Sansevieria cylindrica 'Braid' Ø8.5cm

Sansevieria cylindrica 'Braid' is a remarkable snake plant with perfectly cylindrical, marbled grey-green leaves, braided while young into a living plait that stays that way forever. It is an iron-tough succulent that forgives forgotten waterings, tolerates darker corners and cleans the air even at night. A small graphic sculpture for a desk, bright shelf or living room. Easy to care for, with infrequent watering and a well-drained substrate. Care instructions The excellent news is that this plant asks to be left alone rather than pampered. The most common mistake is not neglect but excessive care - above all, watering too often. If you remember only one thing, remember that this succulent prefers to be dry rather than wet. Otherwise, it grows quietly and forgives you almost anything. Here is everything you need to know, gathered in one place: Light: it adapts to almost anything, from bright, indirect light to partial shade. In good light, the bands of the leaves are best defined and growth firmer; it also tolerates darker corners, where it grows more slowly. It can even take a few hours of gentle direct morning sun, but keep it from the harsh midday heat, which can bleach the tips. Temperature: it does well between 18 and 27 °C, which is exactly the comfort of a home. Being a warm-climate plant, it does not tolerate cold; keep it from temperatures below 12 °C and from cold window draughts in winter. Watering: little and seldom. Water thoroughly, then let the substrate dry out completely before the next watering - in practice, every 2-3 weeks in summer and much less often in winter, sometimes once a month. Pour the water onto the substrate, not into the heart of the braided tail, where standing water can trigger rot. Excess water is the only serious enemy of this plant. Humidity: it copes perfectly in the dry air of homes, with no extra care. It needs no misting or humidifier, which makes it ideal for those who want no fuss. Substrate: a very well-drained mix, for example cactus and succulent soil, possibly with extra perlite or coarse sand. The pot must have drainage holes; never standing water in the saucer. Feeding: very little. In the growing season, from spring to autumn, a diluted cactus fertiliser once every 6-8 weeks is more than enough. In winter, do not feed. Propagation: most reliably by dividing the rosettes at repotting, separating a side shoot with its roots. It can also be tried by leaf cuttings, but note that a cutting does not keep the braid - the plait is made again, by hand, on the young leaves of the new plant. If small problems appear, do not be discouraged - they are signals easy to read, not obstacles. Soft leaves, yellowing at the base, are the classic sign of overwatering: let the substrate dry out completely and water less. Shrivelled leaves with deep grooves call, on the contrary, for a little water - a rare case with this plant. Brown tips appear when the plant has sat too close to a heat source or been watered with very hard water; do not cut them back into the green flesh, only the dry part. All these adjustments are minor, and the plant responds patiently to them. Sansevieria cylindrica 'Braid' is, from start to finish, a plant for the busy, for beginners and for collectors alike - a choice that never disappoints and a natural step toward other spectacular varieties, such as the twisting Sansevieria cylindrica 'Spaghetti'. Specifications Pot diameter: 8.5 cm Total height (incl. pot): 30 cm