Embarking from the diverse landscapes of Africa, the Sansevieria Cylindrica, or African Spear Plant, brings a subtle yet compelling allure to any space with its upright, cylindrical leaves. Renowned for its easy care, this houseplant thrives in low light conditions and is best placed in corners or areas with limited natural light, making it a versatile and resilient addition to any home. These leaves, gray-green and subtly striped, seem to pierce the air with a gentle yet persistent vigor, symbolizing a quiet, steadfast growth.
Noted for its low-maintenance demeanor and a kind tolerance for occasional neglect, this plant intertwines hardiness with aesthetic charm. In bloom, it presents a long flower spike, where tiny, delicate white flowers emerge as gentle contrasts to its bold, architectural foliage.
Other common names include:
- Common Spear Plant
- African Spear Plant
- Spear Sansevieria
- Dracaena angolensis
About Sansevieria Cylindrica
- Botanical Classification: Sansevieria
- Common Name: Snake plant, Zeylanica, Mother-in-law's tongue
- Sansevieria cylindrica Bojer ex Hook
If you lean toward a modern, minimalistic alien vibe when decorating, this plant is for you! Its tubular, smooth leaves are dark green in color, some with green-grey variegation, and make for a real attention-grabber. Each cylindrical tube grows to about 1.5″ thick and up to 7 feet tall!
Sansevieria Cylindrica Size
Boasting a potential height of 4-6 feet and a spread of 1-2 feet, this slow-growing succulent can surprise growers with an occasional delicate white flower spike amidst its sturdy spears. The Sansevieria Cylindrica, or African Spear Plant, gracefully combines upright, subtly striped, gray-green leaves with a remarkably low-maintenance care routine. It’s a patient grower, gradually reaching toward its full height over several years while maintaining a consistent, streamlined appearance.
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Light Needs
Sansevieria Cylindrica grows best in a well lit space with medium to bright light and can adapt to low light or spaces without natural light as well. While Sansevieria Cylindrica appreciates being placed in well-lit spaces, it is remarkably tolerant and can persist in less-than-ideal light settings, continuing to grow albeit at a slower pace. It is one of those rare plants that is almost indifferent to its light source, providing ease for indoor plant enthusiasts to place it in various locations around their home or office.
However, to promote optimal health and vitality, offering a consistent source of medium light will enhance its growth and maintain the vivacity of its cylindrical, spear-like leaves. Be cautious of exposing it to prolonged direct sunlight, as its leaves can become scorched under such intense conditions. Thus, maintaining a balance in lighting-enough to nurture but not to harm-is key to seeing your Sansevieria Cylindrica thrive.
Watering
With easyplant, watering your Sansevieria Cylindrica is easy - just check the easyplant reservoir once every two months, making sure it's completely empty prior to refilling it, and you're all set! Your plant will thrive with this consistent, hassle-free watering method, keeping those striking cylindrical leaves in tip-top condition.
For those not using easyplant, cautious attention to your watering routine is key. Allow the topsoil to become thoroughly dry before administering water, ensuring you avoid both overwatering and underwatering, both of which could lead to leaf yellowing or root rot. Sansevieria Cylindrica, with its inherent drought-tolerant nature, leans towards thriving even with less frequent watering. This means you can slightly delay watering even if the topsoil has been dry for a short while. A healthy balance, ensuring the soil doesn’t remain dry for extended periods, will keep those tall, elegant leaves reaching skywards vibrantly.
Easy does it with the watering. You want to be careful not to overdo it, because your plant will rot out. Always make sure the soil is almost completely dry before thoroughly watering again. Size and location depending, you will end up watering your Snake Plants every 2-6 weeks. If you travel or tend to ignore plants, this is the one for you.
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I like to thoroughly soak the whole pot. Don’t fall into the trap of just adding a little bit of water because it’s a succulent. These plants demand excellent drainage. Never let them sit in water! Then at this point, I will hold off on watering until the soil is completely dry. And even then, you can wait! They were designed by nature to be able to withstand dry soil.
Temperature and Humidity
Embodying the sturdiness of its desert origins, the Sansevieria Cylindrica is notably adaptable when it comes to humidity levels, appreciating conditions anywhere from 40% to 60%. In its natural habitat, the semi-arid regions of Angola, this unique plant has adapted to handle periods of drought, hence lower humidity levels are well-tolerated. While the Cylindrica appreciates a boost in humidity, it's not particularly fussy and does not demand heightened moisture levels.
