How To Take Care Of A Whale Fin Sansevieria

Are Whale Fin Sansevieria rare?

Whale Fin Plant (Sansevieria Masoniana) – Tropical/Houseplants (Rare Collector’s Plant). While these uncommon collectors’ plants grow slowly, they achieve amazing proportions in comparison to other members of the genus.

They are low care and should be left to dry fully between watering. They are most often used as a low-light plant. They can be easily propagated from stem tip cuttings taken in spring or summer.

In the world of Sansevieria, they are extremely rare plants. The name is derived from the first European who saw them and brought them back to Europe. We called him the man with the mason nose, hence the name Masoniana. This was because of his resemblance to George Washington when he was ill with malaria and yellow fever.

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.

Whale Fin Sansevieria is most often used as a low-light plant, but it will also do well in brighter light. They are very easy to grow and propagate from stem tip cuttings taken in spring or summer.

How to take care of a Whale Fin Sansevieria

Since this plant is slow growing at first, water it every two weeks to prevent the soil from drying out. As you can see, this plant aims to stay low in height, but it can grow up to 7 feet tall. If you keep it well watered and allow some time for the roots to spread out, it will do very well.

Though this is one of the easiest Sansevieria to grow and at low maintenance, the Whale Fin requires low light conditions and must be allowed to dry thoroughly between watering. It also requires well-draining soil. If it is planted in ordinary potting soil, you will likely kill it very quickly. The following are the factors to consider when caring Whale Fin Sansevieria;

Soil

Poor quality topsoil will make the Sansevieria roots rot. Have a well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter. A mix of 1/2 peat and 1/2 loam would be ideal. Place the Sansevieria into potting soil before you water it since some soil will cling to its leaves. To help prevent rot, always water the soil first and then keep the potting soil damp while it is watering itself in.

Sunlight

The Sansevieria must be kept in a position which receives full sunlight. Direct sunlight will cause the leaves to scorch. The leaves of this plant will naturally sunburn and turn brown in bright sunlight. You could place it on top of a plastic or glass dome to shade it from direct sunlight.

Watering

Before watering, let the soil dry completely between watering. In the summer, allow the soil to dry out completely before re-potting. Keep in mind that some people keep their Sansevieria watered for months at a time but once you see how big this plant grows during the summertime, you will want to water it less frequently.

Temperature

It can grow easily in a wide range of temperatures. If the temperature is consistently below 50 degrees F, the plant will experience a slight loss of vigor and its growth may be slowed down. This plant can grow outside in a shady spot, but it will do better if planted in an area with some shade (morning sun, afternoon shade). In addition, you should keep this plant moist during the growing season. During winter months, water sparingly to allow the soil to dry out completely between watering.

Humidity

This plant needs only moderate humidity. If the humidity is too high it can cause the leaves to mold or burn. In addition, many people find that this plant prefers a medium to heavy fog since it will grow faster with good fog.

Fertilizer

You may use a liquid houseplant fertilizer or a granular fertilizer like 10-10-10. The Sansevieria will benefit from being fertilized 2 times per month during the growing season; February through April and again at the end of August through October.

Propagation

You can propagate this plant easily, just by breaking off a leaf and sticking it into moist potting soil. In addition, you could also start the plant by leaf tip cuttings taken in spring or summer. To grow a Sansevieria from seed, you should keep the seeds in moist sand or sifted sphagnum moss until they germinate.

Repotting

This plant can be repotted annually to allow the roots to spread and give it more room to grow. To repot, place the pot into a squat container filled with moist pebbles or coarse sand. The rootball should have plenty of space in which to grow. This is a slow growing plant, so you should allow 2-4 weeks for it to settle into a new pot.

Pruning

There is no need to prune this plant. However, if you want to maintain a certain size of the plant, you can prune the leaves that have been damaged by direct sunlight or the potting soil.

Pests and Diseases

This plant is subject to mealybugs, scale, aphids and whitefly. These pests can be controlled by applying a soap spray or horticultural oil. If a plant becomes infested with mealybugs, scale or aphids, you can remove the pests with a strong stream of water, followed by dabbing the stems with cotton dipped in alcohol.

