The mother-in-law's tongue plant is a plant Durable, very easy to care for and perfect for purifying the air in the rooms of our house. the one we spend the most time in. In addition, it is a plant that is perfect as decoration if we choose a nice pot that matches the room we are in or opt for a basket or planters made of natural fibers.
For all these reasons, mother-in-law's tongue is an interesting plant to know and take into account to decorate our house with greenery in an easy way. But in addition, this plant has some other advantages. medicinal use and air purifier which we are going to tell you about below.
The secrets of mother-in-law's tongue
Mother-in-law's tongue, also known as sansevieria or St. George's sword, is a popular indoor plant due to its great resistance, low maintenance and its benefits for our home. It is a species native to several regions of Africa and Asia. It is found naturally in tropical and subtropical areas, especially in countries like Nigeria or Brazil.
It is a very appreciated for its rusticity and for easily adapting to diverse environmental conditions. Something that has led her to expand throughout the world through gardening and indoor plants.
Caring for mother-in-law's tongue
When placing our mother-in-law's tongue plant at home, we must take into account certain factors such as light and temperature. As for light, the sansevieria prefers bright indirect light, but it can adapt to low light conditions. Direct sunlight does not benefit it because it can burn its leaves.
If we talk about temperature, having its origin in tropical or subtropical areas, it is a plant of preference between 15ºC and 30ºC, which has made it an indoor plant depending on the climate of the area in which we live.
One thing to keep in mind with this species, is that the Watering should be moderateIt is very sensitive to excess water, so it should only be watered when the soil is really dry. As a guide, it can be watered twice a month in summer and once a month in winter. It will be more grateful for the lack of excess watering.
Being so sensitive to irrigation, the soil or substrate where we have it must promote good drainage, we can add perlite or sand to promote drainage.
Propagation
It is a very simple plant to propagate by means of division of rhizomes or leaf cuttings. When a leaf grows in a position we don't like, we can cut it and directly stick that same leaf in the ground so that it produces roots and begins to grow.
All this makes it a plant perfect for beginners or for those looking to bring a bit of nature into their homes without having to dedicate much maintenance.
Medical uses
Mother-in-law's tongue has gained popularity due to its ease of maintenance and the decorative touch it offers to interiors. But, in addition, it is a plant that can give us quite a few benefits for both our body and the environment In which we live.
It is important to note that the uses we are going to mention below are traditional uses related to medicine. However, sansevieria It is not recognized as a medicinal plant in most medical contexts. What's more, some parts of the plant are toxic if ingested, so caution should be exercised when using them for medicinal purposes that go beyond air purification.
This toxicity that we are discussing is due to Its saponin content is toxic when ingested.Therefore, we must be careful about possible ingestion of the leaves by children or pets.
Anti-inflammatory properties
Some cultures used mother-in-law's tongue as a method of reducing inflammation in different conditions.
Antiseptic effects
Its leaves are perfect for effectively cleaning wounds when we want to resort to something natural or we don't have a first aid kit on hand.
Improves respiratory health
As it is a plant that helps purify the air in the place where it is found, it contributes to the well-being of those people who have respiratory problems. But, in general, it benefits the whole family thanks to its ability to filter air pollutants. For this reason, it is often recommended to put it in the rooms where we sleep or in the dining room, places where we spend time.
skin treatments
Traditionally, some people extracted the gel from its leaves as if it were aloe vera and used it to treat burns or skin irritations.
Decoration and Feng Shui
According to the decorative lines of Feng Shui, when using mother-in-law's tongue as a decorative element we must take into account several aspects that will enrich the atmosphere of our home.
Location
When To locate it we must use the corners or the entrance of our home to soften those angles on walls or furniture and, at the same time, ward off negative energy. It's also a good element to place in the center of our home to harmonize the energy.
Being a very versatile plant in sizes, we can play with different pots of different styles to adapt it to the spaces where we want to place the plants. To make the set more attractive, the ideal is to look for natural materials in earthy colors.
There are those who say that it is not good to place them in bedrooms because it is believed that it can cause insomnia or restlessness. However, their purifying properties are beneficial in these places, so we can try to Place it in your bedroom and see what changes you notice. before deciding to leave it there or place it somewhere else.
Positive energy of sansevieria
As it is an air purifying plant, it helps to promote positive energy in our home. It is an easy plant to maintain and if we manage to keep it healthy and well cared for symbolizes abundance and prosperity.
It is also said that it is a plant with the ability to Protect our home from negative energies and in that sense we can place it in areas where there may be more negative influence.