Nevertheless, ensuring that it’s not placed in overly dry conditions, particularly during winter when indoor heating can sap indoor air of its moisture, can contribute to its optimal growth and vitality. Prefers average room temperatures between 60°F and 80°F (16°C to 27°C). Avoid exposure to temperatures below 55°F (13°C), as cold can damage the plant.
Soil and Repotting
African Spear is very sensitive to wet soil, so choose a potting soil that drains very well and doesn’t retain too much moisture. A good soil will have lots of perlite or vermiculite for drainage and some organic matter for nutrition. Replacing your plant’s potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your African Spear after it doubles in size or once a year-whichever comes first.
I rarely will use any potting mix straight out of the bag anymore for any succulents or cactus. There are some good blends out there, but I like to tweak them a bit. To either of these mixes, for succulents like Sansevieria cylindrica, I like to add some 1/4″ pumice. You will be shocked at how much this will improve the drainage of your soil and provide more oxygen to your plant roots. I like to use about 1 part pumice to 3 parts or so potting mix. If you’re looking for an amazing potting mix that you can use straight out of the bag for your snake plant, check out the Tropical Succulent Soil Blend from Oh Happy Plants.
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If you have ever repotted a Sansevieria, you know that they can have some serious roots! Sansevieria will often warp the pots that they are growing in. This is very apparent in plastic pots. But they have been known to break clay pots!
Fertilizing
African Spear grows very slowly and doesn’t require added fertilizer. Replacing your plant’s potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Fertilizer isn’t necessary but may encourage brighter colors and faster growth. You can feed the plant once a month spring through fall with a diluted fertilizer that is specially made for succulents.
I have to admit, although I would like to fertilize my Sansevieria cylindrica plants regularly, I sometimes get lazy! But when I do fertilize, I do like to use a special fertilizer. It uses a special low nitrogen formulation that succulents and cacti do best with. And it’s nice because you can use it every time you water! This is the way I prefer to water my houseplants. Dilutely with every watering. This fertilizer is formulated that way. So you can fertilize with every watering. If you forget to fertilize regularly, your plants won’t mind…but don’t completely ignore it. Just be sure to stop fertilizing during the winter months when your plant is not growing. You don’t want to fertilize during the dreary parts of the year when plants are not growing.
Common Problems and Solutions
Diagnosing what is going wrong with your plant is going to take a little detective work and even more, patience! First of all, don’t panic and don’t throw a plant out prematurely.
- Slow Growth: If the plant is receiving adequate water, try moving it to a sunnier location. If you bought it during the fall and winter months, it’s entirely natural for growth to slow down. These are the dormant months during which new growth is either completely stopped or extremely slow.
- Drooping Leaves: Water less, and repot into fresh soil to allow the roots to dry out. Unlike most plants, the leaves of a snake plant actually droop when they’ve gotten too much water, not too little!
If you notice the cylindrical leaves of your Sansevieria Cylindrica starting to yellow, make sure you're adhering to the easyplant watering guidelines, filling the water reservoir once every two months and ensuring it’s empty before refilling. For persistent yellowing, consider relocating to a slightly sunnier spot, ensuring it's not subjected to direct sunlight. For non-easyplant users, a reassessment of your watering routine might initiate a positive shift, keeping in mind that Sansevieria Cylindrica appreciates being on the drier side.
If you observe your Sansevieria Cylindrica’s leaves becoming weak or droopy, consider assessing the plant’s environment for any stress factors, such as drastic temperature changes or exposure to drafts, and adjust as needed to provide a stable environment. If you notice spots or unusual textures on the leaves of your Sansevieria Cylindrica, it's worthwhile to check for pests. A gentle wipe of the leaves with a damp cloth can often address minor issues, and maintaining a routine leaf check keeps your plant looking its best.
Overwatering is a likely cause of issues with African Spear. Cut your plant just past where the rot ends and allow it to callus over for a few days before replanting it in fresh, dry soil.
- Yellowing Leaves: Overwatering or poor drainage can lead to yellow leaves.
- Brown Tips or Edges: Low humidity, salt build-up from tap water, or over-fertilization can cause brown tips.
- Soft and Mushy Stems: A sign of overwatering or cold damage. Sansevieria cylindrica prefers warm environments and dry soil.
Pests
If you want to have healthy house plants, you MUST inspect them regularly. Every time I water a plant, I give it a quick look-over. Bugs/insects feeding on your plants reduces the plant sap and redirects nutrients from leaves.
