Sword-of-Saint-Jorge: origin, what it is used for, how to take care of it and more!

The sword-of-Saint-Jorge has a strong presence in our daily life in Brazil, you may have already seen it displayed in some house or streets in your neighborhood. It is also known as the Sword of Ogun and its shape refers to its ability to protect.

Its properties are what make it appreciated by everyone, having a plant like this in your home will allow you to have cleaner air and a more harmonious environment. Saint George’s sword is an essential amulet to preserve your motivation and ensure good vibes in your life.

Get to know everything about this species of plant that is so popular in the world and understand the reasons why it has such influence in the following reading!

The Saint George sword has a unique symbolic representation for different cultures, being used not only in decorations, but also in rituals and protective baths. Its history reveals its influence and how it became popular around the world. Continue reading and be surprised!

The Sword-of-Saint-George is a plant originating in tropical Africa, its scientific name is Sanseviera trifasciata and belongs to the genus Sanseviera. It may be commonly known as Tiger’s Tail, Mother-in-law’s Tongue, Tiger’s Tongue, or Sword of Ogun. Species of this plant have also been found in Asia, closer to New Guinea.

This plant belonging to the Liliaceae family became popular in 1930, due to its beauty and resistance, similar to those of succulents. Therefore, it is widely used in interior decoration, as it does not need much attention or care from its owners, since it is resistant to drought and does not need much sunlight.

There is an incredible variety of this plant, each of them has a function and their types make them extremely useful and versatile to be used in decorations. See the types of Saint George’s sword below:

– Saint George’s Sword (Sansevieria zeylanica)

This is best known and can also be called the sword of Ogun, having a dark green striped color, it can reach up to 3 cm wide and 80 cm long. Being widely used in religious rituals in Candomblé and Umbanda terreiros, as it is associated with the orixá Ogum.

– Sword of Saint Barbara (Sansevieria trifasciata)

Also known as sword of Iansã, this plant species is distinguished by its yellowish edges that follow the entire length of the leaf. As the name says, it is also a reference to Afro-Brazilian religions and represents protection against bad weather, lightning and thunder.

– Spear of Saint George (Sansevieria cylindrica)

What differentiates São Jorge’s spears from the others are their round tips and their cylindrical shape, which makes them look like a spear and their foliage is pointed and closed. In addition, it represents protection against bad energy.

– Mini Sword of Saint George (Sansevieria trifasciata var. hahnii)

This species grows up to a maximum of 10 cm in height, it is also known as Ogum’s star because it is characterized as a dwarf plant in relation to the most common species. In Umbanda or Candomblé, this plant is used in rituals and baths because it has the ability to guarantee protection.

– Broadleaf St. George’s Sword (Sansevieria trifasciata var. moonshine)

This species can have two variations, one with softer leaves and the other with harder leaves. In addition, both have wide and whitish foliage. Its tonality is also diverse, ranging from a more silver tone, through a dark green to an olive green tone.

In native countries that are located in tropical Africa or Asia, it is common to extract a fiber from its leaves that is widely used in the manufacture of moorings and vegetable ropes. In addition, she has a deep relationship with African religions, more specifically with Candomblé and Umbanda.

These religions point out that the Sword-of-Saint-Jorge has the property of purification and protection of the home, in addition to being frequently used in spiritual baths and protection rituals, as it is believed that it is able to ward off negative energies such as envy. , the evil eye, discord, in addition to attracting prosperity.

As for Feng Shui, it is recommended that this plant be used in environments outside your home. Well, it is believed that its spear shape motivates meanings that lead to conflicts and misunderstandings, thus being able to negatively influence the energies of the home. It is even believed that she is capable of breaking relationships because of her sharp edges.

Although it has so many representations, they all point to a common characteristic of protection. Which explains its use in external environments by Feng Shui, or in sympathies and protection baths by African religions.

