Each winter for the past 2 winters, I have offered to look after my friend Patricia’s very large and very heavy pot of mixed houseplants.  She and husband Jerry are my neighbors in the little unincorporated hamlet of Hales Location, New Hampshire.  In our small homestead of 110 homeowners, probably ¾ of the population travel to warmer locations for some part of the winter months.  Since I am not much of a winter traveler, I don’t mind watching houses, cats and plants while my neighbors are away.  It gives me something to do and it gives them peace of mind.

So…getting back to my friend Patricia’s plants.  Her houseplant collection consists of a giant pot with 3 different types of variegated, common, very pot bound, but lush houseplants that she cannot part with but cannot leave unattended for any length of time.  What I share with you in this month’s column is that among this collection is what I consider to be one of the UGLIEST house plants known to man!  No offense Pat if you’re reading this, but ya, this plant is uglyyyyyy.  However, planted alongside the 2 other house plants in this pot, I would raise its “view value” to “not so bad” because it is partly sheltered from my sight by overgrown leaves that hang above it.  My plan is to discuss each one of these  potted houseplants each month for the next three months.  By the end of that time Pat should be home from Florida and I can move on to another interesting topic.

In the mean time, this ugly plant that I made reference to, seems to get around regardless of what I think of it.  It seems to always have been in somebody’s grandmother’s house.  It never seemed to grow or get bigger. It never seemed to bloom.  It was always dry and dusty and it looked like a dagger, it was plain old’ scary to me as a little kid!  Well, here it is in Pat’s pot of lush houseplants and I now know its name: SANSEVIERIA or commonly known as SNAKE PLANT.

However, in all fairness, the Snake Plant does seem to serve a useful purpose in this case.  It’s sharp, upward growing spiked leaves, outlined in lime green or yellow contrast well with the very dark green colored interior of the leaves.

Paul Parent calls the Snake Plant one of the most popular houseplants in America today because of its longevity and tolerance to neglect!  The leaves are thick sword shaped, and sharply pointed.  They are very stiff and can grow from 6” to 2 feet tall.  Paul describes the plant’s wavy pattern on the leaf blades as looking like snake skins, hence the name Snake Plant.  This plant, as mentioned, will thrive on neglect.  It will live in dimly lit bars, in bright office windows, in doctor’s waiting rooms, beauty shops and my auto mechanics office.

But…with some rich soil, (Espoma Potting Soil) and regular water and monthly fertilizer, it may surprise you with a spray of small creamy white flowers on a thick stem that arises from the center of the foliage.  According to Paul Parent, this rare blooming  occasion is a real treat.  Maybe I should give this plant another look and a little more credit.

Next month I will discuss the second house plant in this collection.  Stay tuned!

Cheers,
Deb (March 2018 Horticultural Newsletter)