Sansevieria Black Gold is a succulent plant and a member of the agave or Agavaceae family of plants. This plant hails from India and Africa, where elephants consider it to be quite a delicacy.
There are many Snake plant varieties and cultivars of this easy-care, drought-tolerant, perennial plant. Often referred to as Snake Plants, Mother-In-Law’s Tongue or Viper’s Bow String hemp, all make excellent indoor plants. Black Gold is one of the most attractive and most popular.
Sansevieria Black Gold Care
Size And Growth
Sansevierias are a good plant for beginners.
Black Gold is an excellent choice for a narrow space because of its very distinct upright growth habit. These plants grow to be between 2′ – 3′ feet tall. Individual plants may spread to 18″ inches.
These plants are slow growers and do well in unlit areas, such as hallways and entryways.
Black Gold’s succulent, lance-shaped intense green leaves with a golden trim around the edges.
Flowering And Fragrance
The snake plant flower is rare but is more likely to happen when plants are overgrown and stressed. A plant in need of repotting or watering may surprise you with a dainty spray of delicate, whitish-green flowers.
Light Requirements And Temperature
Snake Plant can grow quite well in low lighting. But does best in bright, indirect light or fluorescent lighting indoors.
When kept outdoors, the plant will do well in a setting that provides lots of shade or partial shade.
Sansevieria can grow outdoors year-round in USDA hardiness zones 9 through 11.
Details on: Snake Plant Light Requirements
Watering And Feeding
Black Gold Snake Plants are drought-tolerant plants but do best when treated with the soak-and-dry watering method:
- Water thoroughly, allowing water to run through ample drainage holes in the bottom of the pot.
- Do not water again until the soil is almost entirely dry.
Never allow any houseplant to stand in water, as this will promote root rot.
If repotted each year in the springtime using fresh soil, Snake Plants do not need any fertilizer. With less frequent repotting, fertilize each year early in the springtime. Any all-purpose houseplant fertilizer will do.
Soil And Transplanting
The best soil for snake plants is a light, airy, well-draining potting mixture. Mix up your own with equal parts potting soil and coarse sand, or you can use any standard succulent or cactus mix.
It is unnecessary to repot annually, but doing so creates an opportunity to separate pups and give your plant fresh, nourishing soil.
Be sure to use a pot that provides good air circulation to the roots (e.g., terra-cotta or hypertufa). Ample drainage holes are a must.
Grooming And Maintenance
Snake Plants can grow well with little or no grooming and maintenance, but trim away dead or damaged leaves as needed for best results. Divide and repot plants annually.
How To Propagate Sansevieria Black Gold
Mother-in-law’s tongue produces abundant numbers of pups on its own. Divide and place into their own pots if desired, and treat them as mature plants.
Details on Snake Plant Sansevieria Propagation
It’s also effortless to propagate Black Gold from leaf cuttings. Poke a section of leaf about 3″ inches long into sand, with the bottom side down and the top side is up.
Use soak and dry watering, and before you know it, you’ll have a new plant.
Some people like to start Sansevieria cuttings in water. To do this, you’ll need a whole leaf.
A collection of Sansevieria leaves placed in a tall slim vase makes an attractive ornament.
Change the water daily to prevent stagnation. When roots appear, you can pot your new plants.
Sansevieria Black Gold’s Pests Or Diseases
When kept in a warm setting with bright, indirect sunlight, adequate ventilation, and the right amount of watering, Sansevieria has very few, if any, problems or pests.
Cold temperatures, too little light, and excessive watering will cause the plant to become a victim of common houseplant pests and fungal problems.
Is The Plant Considered Toxic Or Poisonous To People Or Pets?
Sansevieria sap can be a bit irritating to the skin, and if ingested in large quantities, it can cause gastric distress.
Be sure to wash your hands after handling your Sansevieria.
Keep the plant out of the reach of pets and children, but take heart that the sap has an awful taste. Kids and pets who taste it won’t want to taste much more!
Is Sansevieria Considered Invasive?
In tropical settings, Sansevieria of all sorts could have high invasive potential. Places such as Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and Guam restrict the sale of Sansevieria.
Suggested Sansevieria Black Gold Uses
This low-maintenance houseplant is an ideal choice for a beginner or negligent gardener. It does very well in low light, indoor settings.
It is a perfect office plant because it prefers regular, fluorescent lighting and the controlled, dry heat typical to offices.
Black Gold Snake Plant makes an attractive addition to outdoor planters during warm weather in cooler climates. Keep it indoors as a houseplant during the winter months.
In tropical settings, it can be grown outdoors as a border plant or a container plant year-round.
Be careful to keep it contained so that it does not become an invasive pest.