What Kind of Soil Do You Plant a Mother-in-Law's Tongue In?

Description

• Mother-in-law's tongue has a mature height of about 2 feet with a 1-foot spread. The succulent, dark green, sword-shaped foliage grows upright. Each leaf has horizontal stripes in a darker green shade and golden yellow margins. The plant produces new leaves from underground stems, gradually developing a thick, clumplike growth. The new leaves may be divided and replanted to propagate new plants.

Soil

• Plant mother-in-law's tongue in a well-draining, regular potting soil. Add a little sterilized garden soil to the potting soil in order to lend it a little heavier texture. The recommended soil pH for optimal growth is between 4.5 to 8.5, according University of Florida Extension. If you are growing the plant in a sandy soil, amend first with dolomite lime to improve pH and to increase magnesium and calcium content.

Cultural Requirements

• Place the plant in indirect, bright light from spring to fall. Move to an area with moderate light during winter. Mother-in-law's tongue prefers an average indoor temperature of 65 to 75 degrees F throughout the year and does not respond well to temperatures below 60 F. Water only enough to keep growing medium slightly moist, allowing soil to nearly dry before next watering.

Growing Tips

• Repot the plant every two to three years. Add some weight to the pot by adding small stones or pebbles at the bottom of the pot under the growing medium. This will help keep the vertically growing plants from toppling over from their own weight as they continue to gain height. The plants have an average lifespan of about 20 or more years if not divided. Plants that are divided every 5 to 10 years live indefinitely.