The Sansevieria Bantel’s Sensation is one of several varieties of snake plants, a taller, stalkier breed of succulent. Hailing from the tropical regions of West Africa, Bantel’s Sensation has gorgeous evergreen leaves marked by white vertical striping.
Also known as the Viper’s bowstring hemp or mother-in-law tongue, this variation of Dracaena Trifasciata (formerly Sansevieria Trifasciata) is a perennial plant and enjoys a warm and dry climate.
The thick stalked leaves are excellent at retaining water.
Like other succulent plants, the Bantel’s Sensation is an extraordinarily tolerant and easy-to-care plant. Perfect for indoor and outdoor activities, this plant can easily fit into the home of any beginner or expert plant-enthusiast.
Sansevieria Bantel’s Sensation Care
Size & Growth
The Bantel’s Sensation grows in vertical leafy shoots, clustered at the base, and slightly fanning out as it climbs upward. This particular variation of sansevieria can grow anywhere between two to three feet in height and spreads out from its base up to two feet.
Flowers & Fragrance
The leaf and stalks are a nice evergreen color, but with white vertical markings up the leaf’s broadside, giving the plant a striped appearance. The stalks are typically narrower and remain in a rigid pointy shape.
The Bantel’s Sensation typically does not flower, exceptionally when it is cared for indoors, but a thriving outdoor Sensation will produce small green-white blooms and later form orange berries.
Related: Details on the reclusive Snake Plant Flower
This plant has a pleasant clean fragrance and is known for its oxygen producing abilities. Put Bantel’s Sensation in your bedroom to freshen up your environment and give yourself a more relaxing night’s sleep.
Light & Temperature
The Bantel’s Sensation can handle fully to partial shade but prefers a warmer and brighter environment. Still, it would be best if you were wary that your Sensation does not receive too much direct hot sunlight, which could overheat and fry your plant.
Watering & Feeding
Like other succulents, the sansevieria prefers being dry, and you should not overwater the plant. You can even reduce watering further during the fall and winter months to help keep your plant in its happy place.
For feeding, go with a high-quality general-purpose fertilizer and regularly apply from April to the end of September along with more water to compensate for the drier and warmer weather.
Soil & Transplanting
Since the sansevieria prefers a more arid environment, your pot and soil must drain water well to help keep it away from your plant’s base and roots. When transplanting, make sure to keep an inch to two-inch layer of rock gravel to help maintain the separation between the roots and any excess water.
A 50-50 mix of regular potting and any general cactus soil should do just fine for your Sensation for the bottom soil. For the topsoil, do an even mixture of potting soil and sand. Also, it wouldn’t hurt to add in some perlite or vermiculite as well. Setting up your pot with quick-draining soil will help keep your plant from being overwatered.
Related: Check out our article on the Best Soil for Snake Plant.
Grooming & Maintenance
The Bantel’s Sensation is a straightforward plant to care for, making it an excellent plant for beginners. However, there are several things you should look out for to ensure that your Sensation will last for many years.
If you care for the plant indoors, make sure that you occasionally wipe down the broad leaves to remove any dust. The buildup of dust can affect the amount of sunlight your Sensation receives, which could spell bad news for its health.
Additionally, rotating your plant’s position every so often will help evenly distribute the sunlight and, as a result, help your plant grow more evenly.
How to Propagate Bantel’s Sensation
If you’re interested in multiplying your Bantel’s Sensation plant, then there are two ways you can go about the task: leaf-cutting and dividing.
Leaf Cutting
When your sansevieria shoot is at least four inches tall, you can cut at the base of the leaf. From there, cut your leaf into two-inch sections. Place in dry soil for two to three days, broadside down. Once calluses have formed at the bottom of your cuts, you can start watering lightly.
Dividing
Another option to propagate your sansevieria is by removing the plant from the soil entirely and dividing the offshoots at the root. Start by gently brushing away the soil and then, taking a clean knife, cut off a single shoot from the middle of the rhizome. Try to keep at least two to three roots attached to the rhizome before repotting.
Related: Tips on Snake Plant Propagation in Watert
Bantel’s Sensation Pests & Diseases
The most common issue that arises when caring for Bantel’s Sensation is overwatering. If your stalks start turning brown and begin looking a little mushy, then it probably is a sign that you are overwatering your plant.
Overwatering is the primary cause of root rot, which can slowly kill your plant from the ground up. If your plant is experiencing root rot, you can try to cut out the root and replant it into the correct dry soil in a properly draining pot.
Pests pose another potential threat to your sansevieria, especially mealy-bugs and spider mites. These pests like to suck the sap right out of the leaves of your plant and will slowly cripple its vitality. If you start to notice small insects or soft white material forming on the stalks and joints of your plant, then you should take action right away.
Start by isolating the pest infected plants from the rest of your healthy plants. Next, you should treat your sansevieria with a natural pesticide such as rubbing alcohol or Neem oil and spray or rub the exterior of your plant several times to rid it of the pests.
Conclusion
Sansevieria Bantel’s Sensation is a gorgeous and versatile plant. If you are a first-timer looking for an easy transition into horticulture, or if you want to add something new to your indoor garden, then this plant would be perfect for you.
NOTE: Back in 2014 a study was published on “Phylogenetic Relationships among Dracaenoid Genera.” In the study the determined “Sansevieria and those species should be recognized as species of Dracaena.”
The new Botanical Name is Dracaena Trifasciata Bantel’s Sensation formerly Sansevieria Bantel’s Sensation
Family: Asparagaceae