Sansevieria cylindrica ‘Starfish’ is a succulent plant with thin, fat, fleshy cylindrical leaves that taper to a tip. The leaves of this snake plant cultivar are grayish-green, with darker green lines surrounding them.
The common name for this cultivar of Sansevieria is cylindrical snake plant, and it goes by that name as well. Sansevieria starfish plants are easy-care succulents that need little water and indirect sunlight. This article shows how to care for starfish snake plants at home and grows them successfully.
How to Care for Sansevieria Starfish (Starfish Snake Plant)
Indoors, Sansevieria starfish succulents grow in well-draining sandy soil in bright indirect light. Just when the potting material is dry, cylindrical snake plants need water. Sansevieria starfish plants, like most succulent plants, don’t need additional indoor humidity. Fertilize monthly throughout the growing season and grow in average room temperatures.
What is a Starfish Sansevieria (Sansevieria cylindrica ‘Boncel’)?
The cultivar sansevieria starfish (Sansevieria cylindrica ‘Boncel’) is a cylindrical snake plant that grows to be about a meter long. The fat, cylinder-shaped leaves of this succulent fan out in a star shape and are compact. The plant resembles a starfish that has been planted halfway in the ground, hence the name sansevieria (sans-sev-uh-REE-uh).
Sansevieria cylindrica ‘Boncel’ is the entire botanical name of a starfish. We’ll call this star-shaped cylindrical succulent a starfish sansevieria for the purposes of simplicity.
What is Sansevieria ‘Boncellensis’ (Compact Starfish Sansevieria)
The starfish sansevieria, Sansevieria cylindrica ‘Boncellensis,’ is a miniature version of the plant. Sansevieria, a dwarf starfish, grows no taller than 3 inches (7.5 cm). The stumpy, lime-green cylindrical leaves of the small, compact sansevieria have deeper green lines.
Sansevieria succulents, like starfish, must be cared for similarly. The cylindrical snake plant (Sansevieria cylindrica) and its cultivar, starfish sansevieria, have a simple description that explains their differences.
Sansevieria Cylindrica (Cylindrical Snake Plant) Facts
Cylindrical snake plants are succulents with long fleshy, tubular leaves that are also known as African spear plants. The greenish-gray color of the rod-like succulent leaves contrasts with the darker stripes that wrap around the cylinder leaves. Up to 7 feet (2 meters) tall, the Sansevieria cylindrica plant develops tube-shaped leaves.
African spear plant, cylindrical snake plant, snake cactus plant, and spear sansevieria are all names for Sansevieria cylindrica succulents. Dracaena angolensis is the scientific name given to the plant by modern botanical classifications. Angola is home to these snake plants and spear sansevierias.
Cylindrical Snake Plant Vs. Starfish Sansevieria
The size and growth habit of the cylindrical snake plant and the starfish sansevieria are the two main differences. The fan form and short, fat pointed cylinder leaves are two unique characteristics of starfish sansevieria plants. A compact cultivar of starfish sansevieria A basal rosette forms a star shape with stiff, fat cylindrical leaves that grow from it. Only 20 inches (50 cm) long, plump, fleshy cylindrical leaves grow. The leaf patterns on starfish sansevieria plants are comparable to those of a bigger cylindrical snake.
Flowering succulents include all sorts of cylindrical snake plants, including starfish sansevieria. Sansevierias starfish produce a 3-foot-long (1-meter) flowering stalk under ideal growing conditions. Flowers grow horizontally to the stem and are tiny tubular pinkish-white blooms.
How to Care for Sansevieria Starfish (Sansevieria Cylindrica ‘Boncel’)
Starfish sansevieria is a simple-to-care-for indoor plant, much like other succulent species. All you need to do is water the sansevieria starfish occasionally and keep it out of the direct sun, and it will grow in a small pot with sandy soil. Starfish sansevieria plants need special care, and here are step-by-step instructions for doing so.
Starfish Sansevieria Light Requirements
Sansevieria starfish plants prefer bright, well-lit rooms. Compact spear sansevierias prefer to flourish on a bright windowsill. To protect the fleshy succulent from the sun’s direct rays, they should be placed near a south-facing window with a sheer curtain.
The starfish sansevieria cultivars thrive in partial or full shade, despite the fact that sansevierias are desert plants. The starfish plant, on the other hand, may grow leggy or lose its hue if it isn’t exposed to light for long enough. Although sansevieria starfish aren’t particularly quick to grow, they’ll slow even more in the dark. Place the starfish snake plant in bright, indirect light if it doesn’t seem to be growing well.
