Mothers In Law Tongue Plant Care – A Growers Guide For Sharp Tongued Plants

This blog post has all the information you need about Mothers in Law Tongue Plant Care and more. You will learn about the best tips and strategies to have a thriving garden. Identified by its thick vertical leaves, the beautiful dark green color is adorned with light green bands around them.

It has an attractive look and will be an asset to any garden if properly maintained. Today, this plant can be found growing anywhere in the world. It can grow well indoors in a warmer area or outdoors in much colder regions. Although it is a low-maintenance plant, giving them the proper care will aid them in reaching their full potential.

Stubborn and strong, this plant can survive the harshest climates and still stand tall. However, although it is a low-maintenance plant, giving them the proper care will aid them in reaching their full potential. The history of the mother in law tongue plant is fascinating. I will tell you more about it and give you the best care tips below.

The History Of The Mothers In Law Tongue Plant

Originating from the West African tropical regions, the mothers in law tongue plant is known by many names. These include the snake plant, vipers bowstring hemp, St Georges Sword, and Sansevieria Trifasciata amongst others.

The names chosen for this plant have been given much thought and each gives a special insight into the plant’s character. If you look at this plant, you will notice that its leaves are shaped like a wide-bladed sword with sharp pointed tips. For this reason, the plant is compared to the sharp tongue of a mother in law, hence its name.

However, unlike your real mother-in-law, this plant does not enjoy too much attention, but because of its sharp edges, caution should be taken when caring for them. The mothers in law tongue plant care tips in this guide will aid you in growing these stunning plants easily.

 How do I keep my snake plant healthy?

What is the Best Potting Soil for Mothers in Law Plants?

Soil is one of the most important elements when growing plants. While certain plants have greater nutrient demands, others may not. However, most house plants thrive on soils that are nutrient-rich, well-aerated, and have good drainage capabilities.

Mother-in-law’s tongue grows well with a nutrient-rich potting mix or a soilless mix. However, due to its strong survival nature, amending the soil from your backyard will also work perfectly fine when growing this plant. Also, you need to keep in mind that if you interfere with this plant unnecessarily or water it more than needed, it may rot from the root.

However, with the proper mothers in law tongue plant care tips, this plant is a survivor and can fight its way back to life very quickly. It is best to work with the plant with much care as it also has sharp edges. So, have a look at the plant care tips below to grow them with no hassles! Click on the video to learn more about the different species of this magnificent plant. 

Mothers In Law Tongue Plant Care Tips

Neglect me and I will still grow! This is the mother-in-law’s tongue plant. Strong and stubborn. It falls under the category of succulent leaves and although they are hardy plants, proper care is recommended to help them reach their full potential.

Listed below are a few mothers in law tongue plant care tips that you can follow to ensure your plant is happy and healthy.

Tips:

  • Watering them once a month is perfectly fine. Overwatering this plant will cause the roots to rot.
  • This low-maintenance succulent can survive the harshest climates but grows best in direct sunlight.
  • There is no need to give it any additional plant food as it thrives in good soil and water.
  • Before you tend to them, I suggest you put on a pair of gardening gloves as the sharp edges can be dangerous.
  • These plants can become a real eyesore when they are very dusty and dirty. To clean them and keep the leaves looking bright and shiny, you can wipe them off with plain water. For stubborn dirt, and stains use your normal dishwashing liquid. This will cause no harm to the plant.

The Benefits Of A Mothers In Law Tongue Plant?

There are several benefits of a mothers in law tongue plant. Aside from their easy-to-grow hardy nature, they have several other advantages that are beneficial to their surroundings. Let’s have a look at some of the pros of these useful plants below.

 Should I cut off drooping snake plant leaves?

Pros:

  • This plant does not require constant maintenance and is ideal for beginners. However, following the mothers in law tongue plant care tips in this guide will ensure that their health and growth are maintained.
  • The plant grows quickly and even if you find that they are dying, you can replant their dead leaves.
  • It improves the air quality in your home because it absorbs toxins such as nitrogen oxide.
  • There is no need to fertilize this plant often as one dose in spring and once in the summer season is sufficient.
  • These plants also have many medicinal benefits They can be used to treat asthma, cough, bronchitis, insect and snake bites, and many more. To give you an example of just one old Indian housewife’s remedy, it offers fast relief for an earache. If you have an earache and cannot get to a doctor quickly enough, break one of the leaves, warm it a bit on your stove, squeeze out the juice onto a teaspoon (it squeezes very easily), and pour the liquid into the affected ear. Make sure it is not too hot.

Conclusion

The mothers in law tongue plant are widely grown as it is commonly available in most regions. It is also a very low-maintenance plant and does not require too much attention. However, just as everything has a tolerance level, so do these plants.

For this reason, practicing the mothers in law tongue plant care tips in this article will be essential to their continued health and growth. Also, if these plants are not handled carefully, the sharp thorns on their edges can prick you. This plant is excellent for indoors as it absorbs nitrogen oxide and gives off oxygen.

Your home is sure to have clean fresh air for a much healthier living if you make them a part of your home. They have many medicinal benefits which could save you from paying unnecessary medical bills. So, as much as it is a stern plant with a sharp tongue, its age-old benefits are very handy to have around, just like your real mother-in-law.

Here’s a link with more information from the University of Arkansas System.

 Where should I place a snake plant in my house?

FAQs

Where should I place a snake plant in my house?

When growing a snake plant in your house, it is recommended that you place it in a south-facing window. However, this hardy plant will still thrive anywhere in the house with a little sunlight.

Should I cut off drooping snake plant leaves?

Yes, you should cut off drooping snake plant leaves. Clipping them close to the soil line will give the plant a much healthier appearance. This plant can grow very high in length so pruning it is recommended.

When should I repot my mother-in-law's tongue?

You can repot your mother-in-law's tongue plant once they have matured. You will find that the plant grows big enough and the roots start to expose themself. This is when you will need to consider re-potting them. If overgrown, it can also topple the pot over.

How do I keep my snake plant healthy?

You can keep your snake plant healthy by exposing it to sunlight. For best growth results, plant them in loose soil that is rich in nutrients and drains well. If you water them once a month, it will be sufficient. Keep in mind that overwatering can rot the plant roots.