Just repotted a VERY old mother-in-law tongue into a slightly larger

Question

pot. It was VERY, VERY root-bound and although it had some new growth, other parts were looking pitiful. For soil, I used potting mix, Perlite, and peat moss. I think I might have made a mistake with the peat moss. That stuff repels water instead of letting it absorb. Why is it ever used? In the past, i've bought a potting mixture of some kind that when the plant is watered, it greedily takes in the water. Maybe my bag of potting mix IS that mixture and I should have used it without the additions. Your ideas? Should I pot the plant again, and if so, using what?

The Garden Frog with C Renee · Answer

You could have just used potting mix and you may want to just repot in that again. These plants are are virtually kill proof. Even though it was rootbound, you need not worry about putting in a pot much larger. Whenever I go up I usually go no more than 2'. How long have you had it?

Kay Carroll · Answer

@Louise 
I just repot mine in whatever size larger pot I have. I have some that are 44 years old!! Lots of new ones given away from the original plant!

Maria Maxey · Answer

They don't care what kind of dirt they grow like crazy.They took over almost half of the gardens .The more we pull out and the more still there.WE can't give them away.SUNNY FLORIDA GIRL.DAVENPORT FLORIDA.ANYIDEASHOW TO GET RID OF THEM?

Louise · Answer

It and other sanseveria I have are over 30 yrs old. :-) Some were mine to begin with and others were my mother's and I took them when she died. I've never had a bit of problem with them until last year. The mother-in-law's tongues did fine until I brought them inside for the winter and during the summer, the ones that are short and squatty had problems. I think they got too much water with all the rain we had. I finally put those under the table on the deck to keep all that rain out of them.

Douglas Hunt · Answer

About the only thing you have to worry about with sanseverias is that they aren't too wet, so as long as what they are planted in is well-draining they should be fine. Since peat helps retain moisture (if you soak it long for to actually get wet), there really was no need to add it.

Sistah Sunshine · Answer

I use peat moss to losen heavy soil and promote drainage mostly in the garden. Potting mixes are made just for that. No need to add anything to it.

Louise · Answer

I think I'll repot it again and leave out the peat. Just want to make sure they thrive.

Cathy W · Answer

Louise & Cp C, I know the feeling, a jungle-size philodendron came my way and took over the smaller dining room. Last summer, it stayed out on the covered deck and loved it. However, it's gawd-awful BIG inside. My sister WILL get one of the 3 plants I plan to separate it into. Thanks Cp C for the root advice! It is 50-60 yrs old. (Oh, the plants we inherit!!!)

Liliana Wells · Answer

Thank you ladies and Douglas for the advice. It comes at just the right time. I have two mother-in-law plants that I bought last year and are root bound. They look like they need to be separated. Now I know what to do.

Susan Cryor · Answer

I let my house plants get VERY dry, before watering them. Then let them sit in water for an hour. No problems most come from overwatering. And I have had many of them for over 37 years. I repot and when I do, I cut off some of the roots from the bottom as in bonsai resorted to that because I became limited to finding pots large enough. I have a mimosa tree, in barrel cut in half that is 37 years old.....an inside plant

Dee · Answer

Sanseveria's actually like to be a bit root-bound. It's best to just go up a size or two when repotting. My original plant was  a start from my grandmother's-over 50 yrs old at this point. I also have a wax plant that came from a plant that's at least 75 yrs old. Funny how we get emotionally attached to a plant!

Susie · Answer

just wondering if you have ever seen your plant bloom? Ran across this blooming one in the Philippines

Sherrie S · Answer

Yes, I had plants that were in the house for over 10 years. Put them outside and the flowered. I had to look it up because I never saw a flower before @Susie

Pat Cobb · Answer

We moved in our new home about 10 yrs ago and a neighbor bought me some of these plants and they are impossible to kill. Don't worry about it, just take it out of the pot and share it with friends, Put what you would like to have back in the pot or if you don't want to give any away just put in a bigger pot. Because of this kind act of my neighbor, I am now a house plant nut. Good luck.

Bonny McDaniel · Answer

I found one of these at an estate yard sale...it was fantastic and the deceased owner had painted a fabulous scene on the pot. I don't know what I did wrong, but the plant eventually fell over and looked like it had died. I trimmed the top, stuck it into another pot and stuck a couple of the loose leaves in my window sill water vessel where I root cuttings. After a few weeks, the bottom of the 'leaf' was putting out roots so, now, I have taken all the pieces and put them back in the fabulous pot and they are doing fine. I used a basic potting mix and I make sure I don't water them too much but know they need some water regularly like once a week.

Dianna · Answer

I keep mine in the house and put them outside during the summer months (I live near Buffalo)I was watering them from the top and they didn't look good. So I started watering them from the bottom now it grows like crazy. I put string around them to keep them straight up. I had some that snapped and I put them in a glass with some water on the window sill and sure enough it grew roots. To answer your question, I would redo with regular potting soil. Good Luck!

Tina Miller · Answer

I have a friend who has a mother in law plant and it bloomed. She says it was due to the fact it was so root bound. I have owned one of those plants for years and never had it bloom. The bloom is beautiful - wish I would have taken a picture.

Susan B · Answer

mine did too. outside in summer. i thought at 1st there was another plant in pot mix. but no, it does flower. and actually really pretty too. hasnt done since and that was 4 yrs ago.

Rebecca B · Answer

I have had several of mine for over 35 years. When they bloom the fragrance is heavenly! The flowers are not what you would call spectacular but the fragrance makes up for what they lack in blooms. I have found that my plants like a bit of crowding of their roots and drier soil than most. Mine do excellent in sandy soil. Two of my plants thrive in 85% sand and the rest of the soil is compost.

Sherrie S · Answer

This is the photo I took when plant just started blooming - just before a short freeze. In Florida they like shade & sand.

Arletta · Answer

I have some plants that are over 40 years old. I love their blooms and they smell lovely. I use plain old garden soil, water from the top and just let them be. I actually put some in a flower bed and they are growing like crazy. They have pretty much taken over the bed. And, they have bloomed as well. Enjoy yours, and, I would replant them without the peat moss. They are really hardy, so, don't kill them with kindness. If you want to divide them, just take them out of the pot and cut them apart with a sharp knife. You can then have more pots. Good luck and Happy Gardening!

Sherrie S · Answer

@Arletta  the stuff on the ground is not peat moss. I have a 60 ft or taller Bald Cypress that is a deciduous tree that drops all its needles on the ground in winter. Many plants grow well under it because it provides a lot of shade. Happy Gardening to you, too.

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