of the foliage along with the rootlets with ease.

After carefully separating them, plant the individual plants into new pots - and you will instantly have a few new Sansevieria to place in your home.

Leaf Cuttings

While it's the less common method, it is also possible to propagate Sansevieria sayuri through leaf cuttings. You will need to cut a leaf near its base and let the cut surface heal for a couple of days. Plant the cuttings in a pot, water it, but let the soil drain.

You can do the same in water as well. After a while, the cuttings will root and grow tiny buds, which will become new leaves.

Despite being a one-step method, the chances of hurting the parent plant during cutting are much higher than with division.

Any tool you use should be disinfected beforehand, so the cuttings and the main plant can heal properly. It's only recommended to apply this technique if you have experience with similar plant propagation techniques.

Of course, if you don't mind waiting for three to four months before your new plants even begin to root. Not to mention the time after which they will start to grow and resemble an adult plant.

Related questions:

Why is my Sansevieria sayuri turning yellow?

Yellowing leaves on a Sansevieria sayuri are usually caused by inconsistent watering. This is a plant that strives in moderately dry soil, therefore overwatering it or leaving its substrate to dry out completely will harm the plant.

To prevent its leaves from turning yellow, only water the plant when the topsoil reaches at least 50 percent dryness. Otherwise, your Sanseveria's roots will either begin to rot or dry out, and they won't be able to nourish the plant.

Why is my Sansevieria sayuri wilting?

Sansevieria sayuri can begin to wilt due to improper watering, insufficient lighting, or lack of space for roots. The latter is easily resolved by repotting into a larger container that will allow the roots to spread.

Overwatering often causes drooping leaves, especially during the winter months. You should only water this plant about once every two weeks during summer and once a month during winter. Sansevieria needs a fair amount of light during the warmer months, or the leaves become unhealthy and wilt.

Is the Sansevieria sayuri toxic?

The leaves of Sansevieria sayuri contain a poisonous material that can cause several health issues when ingested. It's particularly dangerous for pets, who can experience a wide variety of symptoms, from throat irritation to vomiting and diarrhea.

The toxic effect of Sansevieria is far lesser in humans, but even they can have throat issues and even a severe allergic reaction. It's a good idea to keep the plant out of the reach of animals and small children.

How to revive a dead Sansevieria sayuri?

Since the most common cause for Sansevieria sayuri to die is overwatering, you can help your plant by replacing its entire soil. Leave it dry for at least two weeks, even if you see your plant is improving.

If the plant has severe root rot, cutting off the most affected parts may help revive the plant. You can do the same with the unhealthy leaves to leave room for the propagation of the remaining ones.

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