Image – Wikimedia/David J. Stang
On some occasions it is possible to find plants in nurseries that catch our eye, as is the case, for example, with the colorful sansevierias. These succulents are really curious, because they have cylindrical leaves, which are quite thin and can become very long. But what we can all wonder is if these plants are really natural or not.
Because? Because sometimes there are those who do everything to sell more. In some cases, names are even invented as if to make others understand that they are a new species. You have to be very careful with that.
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Are they natural?
The colorful sansevierias they are succulent, in particular, Cylindrical Sansevieriawhich have been painted; that is, they are natural plants, but the color they have in the upper half of each leaf is not. In fact, his natural color is green; not red, not yellow, not other: just green. Also, if we scratch it with our fingernail, we’ll immediately notice that it’s nothing more than paint that has been added to it…well, I guess to catch the eyes of potential buyers and sell more, but without take into account the problems caused to plants by them.
Why am I saying this? Because all the green parts of sansevierias, and of any plant, have a photosynthetic capacity. When painted, their pores become clogged, which is why their ability to photosynthesize and breathe is reduced. And this, of course, can have disastrous consequences, since all plant beings must perform photosynthesis and also breathe.
What problems can colored sansevierias have?
Picture – thriftyfun.com
The consequences will be more or less serious depending, above all, on how long the plants have been painted. A) Yes, the longer it takes before they are cleaned or until said paint comes off on its own, the weaker they can become.. Therefore, it shouldn’t surprise us if we bought one and something like this happens to it after cleaning it, for example:
- If we expose it to the sun suddenly, without having accustomed it before, the part of the leaves that has been painted will burn very quickly.
- The plant could become very weak, to the point that, in extreme cases, it could fall ill: it would lose leaves, it would be very difficult for it to flower if it was already old, and its growth rate would be slower.
How do you prevent a colorful sansevieria from dying?
The ideal is to remove the paint as soon as possible, but be aware that it is very thick. So, The best thing to do in these cases is to remove it with a piece of cotton soaked in hot water. (does not burn). If after a few passages it does not disappear, it is better to have the plant at home, in a room with plenty of light but away from windows, as direct light will burn it.
Over the months, the painted leaves shed their paint or die as new ones grow. But yes, for this to happen we must take care of it as best we know, and for this we recommend that you take into account everything that we are going to tell you now:
Plant it in a pot with a substrate for succulents
Sansevieria is a succulent plant that, like the rest of the species, fears having its roots flooded. For it it is important that it be planted in a pot -with holes in its base- with a specific substrate for it (on sale here), or make our own mix with equal parts peat and perlite. Also, this pot should be the right size for her, i.e. if the one she is using now is about 8 centimeters in diameter, the new one should be about 13 or 15 cm.
Water when the substrate is dry
As it fears, and a lot, the excess of water, we will have to water it very little. Also, if one day it was time to water it but for some reason we forgot to do it, nothing will happen to it. In fact, I would almost go so far as to say, from my own experience, that the best thing is just that, let the soil dry out for a while before watering it again. Because? Because they are plants native to semi-arid regions, where there is little rain, so do not water them frequently if you do not want to lose them.
That they don’t lack (indirect) light
Since they are painted and also the sun has never given them, it is not worth exposing them to the direct light of the royal star, because if they did, they would burn. But be careful: it is important that they are placed in an area where there is plenty of light, because that way they can grow well. When the paint is worn, we can get them used to direct exposure to sunlight little by little.
Is it a good idea to buy colorful sansevierias?
Good, it will depend on each. I “run away” from plants like this, cacti with artificial flowers attached, painted succulents, sansevierias that look like brightly colored “fingers”… Naturalness, to me, is much more beautiful. Also, it is interesting to know that the colored sansevierias were Holland’s idea: at first the ends were covered with a fabric so that they were not damaged during the trip, but now they are painted with a thick paint which, when drying, looks like velvet. , and which fulfills the same function as the fabric, but is much more harmful because it does not come off easily.
In addition, it should be remembered that the natural leaves of these sansevierias are green; therefore the new ones that will come out will be of this color.
And you, do you have any colored sansevierias?