The Best Soil for Growing Starfish Snake Plant
A loamy pottatg mix with excellent drainage is the best soil for starfish sansevierias. Two parts regular potting soil, one part perlite, and one part coarse horticultural sand should be mixed together to form a potting mix. A potting mix for succulent plants is ideal potting medium.
Water drains quickly and the soil should be aerated to dry fast. Organic matter, such as peat moss, and inorganic amendments are included in the succulent soil mix. For retaining some moisture, peat moss is useful. To ensure adequate drainage, you’ll need to add soil amendments such as coarse sand, chicken grit, aquarium gravel, or perlite.
Starfish sansevierias can’t endure soggy, moist soil, just like other succulents. If the potting medium is continually wet, the shallow root system quickly starts to rot and decay. The root rot kills the Sansevieria cylindrica ‘Boncel’ because it deprives it of essential nutrients.
How to Water Sansevieria Starfish
Only when the soil dries out can water starfish sansevieria plants grow. Water the succulents every week or two in the summer. Water starfish sansevieria is rarely seen during the winter, maybe every month or so. You don’t overwater the drought-tolerant plant by waiting for the potting mix to dry before watering it.
Before watering a sansevieria starfish, make sure the soil is not too dry by poking your finger in it. Give the soil a thorough drenching with room-temperature water if the growing medium is bone dry. Before returning the succulent to a sunny location, allow all the excess water to drip out.
The best way to care for starfish succulents is to use the “drench and dry” watering method. Roots are adequately hydrated because of deep root hydration. You help simulate the succulent’s natural growing environment in hot, dry regions by allowing the soil to become dry.
Remember that starfish sansevieria plants maintain moisture well thanks to their thick cylindrical leaves. As a result, the plants can go many weeks without water. Starfish sansevierias should receive less care than they should receive.
Temperature Requirements for Healthy Starfish Sansevieria Growth
In hot, dry environments, starfish sansevierias thrive. The good news is that growing spear sansevierias indoors is possible with average room temperatures. As long as you protect the star-shaped succulent from temperature extremes, an ideal temperature range is 60°F to 80°F (15°C – 26°C). Starfish sansevierias need a minimum temperature of 50°F (10°C). Sansevieria starfish thrive in most cases when their environment is comfortable.
Caring for cylindrical snake plants involves preventing temperature fluctuations from harming them. Fan snake plants, for example, might be damaged by drafts from open windows or air-conditioning currents. A sansevieria starfish may wilt from the heat if it sits near a hot radiator during the winter.
In USDA zones 10 and 11, Sansevieria cylindrical starfish plants grow. Make sure the temperature doesn’t drop below 50°F (10°C) when growing outdoors. Either way, until the weather warms the following spring, bring the containers inside during the winter.
Sansevieria Cylindrica Care: Humidity
Low humidity is required for starfish succulents to flourish. For optimum development, species of plants in the genus Sansevieria require dry air and good aeration. You don’t have to be concerned about indoor humidity because household air is usually dry. If you water it properly, the fleshy fan-shaped succulent will get enough moisture.
How to Fertilize Sansevieria Starfish
Starfish snake plants are not especially hungry. Plants prefer sandy soil that lacks nutrients. Monthly fertilization with a succulent fertilizer diluted to half-strength can help these spear sansevierias flourish. Only feed starfish sansevieria succulents during the growing season and don’t feed them throughout the winter.
Starfish spear plants grow at a leisurely pace, as do other succulent kinds. As a result, over-fertilizing the plants might cause mineral salts to buildup, which is equivalent to overwatering. Pick a suitable organic houseplant fertilizer if you decide to offer extra nutrients. Your starfish snake plant, on the other hand, may flourish without additional feeding if you take care of it.
Repotting Sansevieria Starfish
Repotting every other year or so is all that is required of starfish sansevieria plants. Sansevieria species are slow-growing succulents that thrive when they are rootbound. Always pick a pot one or two sizes bigger than the existing one when repotting a cylindrical snake plant.
Sansevieria starfish plants prefer terracotta pots over other types of pots. These succulents may become top-heavy because of their huge, fat cylinder leaves and fan shape. As a result, a clay pot will help to steady the base. Moreover, since the soil dries faster in clay pots, most succulent species flourish.
