Sansevieria Golden Hahnii – Birds Nest Care Guide
Sansevieria Trifasciata Golden Hahnii is perfect for those who live in small apartments or enthusiasts who are quickly running out of room in their indoor plant collection (you know who you are!). Their small size combined with hardy plant qualities makes them ideal for beginners. You’ll thoroughly enjoy your plant parent journey if you cater to their basic needs (more on their requirements later).
Sansevieria Golden Hahnii Quick Reference Guide
For those in a hurry, here is a quick reference guide to get you going.
| Description | Recommendations |
|---|---|
| Watering | Only water when soil is dry |
| Lighting | A position that receives plenty of bright indirect light |
| Temperature | 65-90° Fahrenheit (18-32° Celsius) |
| Humidity | Relative humidity levels at 30-50% |
| Feeding | All-purpose houseplant fertilizer at the beginning of Spring |
| Soil | Loamy well-draining soil |
Images of Sansevieria Golden Hahnii
Here is a collection of the beautiful Birds Nest Sansevieria Golden Hahnii from around the world.
Facts About Sansevieria Golden Hahnii
To appreciate the care requirements of the Golden Hahnii, we need to understand where they came from. By comprehending their source of origin, we can then adapt our regimen to mimic their natural environments and allow them to thrive.
Name
The confusing thing about this beautiful little snake plant is that it can go by many names. We know them as Sansevieria Golden Hahnii – which is more of a common name you would find on a nursery label. Their scientific name is Dracaena Trifasciata Hahnii ‘ Golden’, but that is too much of a mouthful to use in conversation.
Other more common names that they may be referred to are:
- Golden Hahnii,
- Golden Star,
- Golden dwarf snake plant
- Sansevieria Trif Golden Hahnii
- Sansevieria Trifasciata Golden Hahnii
- Golden Birds Nest
Origin
Golden Hahnii naturally grows on the continents of Africa, South Asia, and Madagascar.
Although the humidity and precipitation levels can vary between these three continents, they have one common feature: temperature. All three experience warm temperatures because they are close to the equator.
Like other snake plants, the Sansevieria Golden Hahnii can store water in their meaty leaves to endure prolonged dry periods, making them adaptable to varying climates.
Appearance
Whoever coined the phrase ‘The best things come in small packages must have been looking at a Sansevieria Golden Hahnii at the time. These dwarf Birds’ Nest Snake Plants may be small; however, what they lack in size, they make up for in exquisite variegated patterns and design.
With brilliant golden edging running along the length of their foliage, it is hard to miss these stunning specimens.
In the middle section of the leaves, you have the more familiar dark green color we are used to with snake plants. Cross-stitching variegated patterns across the dark green patches only make this dwarf plant ever more mesmerizing.
If that wasn’t enough, the growth patterns of the Golden Hahnii make it even more impressive, with leaves growing in a rosette fashion. Producing a cluster of leaves that looks very similar to a little bird’s nest – hence the name.
Sansevieria Golden Hahnii Flower
Although rare to witness, snake plants do occasionally bloom. They develop dainty little cream flowers that look like fireworks in suspended animation.
They grow from thin stalks that develop from the base of the plant. Usually, snake plant flowers can grow as high as 3 ¼ feet tall (around 100 centimeters). However, dwarf varieties like the Golden Hahnii will have shorter stems to match the height of the surrounding foliage.
If you are curious about these rare flowers, check out some pictures HERE.
How to Care for Sansevieria Golden Hahnii
Watering Requirements
One thing to master regarding care for your Sansevieria Golden Hahnii is knowing when to water your snake plant.
As a succulent, Golden Hahnii has the necessary tools to survive a bit of water neglect. However, their Achilles heal is too much water.
Problems tend to arise when their soil stays too wet for too long. They become susceptible to pests and diseases like root rot – more on that later.
The big question is – how do you know when your Hahnii needs more water?
The most accurate way to measure the moisture levels in your indoor plant’s soil is to use a soil moisture meter. They are relatively cheap and available at your nursery or online at places like Amazon.
We find the best way to water snake plants is using the bottom watering technique. It is efficient and delivers the perfect amount of water every time when done correctly. You can read about the process HERE.
Light Requirements
When it comes to light, we find Golden Hahnii thrive in indirect light. It can be a bright light, however, not direct sunlight. As an indoor plant, direct exposure to sunlight will cause both temperature and water stress, as the intense sun accelerates water dehydration from the soil and leaves.
Golden Hahnii thrive in bright positions with an abundance of indirect sunlight.
You may have heard other sources quote that snake plants can grow in dark rooms. However, this is only partly true. Yes – your Sansevieria Golden Hahnii will survive in the shade. However, they will be stunted and risk becoming weaker, leaving them susceptible to disease and pests.
Read more HERE for tips on lighting conditions for snake plants.
Ideal Temperature
Sansevieria Golden Hahnii can tolerate a range of temperatures, particularly when compared to other houseplants, like tropical plants.
To keep them happy and thriving, keep them between 65-90° Fahrenheit (18-32° Celsius).
They have water reserves in their leaves that they can draw upon during heat waves or higher temperatures.
However, these very water reserves can cause damage when the ambient temperature drops close to the freezing point. Water expands when frozen. And because Golden Hahnii store water in their leaves, it can cause irreparable damage to the leaf cells and harm the snake plant when it freezes.
Ideal Humidity
Sansevieria Golden Hahnii requires relative humidity to sit between 30 and 50%.