This is due to its association with the Catholic saint and warrior Saint George of Cappadocia, the figure of his sword serves as a reference to the shape of the plant, which is why it was given this name. Because of this Catholic association and because of religious syncretism in Brazil, the Sword of Saint George also came to be known as the Sword of Ogum, which is represented by the same Catholic saint.

There are several reasons why you should have a plant like the Sword of Saint George at home. But, be aware, it must be placed far from the reach of pets and children, since they cannot be ingested because its leaves are toxic.

Learn the reasons and how to use the Sword-of-Saint-George efficiently in your home decor by reading below!

This is a powerful plant because it symbolizes protection, being widely used in homes for its purification capabilities and to ward off negative energies, the evil eye and envy. Being considered a natural shield against all negative vibes.

Therefore, it is usually indicated that you place them outside, or at the entrance to your home. Thus, the Sword-of-Saint-George will serve its purpose as a guardian of the home, in addition to warding off people with a malicious look.

Thus, not allowing the presence of any people who carry with them a negative energy, who bring lies, discord and affect the harmony of their family environment. Protecting you from discussions, negative vibrations and heavy energies.

You can also use it as a personal amulet, as it has the ability to fight envy and ward off bad people. In that case, you can strategically place it in your home, especially in common areas or near the entrance doors and at the back of the house.

So, get a vase with your leaves in these places, soon you will feel your home more harmonious and purified. Which makes your environment lighter and more pleasant to live in.

Its different species and the different types of vases available today allow you to have enormous creative freedom with the Sword-of-Saint-Jorge in decoration. Its elongated and hard leaves allow you to bring grandeur to the environment and create a magnificent contrast with other plants.

A bet is to invest in vases, or cachepots, that have supports of different heights in order to highlight their format and create depth to the environment. When lined up in this way and accompanied by plants hanging from the ceiling, you will make your environment much more harmonious.

Due to its purification capacity, the following places are advisable to place the Sword of Saint George:

– On furniture, especially dwarf species;
– In the bathroom;
– In the office, especially in corners or on some furniture;
– In the dining room, use it on higher supports and next to different species surrounding the table;
– House entrance;
– Living room.

Invest in placing your plant in higher places if you have children or pets, so that they are not likely to try to ingest the plant.

It is one of the most recommended plants for you to have at home, as it has the ability to neutralize and absorb harmful elements in the air such as benzene, xylene, trichlorethylene and formaldehyde. Keeping this plant indoors allows the air in your home to become purer and more harmonious thanks to its ability to purify the air.

Because it is a plant that requires little care, the fact that it has to be little watered limits the possibility of combinations. The plants that would best be associated with the Sword of Saint George would then be succulents and cacti in this case.

But, you will still have the freedom to have several plants next to it, remembering to always value the contrast of the environment.

Although it is believed that the Sword-of-Saint-George is a rustic plant that does not require much care, you should be careful about this thought. Yeah, still there are some rules that need to be followed so you can keep it alive. Continue reading and find out what these precautions are.

The first point to be observed is the location, as it is a plant that survives well in the shade, this indicates that we can easily place it in an environment inside the house, but in relation to the outside it is good to position it in a place that has some shade.

Remember that it supports temperatures ranging from 5 to 30 degrees ºC, if you want it to grow faster it is recommended that you leave it in the sun in the early morning or late afternoon. Another important point is to keep it in places that make it difficult for your pets to access it, as this is a toxic plant and can be dangerous for your animals.

Irrigation should be done when the soil is completely dry, with no sign of moisture. Yeah, if you keep the root wet it will rot, be aware of watering especially in summer, or in drier periods.

Regarding the vases where Saint George’s sword was sown, you must use a universal substrate rich in organic matter, and make a layer of three quarters of sand to facilitate the water drainage. Watch out for water buildup in the vase.

Another attention you should have is in relation to fertilizers, they must be used in spring and summer and can be the same used for cacti and succulents. Always follow the packaging specifications, you should also be aware of the number of shoots or when you see the roots coming out of the pot, this is a sign to…