Black Coral Snake Plant Care

All Snake Plants are like mini sculptures. The upright foliage resembles an avant-garde art installation, and the Black Coral Snake Plant is no different. The thin, sword-shaped foliage reaches skyward. This stunner hails from West Africa and is one of the easiest of all easy-care houseplants. One of the major parts of caring for this plant is to leave it alone, but here are the specifics of Black Coral Snake Plant care.

Details

The thin leaves come to a point and grow in a loose rosette formation. Mature leaves can stand three feet tall and reach three inches wide. The banded variegation features alternating horizontal lines in a dark shade of green that almost looks black, complemented by a silvery greenish hue. The wide stripes have a very organic form and almost look like they were scribbled by hand using a worn-down crayon.

Aliases

The genus Sansevieria was named such in the 18th century. The plants in this genus picked up a variety of not-so-flattering nicknames along the way, including snake plant, mother-in-law’s tongue, devil’s tongue, and viper’s bowstring hemp, to name a few. Genetic testing revealed that all of the plants in the Sansevieria genus are descended from the Dracaena genus. Everything became official in 2014, and Sansevierias became Dracaenas.

The name Sansevieria is still widely used, but it is now technically a common name or nickname, like snake plant or devil’s tongue. What was once known as Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Black Coral’ is now Dracaena trifasciata ‘Black Coral,’ but everyone knows what you mean if you call it a Sansevieria. I still use the term Sansevieria, even though it is inaccurate because that’s what most people use, and I want to make it easy for people to find this info.

Black Coral Snake Plant Light Needs

Light is essential for Snake Plants, but these laid-back beauties are not picky. Some plants must have a specific amount of sunlight, but the Black Coral will take what it gets. With that said, medium to bright indirect sunlight is best. Snake Plants are slow growers, and providing plenty of sunlight will help them grow to the best of their ability.

The Black Coral Sansevieria can live in low light, but it will grow extremely slowly, and the variegation may not be as intense. If you want to add greenery to a low-light corner and you’re fine with the plant barely growing, then this is the plant for you.

Summer Vacation

Many plant owners opt to move plants to an outdoor space during the summer. Your snake plant will appreciate some R&R outside, but be mindful of sunlight. Snake Plants can handle direct light, but the transition from indirect light inside to full sun outside needs to be gradual. Slowly expose the plant to direct light and increase the time to avoid burning the foliage. When in doubt, play it safe and keep the plant in a protected area so direct sunlight is not a problem.

How Often to Water the Black Coral Snake Plant

Snake Plants are drought-tolerant, which is a big part of what makes them easy to grow. They store moisture in their roots, so they sustain themselves for an extended time between watering sessions. The Black Coral Sansevieria needs water when the soil is dry throughout. Feel the potting mix or lift the container to gauge the weight. Wet soil weighs more than dry soil, so a light container indicates the plant needs water.

Give the plant a deep drink when it is time for water. Drench the soil, ensuring the entire root system is saturated. Allow water to drain through the pot, and remove excess water from the cover pot or saucer. Plan to water Snake Plants roughly every one to two weeks during the spring and summer and monthly during the fall and winter.

Warning Signs

The leaves will appear slightly puckered when the plant is too dry and needs water. Ideally, you should water the plant before this happens, but give it a drink right away, and the foliage should rehydrate. Yellow foliage is a more severe sign of an underwatered plant, while yellow leaf tips indicate the plant is overwatered.

Clean Foliage

Rinse the foliage or wipe the leaves with a damp cloth when watering the plant. Cleaning the leaves removes dust and any stray cobwebs, so your plant is healthy and looks good.

Soil Requirements

Snake Plants need loose, well-drained soil. A ready-made general potting mix is alright, but mix in perlite to improve drainage. A better choice is a potting mix intended for cacti or succulents.

Temperature for Black Coral Sansevieria

Most homes are comfortable for Snake Plants. Generally, temperatures between 60° and 85° F are acceptable. If you move your plant outdoors for the summer, remember to get it indoors before the temperature dips below 55° F.

Black Coral Snake Plant Humidity Needs

Humidity is not a concern for Snake Plants. The Black Coral Snake Plant can easily live in low, average, or above-average humidity. While the plant doesn’t care, you should be aware because the humidity impacts how often the plant needs water. Plants in humid environments need water less frequently than in arid climates.

Black Coral Snake Plant Fertilizer

Feed your Black Coral Sansevieria using a diluted, complete or balanced fertilizer. Stick to monthly feedings during the spring and summer when the plant is actively growing. Water first and then apply plant food to prevent fertilizer burn.

Pruning Tips

Pruning is not a big part of Black Coral Snake Plant care. Remove or trim dead or damaged leaves, but otherwise, you won’t have much of a need for pruning shears.

Does Black Coral Snake Plant Bloom?

The Black Coral Snake Plant does bloom. Small fragrant flowers bloom in clusters along tall stalks in spring. Plants grown outdoors in a climate more like their natural habitat are more likely to flower. Houseplants can bloom, but it’s rare.

When to Repot Black Coral Snake Plant

Black Coral Snake Plants can go years between repotting. Nothing about this plant is urgent, including its desire for a larger container. Snake Plants actually like fitting snuggly in their pots, and they grow slowly, so repot every few years.

Always select a new pot that is one to two inches larger. The ideal pot will have drainage, and materials like clay, that allow the soil to dry out are a good choice.

Black Coral Snake Plant Propagation

The easiest way to propagate the Black Coral Snake Plant is through division. The plant will naturally send pups or baby plants that grow alongside the parent plant. These pups can be removed when they’re a few inches tall or any time after. Division is best done when replanting because you may need access to the roots. Trim any roots connecting the pup to the parent and repot each plant separately.

Although it is a long process, Sansevieria can also be propagated through cuttings. Cuttings must be at least a few inches long and maintain the orientation. If you cut one large leaf into several cuttings, ensure the top is on top and the bottom is still the bottom because roots will not grow from the top of the cutting. Allow the cut ends to dry for a few days, and place the bottom of the cutting in soil or water. Even if you are propagating in water, the cut end must dry before submerging. Roots should form in a few weeks. Water-propagated cuttings can move to potting mix when the roots are at least one inch long. Eventually, the cutting will produce a pup or offshoot, and you’ll have a new Snake Plant.

Is Black Coral Snake Plant Pet Safe?

The Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Black Coral’ is toxic to pets, including cats and dogs. Eating the foliage will cause an upset stomach, vomiting, and diarrhea. The upright foliage is not likely to tempt a pet but be aware of the potential problems before bringing a Black Coral Snake Plant into your space.

Black Coral Snake Plant Styling Tips

The Sansevieria Black Coral will look amazing in a dark-colored planter that will complement the foliage, or use a basket or natural fiber cover pot to add texture. Small plants can add visual interest to a desk or tabletop, while a mature floor plant will steal the show alongside a window or next to a console table.