The whale fin plant is a rare form of snake plant, and if you’re lucky enough to find one, or have a friend willing to propagate one for you, it is a must-have in your home or office.
Native to the Democratic Republic of Congo, the whale fin plant has giant leaves that look like a whale fin or a shark fin, which is why it also has the name shark fin plant.
It can also go by the name Mason Congo Sansevieria because of its Latin name Sansevieria masoniana and its origin.
Gorgeous, slow growing, and easy to care for, without a doubt, the whale fin plant should be part of your home or office.
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A Whale Fin Plant Is Good for Homes and Offices
The whale fin plant is a type of snake plant, and snake plants are highly beneficial to keep as indoor plants.
They are well known for purifying the air, for removing toxins from the environment, and even for being beneficial for your mental health.
Because they are low-light plants, they will not compete for the front row of your windows to get access to bright, full sun.
While you shouldn’t tuck them into a dark corner, they can benefit from indirect light in a brighter corner or off to the side.
The whale fin snake plant also goes well with pretty much any theme, from dangling vines to succulent gardens.
You really can’t go wrong.
Are Whale Fin Plants Good for the Feng Shui Flow of a Room?
Because they are so easy to care for, grow slowly but surely, and are a vibrant green with wide, open leaves, the whale fin snake plant offers lovely feng shui energy.
If you place it off to the side of a window, this Sansevieria masoniana will help circulate positivity and abundance throughout your space, keeping your environment fresh and invigorated.
To learn more about establishing feng shui and flow in your home or office, check out the master class article on how to use feng shui.
Are Whale Fin Plants Easy to Grow and Maintain?
Snake plants are one of the easiest plants to grow and maintain, and the whale fin plant is no exception.
Set your plant up for success from the start, and it will pay off in spades.
How Do Whale Fin Plants Grow?
The whale fin plant needs little water, preferring to dry out completely before a new watering, requires low light, and does not complain about too much or too little humidity.
As a native to the Congo in Africa, it can tolerate high heat and will share space with other plants. It is slow growing, so don’t worry if you don’t see new growth for months or even years.
What Kind of Soil Does a Whale Fin Plant Need?
The best potting soil for the whale fin plant is a light, easy-to-drain soil. You can mix ¾ cactus potting soil with ¼ peat moss to ensure you have a good-draining soil.
Add pebbles or rocks to the bottom of your pot if you notice your plant sitting in wet soil.
Terra cotta pots are the best for whale fin snake plants as they help soil dry out more quickly. They also highlight the vibrancy of this plant.
How Much Light Does a Whale Fin Plant Need?
In the Congo, the whale fin plant grows under tree cover, in darker spaces, with indirect light. But it certainly can grow in direct light.
So, you really can take your pick.
Note that if you provide too little light, your whale fin plant leaves will start to curl, so definitely don’t think you can tuck it in a dark corner and completely forget about it.
Your best bet is to set the plant off to the side of a window, ideally south facing, where it will get a good amount of indirect light.
How Much Water Does a Whale Fin Plant Need?
The whale fin plant does not want to sit in water.
Get into a good routine of watering your plant thoroughly to the point of water draining out of the bottom of the pot so all the soil gets wet then allow your plant to fully dry out before watering in the same way once more.
You can get a feel for testing the moisture of your soil by sticking your fingers into the pot. If you notice the soil is most at all, do not water it yet. Once you stick your fingers in the soil and notice it completely dry, then you can water it thoroughly once more.
Take a look at this article on watering mistakes you’re making that are killing your plants for more tips.
Other Conditions that Are Important to a Whale Fin Plant
It’s a good idea to provide the snake plant with a light fertilizer during the spring and summer seasons. Just give the soil a light spray once a month when you water.
Also note that you should plant the whale fin in a large enough planter that you do not restrict its growth. It will reach up to 3 feet tall if given enough space for its roots to spread.
Whale Fin Plant Decorating Ideas
The whale fin plant will do well higher up, maybe on a bookshelf or on a cabinet, where it can be at or above eye level, catching indirect sun rays from a large window. There, it can stand as a glorious conversation piece for anyone who walks in.
It looks fabulous on a large desk, taking up a corner space and acting as an oversized decorative piece in your professional space.
Even better, give the shark fin snake plant its own table to sit on and bask in the light of the day, right as you walk into your home or office. It is certainly deserving of show-stopper status.
Do Fake Whale Fin Plants Look Real?
Because it’s so big and bold, the whale fin plant already looks fake, so if you do decide to buy an artificial one instead, either because you can’t get your hands on a real one or because you just don’t want to have to care for a real one, you can totally get away with it.
However, if you do find yourself in possession of a whale fin plant, go ahead and take your chances with a live plant. They are definitely easy to care for.
But if you do struggle to keep plants alive, and you’re worried about killing this beautiful plant, you can always start out with a fake one instead. Check out my piece on whether artificial plants and flowers are tacky.
Either way, you can’t go wrong bringing this one into your home or office.
Do you already have a whale fin plant? How do you decorate your home or office with it? Tell me about your experience with the whale fin snake plant in the comments below.
