How Do You Care For Whale Fin Sansevieria?

Is whale fin Sansevieria rare?

Sansevieria Masoniana (commonly known as the whale fin Sansevieria) is a plant which has been praised for its ease of cultivation, fast growth, and tolerance of poor conditions.

Though these rare, collectors plants are slow growing, they reach impressive sizes compared to other members of the genus. They require very little maintenance and should dry completely in between waterings.

Many people are attracted to the dangling foliage and long vertical stems of this easy to care for houseplant. They can tolerate a wide range of temperatures and thrive in bright or indirect sunlight.

What is a whale fin Sansevieria?

Dracaena Masoniana is also known as Whale Fin Snake Plant because to the extraordinarily broad, paddle-like leaves.

Though it grows slowly, the Whale Fin Snake Plant grows to astonishing proportions in comparison to other members of the genus.

Its leaves are exquisitely mottled with dark and light green patterns, and the leaf edges are frequently a pinkish red.

Dracaena Masoniana, like other Snake Plants, is well-known for its air-purifying qualities and is an excellent choice for novices because to its low maintenance requirements.

Previously classified as Sansevieria Masoniana, taxonomists combined the genus Sansevieria with Dracaena due to the plants’ comparable genes.

The whale fin is classified as a member of the Asparagaceae family. Sansevieria Masoniana is native to central Africa’s Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Mason’s Congo Sansevieria gets its common name from its natural habitat.

How big do whale fin Sansevieria get?

Masoniana Sansevieria grows to an average height of 2’ to 3’ and can spread between 1’ to 2’ feet. If the plant is in a tiny container, its growth may be restricted, preventing it from attaining its full potential.

While this snake plant can endure filtered or low light, this does not indicate that it flourishes in conjunction with the whale fin.

Sansevieria Masoniana thrives in the right soil, with abundant root area and an acceptable quantity of light.

Indoors, the Masoniana seldom blooms. When the whale fin snake plant flowers, it produces clusters of greenish-white flowers. The flower spikes of this snake plant grow in a cylindrical shape.

This plant frequently flowers at night (if at all), and it has a zesty, sweet fragrance.

After flowering, Sansevieria Masoniana ceases to produce new leaves. It does, however, continue to develop plantlets via rhizomes.

How do you care for whale fin Sansevieria?

According to the University of Florida, Sansevieria Whale Fin is the popular name for Sansevieria Masoniana, a member of the Agavaceae family.

This species is endemic to central Africa’s Congo area, an equatorial zone with little seasonal variation in meteorological conditions.

As the name implies, the plant is oddly formed like a whale fin, being stiff, upright, and enormous. The leaves of this plant have a highly distinctive variegation.

It is a dark green color with silver-grey granular patterns throughout, quite similar to the texture of whale skin!

Indeed, it may feel somewhat hard and cardboard-like or leathery to the touch, rather than meaty.

Soil

The optimal soil type for Sansevieria Whale Fin care is one that drains completely when irrigated with gravel, sand, pumice, or perlite.

There are several methods for creating a well-draining soil mix. Of course, the simplest way is to purchase a bag of succulent mix from your neighborhood supermarket.

Light

Sansevieria Whale Fin thrives in bright indirect light with occasional exposure to direct sunshine.

If you wish to develop Sansevieria Whale Fin to its maximum potential, with all of its leaf marks visible, you must provide adequate light.

Water

Watering Water Sansevieria Whale Fin about every two weeks during the spring and summer by totally soaking it and then re-watering once the top two inches of soil are dry (5cm).

In the fall and winter, watering should be reduced to once every four weeks.

Temperature

Provide a temperature range of 65 – 75°F (18 – 24°C) for Sansevieria Whale Fin.

When grown indoors, Sansevieria Whale Fin is relatively low care and thrives in ambient room temps all year.

Give it a temperature between 65 and 75°F (18 and 24°C) and it will be OK.

Fertilizers

In the spring and summer, fertilize Sansevieria Whale Fin once a month with a succulent fertilizer diluted to 1/4 the recommended strength.

Sansevieria Whale Fin may be grown fairly effectively without the use of fertilizers.

How can you tell a whale fin Sansevieria?

Sansevieria Masoniana is a rather slow growing plant in comparison to other Sansevieria species.

With being stated, the plant is also one of the easiest indoor plants to care for due to its near-indestructibility.

These flexible plants are an excellent addition to a brightly lit bathroom or study place, as they are attractive and can go weeks without watering, making them suitable for frequent travelers.

The plant is dubbed ‘whale fin’ because to its unusual form. Characterized by a medium green speckled with forest green look, the very tips of the leaves are frequently pink in color, especially when exposed to direct sunshine.

The plant, which originated in central Africa, is renowned for its air-purifying properties (according to NASA).

How fast does whale fin Sansevieria grow?

Sansevieria Whale Fin may grow to be up to 4 feet tall (122cm) and around 10 inches broad in its natural environment (25cm). That is nearly as large as a genuine whale fin.

With the proper Sansevieria Whale Fin care, this plant has the potential to reach amazing proportions.

It is likely to reach a height of between 1 and 2 feet (30 to 60 cm) and a width of around 4 to 5 inches (10 to 12 cms) in your home. When used inside, this may also be fairly striking.

To achieve this type of development, the plant must be grown in ideal light circumstances with enough watering and temperature.

