What Is The Whale Fin Sansevieria? A Comprehensive Guide

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Whale Fin Sansevieria is a tropical, low-maintenance plant that will enhance any indoor garden. The community of plant collectors adores this houseplant due to its unique appearance and texture.

This post will provide you with the most vital information you’ll need to successfully care for a Whale Fin Sansevieria!

If you choose to purchase one for yourself, there are a few viable options to consider. Continue reading to learn more about the intriguing characteristics of this Dracaena.

What Is Whale Fin Sansevieria?

The Whale Fin Sansevieria is also known as Mason’s Congo Sansevieria, Sansevieria Masoniana, and by its scientific name, Dracaena Masoniana. It is a perennial well-known for its robust and prominent leaves. This tropical plant from the Asparagaceae family has leaves fashioned like forest-green paddles.

While the remainder of this article concentrates on indoor cultivation, this Dracaena may be grown outdoors in zones 9 to 11.

Origin And Family

Whale Fin Snake Plant originates from the Dracaena genus, part of the Asparagaceae family. It has been reclassified from what used to be the genus Sansevieria in 2017. The forests of Congo are home to this plant. Whale Fin Snake Plant has become a popular indoor plant in recent years, thriving in most households that give it plenty of water.

Where To Buy

Local nurseries are likely to carry Sansevieria Whale Fin without issue. Etsy is a fantastic online alternative that I enjoy utilizing.

Whale Fin Sansevieria is reasonably priced, ranging from $20 for small cuttings to $40 for more extensive or more mature plants.

Whale Fin Sansevieria Plant Size

This rhizomatous perennial is considered the king of Sansevierias because of its gigantic leaves that reach 1-2 feet and a width of 4-5 inches. This Whale Fin plant is a slow grower. Place it near a window facing east or west for optimal plant development.

Outdoors it’s known to reach 2-4 feet in height and spread up to 10 inches.

Whale Fin Sansevieria Care Needs

When properly cared for, your Whale Fin Sansevieria will thrive like any other houseplant. With its robust and prominent leaves, this plant adores water and requires dry soil year-round.

Most gardeners should water their Dracaena when the top 2 inches of soil are dry. Allow ample water time to drain via the pot’s drainage hole. This fascinating plant requires intense indirect light to grow. These plants are highly drought-tolerant and will continue to thrive even with some neglect.

Consult our detailed care guide for more specific recommendations!

Care Difficulty

This Mason’s Congo Sansevieria is typically low maintenance, and the soil’s ability to drain and the amount of light are the most significant factors for this beauty.

Growth Rate

The Dracaena Masoniana reaches a height of 1-2 feet when grown inside a home. This plant will usually produce more actively during spring and summer.

Most Dracaena species, including the Whale Fin, are known to grow slowly, but this plant is even slower than its brothers.

Look tweeps, my whale fin Sansevieria has a baby!!! pic.twitter.com/2hvb37X3bU

— Dr Desirée Kozlowski (@Pleasure_Lab) April 6, 2021

Potting

Choose a ceramic or terracotta container of moderate size for your planting needs. This plant develops astonishingly and may become top-heavy as it matures. A significant requirement is that the pot has at least one drainage hole for the plant to drain. Long-term exposure of your Whale Fin Snake Plant to soggy soil could be fatal.

Repotting

Moving your Whale Fin Sansevieria to a larger container gives its roots more room to grow. When it is time to repot a plant, you will often observe roots growing through the drainage holes.

This tropical plant should often be repotted every year or two. When filling the new pot, replacing the old, nutrient-deficient soil with a fresh batch of cactus and citrus potting soil is advisable.

Soil

Mason’s Congo Sansevieria is a low-maintenance plant that requires cactus and citrus potting soil or succulent potting mix to thrive. If you intend to create your own soil mixture, we suggest including gravel, sand, pumice, and perlite.

Your Sansevieria plants will appreciate the soil being kept dry at all times. Nonetheless, good drainage and aeration are essential requirements for all soil types.

Here are some potting mixes we recommend:

pH

Dracaena Masoniana requires a soil pH of approximately 5.5-7.5, which is alkaline to neutral. If you are concerned about soil acidity, you can purchase a simple pH testing kit online and do a soil analysis.

If you are concerned that the pH level is excessively high, sulfur or aluminum sulfate can be used to rectify it.

In the interim, you can modify your soil’s pH using baking soda, calcitic or dolomitic lime, or wood ash if it is too low.

Water

When watering Whale Fin Snake Plant, you should aim for dry soil. Insert your finger into the pot or purchase a soil moisture meter to measure soil moisture. Dracaenas should be watered until the top two inches of soil are completely dry.

One of the most prevalent causes of indoor plant death is overwatering. When in doubt, remember that it is safer to submerge the Whale Fin Snake Plant than to overwater it. Also, ensure you have soil that drains quickly and a container with drainage holes to prevent excessive water accumulation.

Light

Whale Fin Sansevieria prefers bright indirect light for approximately 6-8 hours daily. Keep in mind that you’re attempting to replicate how it grows in the forests of Congo. In most cases, placing this plant near an east or west-facing window works fine.

When its leaves turn yellow, you’ll know your Whale Fin Sansevieria is getting too bright light. Conversely, if its leaves lose their sheen and grow even slower, the plant needs more light. Avoid putting your Whale Fin Sansevieria in direct sunlight, as this could severely damage or even kill it.

Fertilizer

The Mason’s Congo Sansevieria’s growing season is in the spring and summer. During this time, fertilize your plant once a month using a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer. Sansevierias are light feeders, so when this plant’s development naturally slows in the colder seasons, you don’t need to fertilize.