Remove the fleshy plant from the existing container before repotting a starfish succulent. Inspect the roots for evidence of rotting and remove any that you find. Plant the starfish sansevieria in a new, bigger pot that has been half-filled with a suitable moist potting soil.
Fill in the remaining space with soil and press down to secure the plant. Before watering a sansevieria starfish, allow the soil to dry out after repotting. The freshly potted starfish snake plant has enough time to acclimate. You may then proceed to care for the sansevieria starfish as usual.
How to Propagate Starfish Sansevieria
The roots of the Sansevieria starfish, known as rhizomes, are used to propagate it. Littleer ‘baby’ plants known as pups develop at the plant’s base as starfish snake plants grow. Grow the pups in a separate pot and you’ll have everything you need to do. Rooting a cut leaf is another way to spread Sansevieria cylindrica.
A blade should be cut from the base of the plant. For a few days to allow the wound to heal or form a callus, lay the cylindrical leaf on a paper towel. Later, just place the severed leaf in a 2″ to 3″ (5 – 7.5 cm) deep layer of moist cactus soil. Allow the cutting to develop roots by keeping the soil moist for a few weeks.
Pruning African Spear Plant
Cylindrical snake plants do not need to be trimmed often. The fan-shaped, thick fleshy leaves of the succulents make them easy to care for and make them attractive ornamental houseplants. Sansevieria starfish can only be pruned if the plant’s yellow leaves are removed or propagated.
Pests Affecting Starfish Sansevieria Growth
Vine weevils and mealybugs are common houseplant pests that affect sansevieria starfish succulents. Vine weevils are tiny beetles that feed on roots and leaves of indoor and outdoor plants. Mealybugs, which leave a white cotton wool-like hairy substance on the leaves of starfish snake plants, appear like little white bugs.
For starfish succulents to thrive, getting rid of houseplant pests is critical. Unfortunately, bugs can be eradicated from your plants without the use of harmful pesticides or chemicals. Even though they don’t contain harmful chemicals, many natural and organic insecticides are effective against plant pests.
Vine weevils or mealybugs can be gotten rid of using neem oil. Add 2 teaspoons of this to your mixture. 1 tsp. of organic neem oil Using a spray bottle, mix one quart (1 liter) of warm water with liquid dish soap. To exterminate weevils or mealybugs, spray your sansevieria liberally with the anti-bug solution. To keep houseplant pests at bay for good, use the neem oil solution once a week.
You may apply neem oil natural pesticide to the soil if you believe vine weevils have infested the area. To eliminate any weevil grubs that may be living in the soil, apply neem oil solution instead of water.
Diseases Affecting Sansevieria Starfish Growth
Sansevieria starfish succulents are disease-free. Fungal infections caused by root rot are the most frequent sansevieria diseases. Roots that begin to deteriorate are normally caused by underwatering sansevierias. Only water the plant when the soil is completely dry to avoid snake plant disease.
Is Starfish Sansevieria Poisonous?
Cats and dogs should not eat Sansevieria starfish plants. Saponins are found in plants from the Agavaceae family, according to the ASPCA. Ingesting sansevieria leaves in dogs and cats may cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
FAQs About Sansevieria Starfish Care
Easy-care houseplants include starfish sansevieria and African spear plants. Their growth, on the other hand, can be influenced by certain factors.
Why is my snake plant Sansevieria cylindrica dying?
The most frequent cause of death for Sansevieria cylindrica starfish plants is overwatering. The thick tubular leaves droop and wilt because they are sitting in soggy soil. Hold off watering until the soil dries out to revive a dying starfish sansevieria. You may, however, need to replace the potting soil and cut away any dead or rotting roots before you can repot the succulent. It may be too late to save the fan snake plant if root damage is severe.
Colder temperatures and too much soil moisture can lead to fungal infections in the winter. Only water a sansevieria starfish plant when the soil is completely dry during the winter, when growth is dormant. Watered the plant as little as possible every other month might be required.
Why is my sansevieria starfish leggy?
Plants that don’t receive enough sunlight turn leggy and develop starfish sansevieria. Succulents need some light to thrive, however they can tolerate shade. Move your starfish succulent to a more sunny area if it has developed leggy.
My starfish sansevieria has curling leaves, how can I stop it?
If the leaves of your sansevieria starfish start to curl, it may be indicative of a severe lack of water. Starfish snake plants are drought-tolerant, but they require moisture to thrive. Water sansevieria plants are often watered and dried using this method in the summer.