How big do Whale Fin Sansevieria get?

Whale Fin Sansevieria may reach a height of up to 7 feet, depending on the surroundings. As a result, it is advisable to begin with a 4-inch pot and gradually increase it by 2 to 4 inches each time you replace the pots to allow for development. Sansevieria have an extremely sluggish growth rate. Whale Fin Sansevieria will only grow slowly in comparison to most plants, but it can increase its size dramatically.

This plant is one of the easiest Sansevieria to grow. However, it may not be suitable for smaller spaces since this plant can get very large with good conditions. Place the Sansevieria in an area which receives full sunlight but shade from strong sunlight.

When should I water my Whale Fin Sansevieria plant?

To care for a Sansevieria Whale Fin, maintain a temperature range of 65-75oF (18-24°C), strong indirect light, and an average humidity of 40-50 percent. In the spring and summer, use quick draining soil and water roughly once every two weeks with a “drench and dry” technique.

In the fall, winter and spring, use a liquid houseplant fertilizer mixed at a rate of 1 tablespoon per gallon of water. Whale Fin Sansevieria will thrive in a wide range of temperatures and can be overwatered or underwatered, but it does best with moderate watering conditions.

It is extremely tolerant of dry air and will not wilt or die from drought. In the summer, only water when the soil begins to dry out between watering. Caring for the Whale Fin Sansevieria should be done carefully since this plant does not tolerate poor conditions well.

Is Whale Fin Sansevieria an indoor plant?

With only one leaf, the Whale Fin Sansevieria is a true standout among houseplants. These Sansevieria thrive on occasional watering and tolerate low to moderate light. Dust often to discourage pests and maintain the distinctive dappled pattern’s appearance.

Whale Fin Sansevieria does best when the soil remains on the dry side. A well-drained potting mix, such as cactus soil, is ideal for this houseplant. The light-green leaves tend to lose their variegation if they are overwatered.

This slow-growing plant can grow up to 7 feet tall, so it will eventually need to be repotted into a larger container. Well-drainage soil that remains on the dry side will ensure proper houseplant care for this particular Sansevieria variety.

Whale Fin Sansevieria is a slow-growing plant, so it tends to be short and compact. It has leaves that resemble something like a Dracaena or a palm tree. The leaves are long and sword-shaped, usually between 15 and 20 inches in length. They also may have dappled patterns on them.

How often should you water a whale fin plant?

Watering Whale Fin Sansevieria once every ten days or so during the summer, when it is quite hot and they receive additional light from the longer days. When the temperature constantly falls below 70 degrees, I reduce my watering to every 2–3 weeks. Excessive watering will result in root rot and bug infestations.

Freshly watered Whale Fin Sansevieria is like a giant snake made of green leafy fur. Repot once a year, since they love to outgrow their containers.

All plants can be damaged by overwatering (which can cause root rot). It is important to water sufficiently, but not too often. Full watering every 7–10 days will help to prevent root rot and encourage strong, compact growth.

How do you propagate Whale Fin Sansevieria?

Propagation is possible through cuttings and seeds only. They can be propagated by taking leaf tip cuttings in spring or summer. They can even be propagated through rhizome division. It is not recommended to take them from the main stem because the main stem may die if it is cut off too close to it. The following are steps to follow when;

Propagating by Cutting

• Obtain a stem cutting of about 4 inches long. Trim the leaves to about ¾ inches.
• Dip the cutting in rooting hormone and insert 2″ into a moist soil-less potting medium. Water lightly until it drains out the bottom of the container.
• Place in warm location and keep the soil moist but not soggy while roots develop.

Propagating by Division

• Rinse well and dip in rooting hormone of your choice. Remove leaves to form a sharp basal stem. Thoroughly wash the cut end of the stem with water.
• Insert stem cutting at its base in moist, sterile potting soil mixture with bottom layer of sphagnum moss or perlite. Push soil firmly around base of cutting to seal any openings, but leave a small depression in the top so that roots can make their way through it later.
• Water the soil lightly with water until water runs out of bottom of pot. Set in a warm location, but not direct sunlight.