We understand humidity can be challenging to control. However, it should not be overlooked or put into the ‘too hard basket’. Humidity levels affect many of your Golden Hahnii’s internal processes, such as transpiration. When there is not enough moisture in the air (low humidity), it accelerates transpiration, which quickly dehydrates your plant and causes water stress.
To read how humidity affects snake plants, check out this article.
Best Soil for Sansevieria Golden Hahnii
Choosing suitable soil for your Hahnii can make a big difference in your plant parent journey with your Golden Hahnii. Good soil will reduce the frequency of your watering regime, facilitate the uptake of nutrients by your houseplant, and susceptibility to pests and disease.
To be effective, your Sansevieria’s soil must be:
- well-draining,
- a loamy consistency (light and airy), and
- contain some organic materials with water absorption properties.
We have devised a recipe for the perfect snake plant potting mix. You can also watch our video on making snake plant soil below.
How to Fertilize Golden Hahnii
Snake plants are not overly needy plants when it comes to fertilizers. An excellent all-purpose pot plant fertilizer will provide everything it requires to produce strong and healthy growth. These fertilizers have the base elements for healthy plant growth, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K).
We like to feed at the beginning of spring with a slow-release fertilizer. Spring and summer are known as snake plants’ growing months. Therefore they will consume the most nutrients during this period.
To learn about the different methods for fertilizing your sansevieria Golden Hahnii, check out this ARTICLE.
Golden Hahnii Pest and Diseases
As we established earlier in the water requirements, the Sansevieria Golden Hahnii is the most susceptible to root rot.
Root rot is a frustrating fungal disease that develops in soggy soil from being overwatered. The process of eliminating root rot is not complicated. However, it is cumbersome. You can read about the process HERE.
A few other leaf-borne fungal diseases can infect your Hahnii, such as mildew and leaf spot. We explore these diseases and treatments HERE.
Regarding pests, snake plants are most susceptible to sap-sucking insects like mealybugs, spider mites, and thrips. These pests have the equipment to penetrate the tough outer layer of the Sansevieria’s skin and access the nutrient-rich sap.
The best way to detect any signs of pests (or disease, for that matter) is to inspect your beautiful plant regularly.
You can read more about symptoms of pest infestation HERE.
Other Care Instructions
Besides the core set of care instructions, there are a few other considerations you will want to familiarize yourself with specifically for your Birds Nest Snake Plant.
Pot Requirements
Sansevieria Golden Hahnii likes a tight root system for leaf support. Without a solid root system, the leaves would fall over.
We generally look for pots approximately one-third bigger than the width of the root ball with plenty of drainage holes to allow any excess water to exit. We also like to use pots made from porous materials, like terracotta. The porous properties increase airflow and help maintain an optimal moisture level in the soil.
Find out more about the best pot with drainage holes for snake plants.
Pruning
You wouldn’t think pruning would be much of an issue for your Golden Hahnii. Given snake plants are evergreen and do not shed. However, pruning is essential to your annual maintenance for all your plants, snake plants included.
Regularly remove any damaged, diseased or dying leaves from your Hahnii to maintain a healthy houseplant. Removing decaying debris will also prevent any mold or diseases from developing.
Learn how to trim snake plant leaves HERE.
Sansevieria Golden Hahnii Propagation Techniques
To preserve the stunning variegated patterns and colors, we recommend only propagating your Golden Hahnii using the propagation method by plant division or by splitting snake plant pups.
Propagating your Hahnii with a cutting in water or soil risks the new plant reverting to a regular pattern on the foliage, similar to the Sansevieria Trifasciata.
To propagate by plant division, follow these steps:
- Remove the root ball – lift the mother snake plant root ball out of its container.
- Clean and prepare the root ball – rinse your snake plant’s roots under warm water to clear the soil away.
- Identify the rhizome – find the rhizome attached to the baby Golden Hahnii snake pup. Cut the rhizome as close to the main root ball of the mother plant as possible. You want to retain as many thin roots as possible with the rhizome.
- Re-pot your Plants – re-pot your mother snake plant into the original pot with some fresh potting mix. At the same time, fill your propagation containers a third up with a good-quality potting mix (discussed above). Place each pup into the pot and backfill with quality potting mix until the soil level covers the white parts of the rhizome and pups. Give all your plants good watering and ensure all excess water drains out.
You can find step-by-step instructions HERE if you prefer to propagate using cuttings.
Sansevieria Golden Hahnii – Frequently Asked Questions
Is Golden Hahnii a Succulent?
Yes – the Sansevieria Golden Hahnii belongs to the succulent family. They possess colorful and unique patterns on their foliage, making them stand apart from the rest. Like other succulents, they can store water in their leaves and are drought tolerant when growing outdoors.
How big do Sansevieria Golden Hahnii Grow?
Sansevieria Golden Hahnii is considered a dwarf snake plant. Therefore, they do not grow very tall and form small rosette shapes close to the ground.
They can grow to around 15 inches tall (40 centimeters) at maturity.
What are the Benefits of Owning Sansevieria Golden Hahnii?
There are many benefits to owning a Golden Hahnii snake plant. Snake plants are known to purify the air in our houses and release oxygen – albeit a minimal amount. The average snake plant will produce 0.9-1 liter of oxygen a day.
Golden Hahnii is also a small indoor plant. This means they do not take up too much room and are low-maintenance. All while looking stunning.