Sansevieria Whale Fin grows at an alarmingly sluggish rate. If you expect it to produce new leaves every two weeks or perhaps a month, this is not the plant for you.

My specimen came with a single leaf and produced a new leaf after a year.

One technique to care for Sansevieria Whale Fin effectively is to divert your attention away from the plant on a daily basis and allow it to thrive in its own sweet time.

How do you propagate whale fin Sansevieria?

Sansevieria Whale Fin may be reproduced by leaf cuttings or by separation.

The Sansevieria Whale Fin plant is easy to propagate but grows slowly.

As I previously stated, when the plant arrives in its new home, there is frequently only one solitary leaf.

If your goal is to immediately have numerous pots of it, you will be disappointed.

After the plant matures, it typically produces basal plantlets that may be separated.

Propagation of whale fins by rhizome division

This is the most natural technique of propagating Sansevieria Whale Fins. You will, however, need to allow nature to take its course. Ensure that you do this surgery just during the growth season.

Allow the plant to develop offsets just above the soil level.

Remove the plant from the container and dust the dirt with a paper towel.

The offset will be strongly connected to the parent plant through a rhizome.

With a pair of shears or a sharp knife, cut the connecting rhizome.

Allow a day for the cut to dry.

Separately plant the offset and the parent plant. Maintain normal Sansevieria Whale Fin care.

Propagation of whale fins from leaf cuttings

This approach takes somewhat longer than rhizome cutting, but if successful, you can produce a greater number of young plants.

Take a leaf from the mother plant that is in good health. It should be mature, but not discolored or aged.

At the base of the leaf, make a cut. Allow it to heal for a day or until the wound develops a callous.

Place the leaf in a glass of water and keep it in direct sunlight. Change the water once a week until the leaf establishes a root system.

Once the roots reach a couple of inches in length, pot them in the conventional manner.

Continue to water at a slightly higher rate for two weeks, or until the soil is 50% dry.

Following that, continue with normal Sansevieria Whale Fin treatment.

How often do you water your whale fin Sansevieria?

In the spring and summer, water Sansevieria Whale Fin about every two weeks by totally soaking it and then re-watering once the top two inches of soil are dry (5cm).

In the fall and winter, watering should be reduced to once every four weeks.

I learnt what I know about succulent watering today by making errors, losing numerous plants, then learning from them.

The most crucial aspect of Sansevieria Whale Fin maintenance is watering.

Therefore, if you want to grow Sansevieria Whale Fin successfully, you must master watering.

Bear in mind that your succulent garden will require the most frequent watering of any plant in your house.

The most reliable watering cue is the “drench and dry” strategy.

You should thoroughly wet the soil. And then you should wait till the mixture is completely dry.

That’s around five days at the height of summer where I reside. It is no less than three weeks throughout the winter.

When the majority of home gardeners acquire their Sansevieria Whale Fin, it arrives with a single leaf.

As a result, they water profusely in the belief that this will aid the plant’s growth. Whale Fin is a sluggish growth, and overwatering will only cause the plant discomfort.

Important Sansevieria Whale Fin care advice that you cannot overlook include the following: avoid watering the plant in frequent sips.

Keep a mind to properly drench the root ball and to dry off the mix. Avoid using a spray can or misting device to water the plant.

Why is my whale fin Sansevieria folding?

Because your Sansevieria may spend weeks without watering, overwatering is a very typical occurrence.

Excessive watering and poor drainage lead leaves to fold but not curl. Curling can occur when a plant is submerged and then allowed to dry for an extended period of time.

While your Sansevieria is quite drought resistant, this does not imply you can ignore it altogether.

Ascertain that you are not overwatering or overwatering your plant. Maintain a regular watering schedule–water only when the top 50% of the soil is completely dry.

If you let your Sansevieria’s soil fully dry for an extended period of time, you may notice leaves becoming limp, drooping, and potentially browning and curling.

If the soil is exceedingly dry throughout the container, a thorough soak is necessary.

Does whale fin Sansevieria needs to be fertilize?

In the spring and summer, fertilize Sansevieria Whale Fin once a month with a succulent fertilizer diluted to 1/4 the recommended strength.

Sansevieria Whale Fin may be grown fairly effectively without the use of fertilizers.

They are light eaters and do not tolerate over fertilizer well.

However, if you want to stimulate growth throughout the growing season, you may provide it with nice succulent fertilizers.

I like fertilizers that are soluble in water.

Application no more than once a month throughout the growth season, i.e., 5 to 6 months a year is sufficient.

Consult the box directions and dilute the concentration to one-fourth of the suggested level.

I would highly suggest you to fertilize it just when the plant has reached the age of a year, if not two.

Before you give the plant a growth spurt, you want to ensure that it is stable in its container.

How much humidity do whale fin Sansevieria?

Average humidity levels of 40-50 percent are suitable for Sansevieria Whale Fin.

Sansevieria Whale Fin care is ideal for home gardeners who do not want plants that require a lot of upkeep.

They are utterly unconcerned with humidity and may thrive in any environment.

The Whale Fin plant prefers the dry, air-conditioned environment of your home over the tropical humidity of the tropics.

This is the only thing northern zone residents can do to help this plant survive the dry winter months.

Throughout the year, an average room humidity of roughly 40%-50% is ideal for growing Sansevieria Whale Fin.

While we’re on the subject of humidity, it’s worth noting that this plant is well-known for its ability to absorb dangerous substances from the air, according to a NASA research.