Learn everything about this exotic Snake plant variety—the Sansevieria ‘Samurai’ in this complete care guide. Read along!
If you are looking for a low-maintenance houseplant that boasts an extraordinary appearance as well, then try growing the Sansevieria ‘Samurai’. In this guide, you will learn about this plant as well as all the necessary care and maintenance requirements to ensure that it flourishes in your garden!
Sansevieria ‘Samurai’—Key Facts
| Common Name | Dwarf Snake Plant, Sansevieria Samurai, Sword Sansevieria |
| Botanical Name | Sansevieria ehrenbergii ‘Samurai’ |
| Origin | Africa |
| Plant Type | Perennial |
| Dimension | 4-6 inches tall |
| Indoor/Outdoor | Both |
| Sunlight | Direct/ Indirect Sunlight |
| Soil | Loamy/ Sandy |
| Temperature | 60°F to 75°F (15°C-23°C) |
| Watering | Depending on the dryness of the soil |
| Toxicity | Non-Toxic |
| USDA Zones | 9-11 |
Plant Information
A beautiful member of the Asparagaceae family—Sansevieria ‘Samurai’ is indigenous to West Africa. But this peculiar Dwarf Snake plant has become very popular in recent years for its attractive shape and structure with a height of 4” to 6” inches and about as wide.
This short succulent is one of 70+ or more Sansevieria or Snake plant species. Its leaves are distinctively shaped like swords and then take on a V-shape, with a slight red tint along the margins and tips. Additionally, due to the alternating pattern of leaf growth, the plant takes on a spiral appearance when viewed from above.
Besides, it has an unusual flowering habit as well—it stops developing new leaves once the flowers bloom. After the central plant flowers, the rhizomes and stolons continue to produce new plantlets in the form of offsets.
Pot Size
Start with a small pot if you have a new sapling and as it grows gradually give it more space and nutrients by repotting it into a slightly larger pot than the earlier one. Basically, you might need to re-pot it after a year or less, depending on the growth of the plant. However, you can always check by observing the size of the plant. Pretty simple!
Pro Tip: Typically for succulents like Snake plants, any clay pot or terracotta pot works best because it prevents overwatering issues.
Propagation Methods
There are generally two ways to propagate your Sansevieria ‘Samurai’—leaf cuttings and division of offsets. Let’s learn about both.
Leaf Cuttings
To propagate through leaf cuttings, first, snip off a healthy cutting with a sterile cutter. Then, you can either plant this section in the same pot beside the mother plant (if there is enough space) or grow it separately in water or soil.
If you are planting it in the same pot then you can of course separate it later when it grows its own roots. So, don’t worry about the space! But if you are growing it in water then make sure to change the water every 2-3 days to keep it healthy and pest-free.
Offset Division
To propagate through division, the best time is while repotting! Let us tell you why—because if you want to separate the offsets from the base of the plant you will eventually have to dig it up. So, repotting makes it becomes easier and more convenient.
After digging up the plant, remove the extra soil stuck to the roots. Then carefully separate the plant into smaller sections and plant each section in a new pot with a sandy/ loamy potting mixture.
Growing Requirements
Sunlight
The Samurai Snake plant like all the other varieties prefers bright, indirect sunlight to thrive. It can also tolerate low light conditions, but it may not grow as quickly or produce as many leaves. On the other hand, direct sunlight can scorch the leaves, so it’s best to avoid placing the plant in a south-facing window or under direct sunlight for extended periods.
It requires at least 6 hours of light per day to grow and develop properly. So, you can try placing it near east- or west-facing windows to get that amount of indirect sunlight daily.
Soil
Generally, it can grow in a variety of soil types, but it is important to provide the right soil conditions to ensure optimal growth and health. It should be well-draining, porous, and packed with nutrients.
You can combine equal parts of coco peat, perlite, pebbles, and coarse sand as the base medium and add some organic compost to it.
Watering
As a succulent, it stores water in its leaves which means that it doesn’t require frequent watering. Besides, overwatering can lead to root rot and underwatering can cause the leaves to wilt and turn yellow.
So, for the right balance—water the plant once or twice every two weeks during its active growing season (spring-summer) and once a month in the dormant phase (fall and winter). This way your Samurai will never die!
Temperature
The ideal temperature for this plant is between 60°F to 85°F (15°C to 29°C). But don’t worry if you can’t keep it within that range all the time because it can handle temperatures as low as 50°F (10°C) and as high as 95°F (35°C) for very short periods.
However, make sure not to expose it to extreme temperatures and fluctuations, or you’ll risk damaging it.
Maintenance and Care
Fertilizer
Feeding is needed only during the active growing season, which spans from spring to summer. During this time, you can fertilize it once a month to promote healthier growth. Use a balanced fertilizer with an NPK ratio of 10:10:10 or 19:19:19 and use accordingly.
In the meantime, make sure not to over-fertilize it because it leads to root burn and other damage.
Pest and Diseases
Although it is a tough and hardy houseplant, it can still fall prey to some pests like spider mites, mealybugs, and scales, as well as diseases like root rot. So, for such pests, you can always use neem oil spray or rubbing alcohol with a cotton swab.
Besides, to prevent root rot, you need to develop your watering skills and prevent overwatering. So, whenever in doubt, just stick your finger 1 inch deep in the soil before watering to check if it’s still moist. If it is, then do not pour more water.
There you go! All made simple and clear for your next gardening project. But keeping everything aside, we expect that you’ll let us know how this guide helped you in doing so! So, don’t forget to tell us.
