If you’re a succulent lover, Sansevieria parva is a rare snake plant relative that’s you’ll want to add to your indoor houseplant collection or outdoor garden. It will thrive in both situations, so run out to the nursery and pick one up and let’s learn how to care for this gorgeous succulent species!
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Sansevieria Parva Overview
Commonly known as Kenya Hyacinth, it’s a popular species for containers or outdoor landscaping. But be aware – this plant is commonly confused with Sansevieria dooneri. Even your local nursery will confuse the two!
Sansevieria parva has thick, 8-16″ long dark green banded leaves growing out of small heavy rosettes. They send out long pendant runners called stolons that end in tiny plantlets, making it a great hanging basket houseplant. Small, pale pink to white flowers appear in the form of spikes and have a fragrant hyacinth scent at night.
Belonging to the Asparagaceae family, this is a flowering plant native to Madagascar, Kenya, Burundi, and South Asia.
Sansevieria Parva Care
Light & Temperature
They’re hardy and can survive in most lighting conditions, but prefer moderately bright, indirect light. If growing indoors, an ideal location is right next to a north-facing window or a bright sunny window with a sheer curtain.
They can grow in shade, but bright light helps bring out colors in the leaves, so avoid too much shade. If it’s too intense, it will cause the leaves to become weak and elongated and the edges to turn yellow.
They grow best at temperatures of 70 to 90 °F (21 to 32 °C). Temperatures lower than 50 °F (10 °C) will cause the plants to suffer and die back.
Water & Humidity
In general, Sansevierias don’t require a lot of water. Frequent watering will cause root rot and eventually kill the plants. They also grow best in moderate to low humidity conditions.
Water when the soil is fully dry. Let it drain through drainage holes, and discard the excess in the saucer. During winter, decrease your watering.
Soil
Sansevieria parva requires a well drained succulent mix with a slightly acidic to neutral pH of about 5-7.5.
Fertilizer
Like most snake plants, it doesn’t need much fertilizer. Over fertilization will cause the leaves to die. You can feed the plant with a succulent fertilizer once every 3 weeks during the summer when it starts to flower. Dilute the fertilizer to half its strength as labeled on the container.
Repotting
The tall foliage can cause your pot to be top heavy. The process is similar to repotting a snake plant, where you should use a wide but shallow pot. Repot once every 2-3 years to prevent it from getting too rootbound.
Propagation
Snake plant propagation can be done in a variety of methods. Try leaf cuttings for Sansevieria parva, as they will readily root if given good soil, warmth and bright, filtered light.
Watering and fertilizing lightly is also important when propagating. Make sure the soil is dry between individual waterings. When they are well rooted, you can move the young plants to a larger pot.
Pruning
Done mainly for cosmetic purposes. You can prune any dead leaves or overgrown stems to make the plant bushier and enhance its aesthetic appeal.
Growing Problems
Keep at temperatures above 50 °F to avoid cold damage. The water used for irrigating the plants should also not be too cold. Cold stressed leaves develop whitish, water-soaked spots and then fall off.
Pests
Sansevieria parva is most likely to get attacked by vine weevils grubs, mealy bugs and spider mites but you can control these attacks with good pest management techniques.
Diseases
They mostly suffer from fungal infections as a result of root rot. These can be treated using fungicides and making sure not to overwater.
Q. Is Kenya Hyacinth a flowering plant?
A. Yes, it’s a flowering plant. The usual blooming period is from late winter to late spring.
