How to Grow Whale Fin Snake Plant, According to a Houseplant Pro

Whale fin snake plant (Dracaena masoniana) is a type of snake plant known for its wide, paddle-like leaves that somewhat resemble the fins of a whale in shape.

Whale Fin Snake Plant Care

• Place whale fin snake plant in a spot with bright, indirect light.
• Plant this snake plant in a loose, well-drained soil.
• Water your whale fin snake plant when the soil has completely dried out.
• Feed this plant with a balanced houseplant fertilizer once a year.

Light

Whale fin snake plant grows best with plenty of bright, indirect light, but it can also adapt to medium-light conditions.

This plant can tolerate a few hours of morning sunlight from an east-facing window, but frequent exposure to strong direct sunlight can burn the leaves and impact growth.

Soil

Pot your whale fin snake plant in a loose, well-drained potting mix with plenty of perlite or coarse sand for drainage. A mix designed for cacti and succulents is often a good choice.

You can make your own snake plant mix by combining two parts perlite or coarse sand, one part standard potting mix, and one part coconut coir or peat moss.

Water

Like other snake plants, whale fin snake plant is relatively drought tolerant. Water this plant only when the soil has completely dried out.

Rather than watering on a regular schedule, check your plant's soil moisture regularly to know the best time to water it. Overly wet, soggy soil can cause root rot and kill the plant.

Temperature and Humidity

Whale fin snake plant prefers warm temperatures between around 70 and 90 °F and humidity around 50 percent, but they're adaptable to 30 percent humidity.

They're less tolerant of cold, and exposure to cold drafts or temperatures below 55 °F can severely damage or kill the plant.

Fertilizer

Whale fin snake plant isn't a heavy feeder, so you only need to fertilize it once, at the start of the growing season in the springtime. Use a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer diluted to half strength to avoid overfertilizing.

Pruning

There's no need to prune your whale fin snake plant regularly, but you'll want to remove dead or damaged leaves as they appear.

Use clean, sharp scissors or pruners to cut them off at the base of the plant. If the plant is growing too tall for your space, you can remove the tallest leaves, taking care not to remove more than 30 percent of the foliage at once.

This is best done in spring when the plant is in active growth.

Propagating Whale Fin Snake Plant

Whale fin snake plant is easy to propagate using leaf cuttings or by division. You'll have the best chance of success during the spring and summer. Here are two ways to propagate whale fin snake plant.

How to Propagate Whale Fin Snake Plant With Leaf Cuttings

This method takes longer than division, but it's quite easy to do. Before you begin, gather the mother plant, a clear glass or jar, and a sterilized cutting tool.

1. Choose a healthy, mature leaf on the mother plant and cut it off at the soil line.
2. Put the leaf in the jar and add water so that the cut end is submerged.
3. Put the cutting in a warm place with bright, indirect light. Change out the water every few weeks or if you see it begin to turn green.
4. After anywhere between a few weeks and a few months, you'll see little white roots growing from the cut end of the leaf. When the roots are at least an inch long, you can pot up the cutting and care for it as usual.

How to Propagate Whale Fin Snake Plant by Division

To divide whale fin snake plant, you'll need a healthy, mature mother plant with several clumps of leaves that each have their own root system. You'll also need sterilized pruners, small plant pots, fresh potting mix, and water.

1. Remove the mother plant from its container and examine the root ball. Use your fingers to loosen the soil around the plant's roots.
2. Use your cutting tool to cut apart the plant's root system, making sure that the clumps you make have at least three leaves with roots connected.
3. Fill the plant pots halfway with fresh soil. Plant each division in its own pot, add potting mix so that the soil line hits the same point on the division as on the mother plant, and pat each one into place.
4. Water the divisions well and put them in a warm place with bright, indirect light. Keep the soil a little moister than usual. When you see new growth, the divisions have been established and can be cared for as usual.

Potting and Repotting Whale Fin Snake Plant

Whale fin snake plants don't mind being a little rootbound. Plan to repot your snake plant every three years or when the plant's roots are filling the soil surface and growth has stopped or slowed.

It's best to repot in springtime. Use a pot that's one or two inches larger in diameter than the previous pot. Terracotta is ideal for whale fin snake plants since it wicks away excess moisture.

Common Pests & Plant Diseases

Whale fin snake plants can be susceptible to common houseplant pests like spider mites and mealybugs.

In terms of diseases, this plant is relatively resistant, although overly moist soils can lead to root rot, a fungal issue.

How to Get Whale Fin Snake Plant to Bloom

Whale fin snake plant is grown for its attractive, shapely foliage rather than for its flowers, but it is possible for mature snake plants to bloom with the right care and conditions.

However, indoor plants rarely receive sufficient light and humidity to flower. When conditions are right, small, white, tube-shaped blooms with a pleasant aroma will appear on a flower stalk from the center of the plant.

Common Problems With Whale Fin Snake Plant

Curling Leaves

Curling leaves on a whale fin snake plant can indicate that the plant isn't getting enough moisture. Check the soil—if it's bone-dry and it's been a long time since you watered, that's likely the reason. Water the plant deeply to revive it, and water just after the soil has fully dried out to avoid this in the future.

Leaves Turning Yellow

Yellowing leaves are the first sign that your plant is getting too much water. Stop watering and allow the soil to dry out completely before watering again. Consider repotting your plant with a fast-draining cactus mix. Cut back any yellowed leaves.

Brown Spots on Leaves

Dry, light-brown, or tan spots on leaves can be a sign of sunburn, especially if your plant is exposed to direct sunlight for long periods.

Move your plant further from the light source so that it only receives indirect light. Dark brown spots could be a sign of advanced root rot due to overly wet soil. Affected leaves should be removed at the base of the plant.

From: thespruce