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Sansevieria Moonshine plant profile and care guide

The Sansevieria Moonshine plant is a large silver leafed plant with gorgeous upright broad leaves. This plant is fairly simple to take care of and makes a stunning statement piece.

This plant is native to West Africa where the climate is mostly hot and dry for a good part of the year with occasional monsoon rainfalls. As a result, the Moonshine snake plant can survive substantial periods of drought with no problems.

In plant care, it is best to learn about the climate and growing conditions that your plant is native to. If you can mimic the natural environment, your plant will be happiest.

Most snake plants are happiest in a warm and dry environment where they can fully dry out between waterings.

moonshine snake plant
Sansevieria moonshine

One of the most common issues with snake plants is overwatering. It goes against our nature as plant parents to let our plants sit in the corner with no water. However, this plant will be happiest when it is allowed to fully dry out. I let my snake plant go for a month or so. When I do water it, I always fully saturate the soil, this mimics the “Monsoon” like rains that they are used to.

If your snake plant has yellowing leaves, check the roots for root rot. This is a common occurrence with this plant. Make sure that your plant is potted in a pot with a drainage hole and a quick draining light substrate that does not hold excess water. Water left to sit around the roots will quickly kill the Sansevieria Moonshine.

More Drought Resistant Plants:

The moonshine snake plant is not a particularly rare plant. It can be hard to find in local nurseries or greenhouses though. I have found that it is easier to search online for this plant. Etsy is a good resource for finding more uncommon houseplants.

Purchase the Sansevieria Moonshine from Etsy

sansevieria moonshine plant

Another great feature about the Snake Plant is its ability to filter air. NASA rated the Snake Plant as one of the top air filtering plants. It filters out a number of toxic chemicals from the air including formaldehyde, xylene, benzene, toluene, and trichloroethylene.

The snake plant has the unique ability to convert Carbon Dioxide (CO2) into pure oxygen at night. This makes it a wonderful choice for bedrooms, and it is a great decor piece.

We have compiled an easy to read printable care guide for this plant.

Yield: Printable Care Guide

Sansevieria Moonshine Plant Care Guide

moonshine snake plant

Sansevieria Moonshine snake plant is commonly known as the Silver Moonshine, Moonlight snake plant, and silver snake plant.

This plant has long broad leaves that are silvery and lighter in color. The snake plant is an easy to care for plant that can survive in lower light levels and infrequent watering.

This Care Guide will teach you how to keep this houseplant happy all through the year.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Difficulty easy

Tools

  • Pot (ceramic, plastic, or terra cotta)
  • Potting medium (perlite, potting mix, and orchid bark)
  • Scissors
  • Rubbing Alcohol

Instructions

Soil Preference:

  1. Sansevieria plants prefer well draining substrates. The roots will rot quickly if they sit in moist soil.
  2. A mix of potting mix, perlite and orchid bark will keep the roots happiest.aroid soil mix
  3. Make sure your pot has drainage at the bottom. Do not use a pot with no drainage hole for this plant.
  4. A heavy soil potting mix is not recommended for snake plants.

Pot Size and Type:

  1. The Sansevieria plant can grow in many different kinds of pots, I like to use a terra cotta pot because it helps wick away excess moisture from the roots.
  2. Repot every second year or when roots come out the drainage holes on the pot bottom To the next pot size up. Don't jump to a huge pot from a small one. Just go to the next size up pot.

Lighting:

  1. The sansevieria moonshine plant will grow faster in bright indirect light. It will also grow just fine in lower light conditions, but the growth will be slower.
  2. If this plant is kept in lower light, the leaves may turn a darker green. If you want to maintain the beautiful light silver color, keep it in a brighter area.
  3. Some filtered light may be apprecieated
  4. Make sure the moonshine snake plant isnt sitting in constant direct sunlight, the leaves can get burnt.

Watering:

  1. Water your plant when the soil is dry at least 50% down. These plants are typically drought resistant and can withstand longer periods of dryness compared to other houseplants.
  2. Watering is best done on a regular schedule so the plant is not over or under watered. Both can cause stress on the plant.
  3. The recommendation for watering is every 2-8 weeks.
  4. In dormant winter months reduce watering to when the soil is dry.
  5. Never let this plant get wet feet. Overwatering can cause root rot and attract fungus gnats to your plant.

How to Fertilize:

  1. Apply a good quality fertilizer (linked in materials) monthly through Spring and summer.
  2. Decrease feedings by late Fall and allow the Snake plant to rest through the winter months.

Temperature:

  1. The moonshine snake plant will do best in temperatures between 55-85 degrees F.

Pests:

  1. This plant is a hardy resilient plant. However all plants can get attacked by pests.
  2. Stress by longterm overwatering, poor light, extreme temperatures and soil conditions are contributors to plant stress..
  3. Spider mites, mealy bugs, scale, thrips and whitefly are the most common houseplant pests you will see.
  4. Read our post on How to get rid of aphids and other pests with our homemade pesticide soap recipe or neems oil.
  5. To minimize the possibility of pests be sure to check all nursery plants before bringing them home.
  6. Quarantine all new plants until you are sure no pests live in them.

How to Propagate:

  1. Cut leaf near the bottom using sterile scissors
  2. Cut leaf into 3 inch sections
  3. Place in water cut side down or place in soil
  4. After several weeks roots will grow
  5. Plant in soil when roots are 2-3 inches long

Notes

The Sansevieria Moonshine Snake Plant is a rewarding and perfect plant for a beginner. This plant will grow tall and beautiful with just a little bit of care.

This is a great plant for beginner plant parents! Snake plants are among the easiest plants to care for and make great gifts for someone who’s interested in houseplants.

This plant is mildly toxic to both humans and pets if ingested. It is best to keep this plant away from children and pets.

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caring for your sansevieria moonshine plant-pin image
The Sansevieria Moonshine plant is a large silver leafed plant with gorgeous upright broad leaves. This plant is fairly simple to take care of and makes a stunning statement piece.

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