Propagating Whale Fin Sansevieria

Perhaps you’re eager to see new leaves emerge on your Whale Fin Sansevieria. In this instance, you might prune the stem to promote the development of new growth points. The trimmed-back cuttings can then be used to propagate a new plant!

We have provided a variety of propagation options for your consideration.

Today’s challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to take a photo of a plant and share it.

Here’s my whale fin sansevieria and its baby. pic.twitter.com/nEp6W9hs73

— Dr Desirée Kozlowski (@Pleasure_Lab) September 10, 2021

Division

The Dracaena Masoniana plant can be grown using a technique known as division. This method is typically employed for vegetables with discrete bulbs, tubers, stolons, rhizomes, and suckers, but it can also be applied to houseplants with clumping stems.

1. Dig. Take the plant out of the container. Always wear gardening gloves when handling soil and plants.

2. Split. You should be able to discern where the roots and stems parted independently. Pull them apart gently with your fingers. Severing the roots where the portions meet.

3. Replace. Place each portion in new containers containing the succulent mixture they are accustomed to.

Humidity And Aeration

Your Whale Fin Sansevieria needs moderate humidity between 40%-50% for rich-colored leaves and lush growth.

If you’re concerned about the humidity or if you see browning edges on your plant leaves, you may purchase a humidifier and place it near your plants. This addition will make a big difference for your Whale Fin’s health.

Temperature

Your Dracaena Masoniana will prosper in a warm-to-temperate area, keeping the temperature between 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit.

Like most Dracaena plants, this tropical houseplant prefers constant temperatures throughout the year. Avoid using too hot or cold water to water your plant. Keep it away from heat (including furnaces and vents) and cold (such as open windows during the winter).

Flowers

You may observe your Whale Fin Snake Plant producing tiny greenish-white flowers if you’re fortunate. However, this rarely occurs in indoor growing environments.

Toxic

Be cautious if you have young children or pets, because it can be Toxic to humans and animals, Mason’s Congo Sansevieria is potentially lethal if consumed. This drug may cause the following side effects: drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal distress symptoms. This plant is deemed non-lethal under normal circumstances.

Pests, Diseases, And Other Problems

The Whale Fin Sansevieria is resistant to illness and pests. Here are some frequent ailments, diseases, pests, and their respective treatments.

Scale Insects

Adult scales are stationary and covered in a waxy covering, but they give birth to incredibly tiny crawling insects.

You can scrape off armored scales, but you must do so carefully using an old ID card or your fingertips. Take care not to rip your Whale Fin Sansevieria’s leaves.

Scale insects can be suffocated with insecticide soap, horticultural oil, or neem oil. When you observe active crawlers on a plant, treat it with a broad pesticide. After a week, administer a second application. We propose the following products:

Mealybugs

Your Dracaena Masoniana can be infested with mealybugs. If you discover these microscopic parasites, which can be distinguished by their white “fluff,” you must act swiftly to prevent their spread.

With rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball, wipe the Dracaena’s leaves to eliminate apparent mealybugs.

In addition, 5mL of neem oil, 500mL of water, and 10 drops of liquid soap can be combined (as an emulsifier). A monthly application of this solution will make your plant leaves appear clean and glossy, but it will also prevent mealybugs from populating your houseplant.

Brown Leaf Tips

The edges of your Whale Fin Snake Plant’s leaves may turn brown if it’s not getting the sufficient amount of moisture that it needs, both from the air and through its roots. Water your plant on time and check if the humidity level in its location is consistent with its needs.

You may also need to consider the amount and frequency of applying fertilizers. Overfeeding can burn your houseplants’ foliage, and this is typically manifested as browning edges on their leaves.

As per usual I’m definitely behind the curve but I now have a, baby, Whale fin sansevieria 🥰🐳#HouseplantHour pic.twitter.com/IorFJ6ZS9O

— Al: A darling bud of May 🌸 🌱 💛💙 (@WeirdAlMc) March 4, 2022

Yellow Leaves

Several circumstances can induce the yellowing of the leaf edges on a Mason’s Congo Sansevieria. One possibility is that it is not receiving sufficient sunshine, and it is also possible that the plant gets excessive or insufficient water.

To promote new growth and avoid the spread of degradation, it is necessary to prune yellow leaves. Moreover, they might be unsightly and unsettling to view. Simply remove the leaves with a pair of sharp, sterile shears.

Root Rot

Overwatering and inadequate drainage are the two most common causes of root rot. Because root rot is frequently fatal and permanent, prevention is of the utmost significance.

Plant your Dracaena in cactus and citrus potting soil and maintain a dry environment for it. Water the soil just when the top two inches are fully dry.

Similar Plants

Love Whale Fin Snake Plant? Here are some other varieties of snake plants you should try:

Sansevieria Zeylanica – This plant is sturdy and hardy, and it can withstand a surprising amount of neglect. It’s a fantastic houseplant for beginners that will cleanse the air in your home for you.

Sansevieria Fernwood – Snake Plants are typically gorgeous and low-maintenance, but this Fernwood Plant is the most resilient. It is almost indestructible with its long emerald green leaves and can survive nearly all lightning and growing conditions.

Sansevieria Sayuri – The Sayuri is one of the most versatile plants that can tolerate low-light situations where most other plants can’t survive. It’s also beautiful with its green-grey foliage.

Conclusion

The Whale Fin Sansevieria grows beautifully indoors with its sturdy and conspicuous leaves.

It’s easy to care for. It loves bright indirect light, moderate humidity, dry soil, and warm-to-temperate temps.

If you’re seeking a new addition to your collection or are new to indoor gardening, use these instructions to grow your own Whale Fin Sansevieria or add to your collection of stunning snake plants!

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