BRAID SNAKE PLANTS

By Rhiannon Taylor

BRAID SNAKE PLANTS - RT1home

HOW TO BRAID SNAKE PLANTS

A step by step guide on braiding your Sansevieria Cylindrica at home.

Time

Prep Time: 20 mins per plant

Materials 

  • SANSEVIERIA CYLINDRICA (Also called Cylindrical Snake Plant or African Spear)
  • SCISSORS - we are using our RT1home GARDEN SCISSORS
  • TIE - we are using RAFIA and rubber bands
  • BOWLS - (1) for water + (1) for soil - we are using 2 glass bowls
  • CLOTH - to wipe scissors, dry roots, and for water spills. We are using a FUROSHIKI wrapping cloth.
  • POTTING SOIL - to repot your braided snake plant
  • SOIL SCOOP - to scoop soil for repotting
  • PLANT POT - to pot your braided snake plant in
  • PUMICE STONES - to add to potting soil to help with drainage
  • WATER - to rinse roots  
  • OPTIONAL: POTTING TARP - we are using our RT1home Potting Tarp (Standard size) to help contain the mess!


Instructions

  1. Select (2) CYLINDRICA Snake plants that have at least 3 stems that are longer than 12”-14” to be able to braid
  2. Remove plants and roots from the pot and rinse the roots in water to remove all dirt.

    3. Dry plant and roots with your CLOTH.

    4. Stack plants on top of each other - stems should be facing you, roots facing away from you.

    5. Grab your TIE material, and cut approximately 18" with your SCISSORS  to secure your stacked plants just above the roots (knot fairly tight).

    6. Starting from your right, grab 2 stems together and wrap over center 2 stems. Hold securely with both hands.

    7. Next, take the 2 stems on the left and wrap over the center 2 stems. Hold securely, not too tight to damage the plant.

    8. REPEAT these steps for as long as the length of the stems.

    9. If you have any short stems - let these stick out for now, secure the long stems with a rubber band after you cannot braid any more.

    10. Next, secure tightly with your TIE and replace the rubber band (we don't recommend leaving only the rubberband as they tend to slide off)

    11. For any shorter stems, you can now go back and gently tuck them into the braid.

    12. Grab your PLANT POT, POTTING SOIL, and PUMICE STONES.

    13. Pot your newly braided Snake Plant in your pot using your SOIL SCOOP.

     

    Step by step video guide is also available on our YouTube

    Further Steps

    • This drought-tolerant plant does not need a lot of water. 
    • Water thoroughly while Cylindrica is growing and allow the potting mix to almost dry out before watering again.  
    • When your Cylindrica stems continue to grow longer, you can add to your existing braid.  At any point, you can remove the braid completely and let it grow fanned out again.

     

    8 comments

    • Charlievick AKA THE STANDUP COMIC on

      Thank you for the information and tips.They are most beneficial. Would you send me more of the same.I have two Beyond Blue Festuca. One is very blue and the other has a lot of brown in it.What should I do to get the brown out? So it looks like the other one.Thanks in advance.
      ———
      RT1home replied:
      Hello! Beyond Blue Fetusca is an ornamental grass.  I can help provide tips on most houseplants, but have little knowledge of outdoor grasses.  

    • Arlene on

      Hi, and thanks for the info. Questions, how do you color the tips and yet keep the plant healthy? Where/how could I get more variety of snake plants? I am really into them. Thanks in advance.
      ———
      RT1home replied:
      Hi Arlene – I would be very careful painting or coloring the tips of your Snake plant, as most paint (acrylic based) is very toxic to the plant. If you are able to find paints that are non-toxic and plant + water based, you could try and see if the color works. As for finding a variety of snake plants, you can always check your > local nurseries or hardware stores. But you will be able to find more > options + rare snake plants from online nurseries or plant sellers. Snake plants are pretty hearty so they are safe and easy to have shipped compared to more fragile plants. Hope this helps!

    • Ineta on

      Should I plant my African spear in regular potting soil or can i use cactus potting soil?
      ———
      RT1home replied:
      Hi Ineta – It would prefer to be planted with a Cactus potting soil that has good drainage. If you only have standard potting soil, you can mix it with sand and add pumice stones to improve the drainage. Hope that helps!

    • matt on

      hi & thanks for the reply. yes giving them plenty of light…but have been watering them slow …the originals about 5inches …& babies have grown 4-5 inches while & 1 new spear has grown like 7 inches..odd as the babies have grown but original braided shoots have not not 1/2 inch of growth over the tied area that keeps them braided…that’s why i was questioning the braid stops growth
      i’ll water more and see
      Thanks again…Peace
      ———
      RT1home replied:
      One possibility could be the tied area could be too tight and restricting growth. Are you able to loosen the tied area or use something less restrictive?

    • Carla on

      Thank you for the information about the bands on the braided snake plant.

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