Chris Buckland
At some point, you’ve probably looked longingly at a friend or neighbor’s greenhouse and thought, “I wish I had one of those.” For the past few years, I’ve been dreaming of planting a greenhouse and expanding my gardening horizons.
Luckily, I recently discovered a wonderful green-fingered option for homeowners like me. I’m not talking about indoor plants, but rather succulents and other types of cacti!
Greenhouses are a great way to extend the growing season and protect tender plants from frost.
Not only will a greenhouse protect your plants from frost, but it will also help reduce insects and extend their growing season. Dracaena Trifasciata is a type of evergreen shrub commonly known as mother-in-law’s tongue (MIltLw) or dragon tongue.
These beautiful plants are drought-tolerant and grow best in areas with hardiness between USDA Zone 9 and 10.
If you’re ready to start growing your own greenhouse, read on for these top tips and helpful instructions on how to build your own mother-in-law tongue greenhouse.
Characteristics of Mother in Law Tongue Plants
Mother-in-law tongue plants are a type of evergreen shrub that grows best in areas with hardiness between USDA Zone 9 and 10.
These plants have deep green leaves that grow upwards from the ground, which makes them perfect for providing shade to other plants around the greenhouse.
These plants also have waxy, sword-shaped leaves and beautiful white flowers. Plus, these plants can be grown in most types of soil, although they prefer well-drained soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
Characteristics Table
| Origin | West Africa |
| Scientific Name | Dracaena Trifasciata |
| Common Names | Mother-in-law’s Tongue, African Bowstring-Hemp, Snake Plant, Spear Plant, Bowstring-Hemp |
| Type | Perennial |
| Family | Asparagus |
| Temperature | 70°F – 90°F |
| Watering | Once a week during warm summer weather. During winter, reduce the watering frequency to once a month or less |
| Light | Indirect light with a few hours of sunlight daily |
| Toxicity | Toxic to Humans and Pets |
| Propagation | Propagating with leaf cuttings is done by water and the other method is propagation through soil |
| Flowering | Extremely rare, these hardy houseplants can have flowers |
| Maximum Size | 15 cm |
Requirements for growing Mother in Law Tongue Plants
Dracaena Trifasciata is a resilient plant that grows well in a variety of soils, but not in wet or excessively dry conditions. The soil must be light and well-drained to prevent sogginess.
It should also be rich in nutrients, like compost and peat moss, which the plants will require to grow properly. If you don’t have these ingredients on hand, you can purchase them at your local home improvement store or nursery.
Choose a Site Carefully
Dracaena Trifasciata grows well in areas with high humidity and temperatures between 59-77 degrees Fahrenheit. This plant requires a lot of misting and sun, so it’s important to choose an area that fits the needs of your plant.
Prepare the Soil
You’ll need to prepare the soil by adding a layer of gravel, perlite, or vermiculite before you plant your Dracaena. This will help the plant retain moisture and prevent soil from becoming waterlogged. You can also add a layer of landscape fabric over the top of the gravel or vermiculite for added insulation and protection against evaporation.
Plant Dracaena Trifasciata
First, you’ll need to buy a Dracaena Trifasciata plant. These plants can be found in most garden stores. You can also find them on Amazon or at local nurseries.
Next, you will need to prepare your garden before planting your Dracaena Trifasciata. Start by removing any grass or weeds and create a 3-foot wide space for the plant to grow in. You should also add some fertilizer to the soil before planting your Dracaena Trifasciata in order for it to grow better.
After you have prepared your space and planted your Dracaena Trifasciata, make sure that you water it often as it will require a lot of water during the first few weeks of growth.
Another tip is to make sure you place your greenhouse so that the sun shines through all day long in order to give it enough light. This will allow the plant to receive sufficient amounts of nutrients without over-fertilizing which could cause disease and die-offs.
Set Up Your Greenhouse
First, gather the materials you’ll need. You’ll need lumber, screws, and a tarp. If you don’t have any of these items in your garage, visit a local home improvement store or hardware store to pick up the necessary tools.
Next, find a good location for your greenhouse. Try to avoid placing it near trees or other plants that might cast shade onto your greenhouse base. The average width of a mother-in-law’s tongue is 18 inches wide by 12 inches deep and 24 inches tall.
It must be at least five feet from the ground so water doesn’t drain down onto the plants below. You’ll want to place the greenhouse in a flat area where it can stand upright without using stakes or posts to keep it in place.
Once you have found an appropriate spot for your greenhouse base, layout some plywood sheets on the ground and secure them together with screws and nails.
Make sure as you build, that one side of all four panels is touching each other and are flush against each other (but not too flush). Once this is done, pour concrete over the plywood base and let it set up according to package instructions (usually 4 hours but could be longer if you live in a cooler climate).
After it has been set up according to package instructions, cut away any excess concrete around the edges of the plywood sheets and remove any leftovers from screw heads. Now that your greenhouse base
Tips for Growing Gorgeous Mother in Law Tongue Plants
1. Choose your location
Select the perfect location for your greenhouse before you get started. You want to be sure it is in an area with sunlight and that it has enough space around it, so you can easily access the plants.
2. Prepare the soil
The first step to building your greenhouse is to prepare the growing bed by adding a generous layer of compost on top of the soil. This will help speed up growth rates and reduce the chance of insect infestation or diseases. Add a layer of mulch on top of that to improve moisture retention as well as keep down weeds and prevent soil erosion.
3. Add plants!
Now that you’ve prepared your plant bed, you’re ready to start planting! Start by setting out three trays in different corners of the bed (at least 12 inches apart) for mother-in-law’s tongue plants to grow in. It helps if each tray has about 3 gallons (10 liters) of water in it, but more is better: anything from 8 to 16 gallons is great for this type of plant to ensure proper hydration.
Next, add a couple of handfuls of rosemary, sage, thyme, or other herbs in each tray for extra flavor and aromatics that will make your mother-in-law’s tongue plants smell divine while they’re growing!
4. Make sure there’s plant support
To give your mother-in-law’s tongue plants even more room to grow
Please read this article on How to grow and care for Echeveria Peacockii to find out more information related Echeveria Peacockii.
FAQs
Does mother in law’s tongue plant need sun?
No, it does not require sunlight. However, bright indirect light is recommended for optimal growth. The plant needs to be watered regularly and fertilized occasionally to ensure healthy growth.
How poisonous is mother in law’s tongue plant?
The mother-in-law’s tongue is toxic plant. So, it has to be handled carefully.
Snake plant is Mother-in-law’s tongue is known to be highly toxic. The sap that comes out of the leaves can cause a painful rash on your skin if you come in contact with it. It’s dangerous for animals and children too.
So, it is best to avoid any kind of contact with the sap of this plant. It is also better to keep children away from this plant.
What is mother in law’s tongue plant good for?
Mother-in-law’s tongue is a great addition to any home or office because it adds beauty as well as health benefits.
The plant has a unique look that will brighten up any room it’s in while also providing purification at the same time.
At the same time that it’s removing these chemicals, the mother-in-law’s tongue is releasing oxygen back into the air we breathe helping us feel refreshed and invigorated.
It also has the added benefit of being a great air humidifier as well while keeping our skin soft and youthful looking by helping us maintain healthy skin moisture levels.
