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    Home » Easy Care Indoor Plants

    My Vintage Snake Plant

    Published by Pam Kessler | 244 words. · About 2 minutes to read this article. -

    OK, please don't think I'm nuts, but I have a snake plant that is going on at least 50 years old.

    It originally came from my Grandmother's house. I remember it from when I was little and I'm going on 50, so I figure it's at least my age.


    I Googled snake plants and I guess it's not that uncommon to have really old snake plants. Here I thought I might have a Guinness Book of World Records contender.


    Somehow, I have accumulated a few more snake plants too. This one is in my kitchen eating area and is almost five feet tall.


    Comparatively, it's a youngster. Only about 5 years old.


    This one is more petite and is in my husband's office/guest room.


    So, I guess you could say I have a collection of snake plants. Considering how much I hate snakes, I find that ironic.


    BTW, this pot is a vintage stoneware one which coincidentally is where the 50 year old snake plant used to live. I moved the old plant to a pot with better drainage and then inexplicable put another snake plant in the pot. Go figure.


    They say that snake plants are pretty hard to kill and I would agree. If I forget to water one for a few months they don't mind at all. I think they sort of like my neglect better than a hovering plant owner. You gotta be tough to make it in my house.

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    Comments

    1. Olive Cooper

      April 06, 2011 at 9:31 am

      I remember them from my childhood too. Your 50 yo one is wonderful. I have two on the deck. We also call them "mother-in-laws tongue" here.

    2. Marigene

      April 06, 2011 at 9:24 am

      I am with you on not liking snakes but liking snake plants! You have a nice healthy collection, Pam.

    3. La

      April 06, 2011 at 7:48 am

      Maybe I need a snake plant because my thumb is pretty brown.

    4. Tete

      April 06, 2011 at 7:40 am

      Pam, we always called these mother-in-law tongues. But either way, the name is not as pleasant as the plant. Did you cats can kill these> Yepper, when they sleep in the pots all the time. Killed mine. Love yours!
      Hugs- Tete

    5. Erin

      April 06, 2011 at 7:27 am

      I coughed I laughed so hard!!! Love your sense of humor Pam..and I love those snake plants. Very cool, do they deter snakes maybe? At any rate, they are very pretty plants!

    6. Sherry@Back2Vintage

      April 06, 2011 at 7:21 am

      They are called "mother-in-law tongues" here. I have 4 larger ones and my mother has at least that many....all from the same mother plant. They are so easy to grow!!!

    7. AntiqueChase

      April 06, 2011 at 1:52 am

      I think my 94 year old grandma still has hers... I should ask her how old hers is??? funny!!

    8. Linda

      April 05, 2011 at 11:11 pm

      50 years...that really is amazing! They are called "mother-in-law tongues" in my neck of the woods, too!

    9. Kim K.

      April 05, 2011 at 10:50 pm

      Your plant is gorgeous. I was just going to say the same thing about it also being called a mother-in-law tongue plant. I have one too. It's a hardy thing.

    10. Ocean Breezes and Country Sneezes

      April 05, 2011 at 10:39 pm

      I've never heard them called that, I've heard them called "mother-in-law tongues" because they were sharp! LOL!!! They are beautiful!

    11. A Rosy Note

      April 05, 2011 at 10:39 pm

      Wow Pam that's old! I wish it wasn't called a snake plant though...it doesn't really seem snake-like to me.

      My mom has a bunch of old plants too. My sister's husband had to take care of them while we were all in Florida and he was all freaked out about something happening to them. They all have some special significance, like being from when my Grandma died or some other such thing.

      How did you get your Google follow button to not show the number of followers? I like that. That is one of the reasons I don't like that button, because it's a way for people to compare themselves to others.

      ~Tricia

    12. ⚜ ↁℯℬℬᴵℰ⚜

      April 05, 2011 at 10:09 pm

      Ok so I think you are a little nuts! But it is a cool plant and a miracle you have it as long:)
      Enjoy!

    13. A Vintage Vine

      April 05, 2011 at 10:01 pm

      I love indoor plants...and that one is gorgeous!

    14. Tys

      April 05, 2011 at 9:55 pm

      Oh wow, that's neat!

      I have a small portion of a plant that was my great grandmothers. It's some sort of soft yet cactus-y type plant. My grandma has the original "mother" plant and has given everyone starts off it. I've even given some people starts from mine as housewarming gifts!

      Sounds like I need to get me a snake plant! For some reason I always thought they were delicate or something?

    15. Betsy

      April 05, 2011 at 8:59 pm

      Now this is my kind of plant, second only to faux ivy topiaries. I used to have so many live plants in the house and just couldn't keep up with them. I had no idea their shelf life was so long. You must be doing something right.

    16. Tanna at The Brick Street Bungalow

      April 05, 2011 at 8:59 pm

      They are beautiful!! Congratulations for keeping that one alive so long!!

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