Snake plants are highly pest-resistant, but in poor conditions, they can get mealybugs and/or spider mites. The biggest threat is fungal growth due to root rot. I came across one instance where I had little worm-like bugs at the bottom of the cover pot. These creatures made their way through the soil and out one of the drain holes. In this case, I made up a hydrogen peroxide solution and poured it through the soil, making sure to saturate it.
- Spider Mites: These tiny pests thrive in dry conditions, sucking sap from leaves, leading to yellowing and webbing.
- Mealybugs: Look for white, cottony masses on stems and undersides of leaves.
- Fungus gnat: These pests thrive in moist soil.
- Aphids: Small, pear-shaped pests that cluster on new growth and undersides of leaves, sucking plant sap and weakening it.
- Scale insects: Hard, dome-shaped pests that attach firmly to stems and leaves, feeding on sap.
Mealybugs look like small balls of cotton. They can travel slowly, but they have a strong will and determination! Though these bugs move slowly, if any plant is touching another, there is a chance the mealybug will hitch a ride on a new leaf and spread. They breed like rabbits of the insect world.
Spider mites are more common on houseplants. They are not insects - they are related to spiders. These appear to be tiny black or red moving dots. Spider mites are nearly invisible to the naked eye.
Is Sansevieria Cylindrica Poisonous?
While the toxicity levels are low, it’s safest to keep pets away from your plant. Sansevieria Cylindrica may be moderately toxic if ingested, so be sure to keep away from curious children and pets. The plant contains saponins, subtle but active compounds that can lead to a variety of discomforting symptoms such as nausea and diarrhea upon ingestion. In instances of unintentional consumption or any sign of an adverse reaction, consulting a healthcare professional or a veterinarian is advised.
African Spear is not safe to consume. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian.
Additional Care Tips
In the first few days of your Sansevieria Cylindrica at home, its upright, cylindrical leaves may undergo slight changes. This is a normal and healthy part of the plant adjusting to its new environment and not a reason for concern. Often referred to as the African Spear Plant, the Sansevieria Cylindrica is recognized for its uniquely architectural leaves and the ease with which it integrates into various interior design schemes.
To assist it in growing optimally and evenly, make it a practice to dust its elongated leaves and rotate the pot by a ¼ turn every month. This ensures every spear gets its fair share of light, growing uniformly, and maintaining the aesthetic appeal of its tall, straight leaves. Despite its elegant and refined appearance, the Sansevieria Cylindrica is forgiving and adaptable, swiftly recovering from any care mishaps and continuing to purify your indoor air with its vibrant leaves. This user-friendly plant enhances your space with a sculptural, organic presence while quietly working to keep your air fresh and clean.
It’s common for African Spear to go dormant in the summertime and you may notice their growth slow down. Sansevieria Cylindrica reproduces by growing new plants (or ‘‘pups’’) near the base of the mother plant.
Propagating Sansevieria Cylindrica
Propagating Sansevieria cylindrica is a straightforward process that can be accomplished through several methods, including leaf cuttings and division.
Leaf Cuttings:
- Select a Healthy Leaf: Choose a healthy, mature leaf from your Sansevieria cylindrica.
- Cut the Leaf: Using a clean, sharp knife or scissors, cut the leaf into sections, each about 2-4 inches long.
- Plant the Sections: Fill a pot with well-draining succulent or cactus mix.
- Water Sparingly: Water lightly to settle the soil around the cuttings.
- Provide Light and Warmth: Place the pot in a warm, bright spot with indirect sunlight.
Division:
- Divide the Rootball: Identify natural divisions in the rootball where the plant has formed distinct clumps.
- Pot Up Divisions: Plant each division in its pot filled with well-draining succulent or cactus mix.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Sansevieria Cylindrica need sunlight?
Sansevieria Cylindrica thrives in bright, indirect sunlight but is highly adaptable and can grow in low light conditions as well. For best results, place it in a spot where it can receive a few hours of indirect sunlight daily.
Does Sansevieria Cylindrica bloom?
Yes, Sansevieria Cylindrica can bloom, especially when kept under optimal conditions. It produces spiky white or lavender flowers, although flowering is rare and typically occurs in mature plants during the summer.
Is Sansevieria Cylindrica an indoor plant?
Yes, Sansevieria Cylindrica is an excellent indoor plant due to its low maintenance and adaptability to a variety of lighting conditions. It's known for its air-purifying qualities, making it a popular choice for home and office spaces.
Is Sansevieria Cylindrica poisonous?
Sansevieria Cylindrica contains saponins, which can be poisonous if ingested.
