Learn How to Force a Snake Plant to Bloom with expert tips. Stimulate its flowering process for a beautiful display of white blossoms.
Have you ever seen a snake plant flower? It’s quite a rare sight, but you can make it happen with some simple tricks. Discover How to Force a Snake Plant to Bloom with these helpful tips.
Read: Tips to Make a Christmas Cactus Bloom on Christmas
What Does Snake Plant Flower Means
Although it’s rare for a snake plant to bloom, witnessing it bloom can be considered lucky. However, the real reason these plants are deemed fortunate is their impressive ability to purify the air by filtering out toxins.
Note: Snake plants can bloom except the variety Sanseveria trifasciata ‘Hahnii,’ aka Bird’s nest plants, which don’t flower.
Do Snake Plants Flower?
Yes, it is possible for the Snake plant to bloom, even when grown indoors. This may come as a surprise, but it is true, and the blooming typically occurs once a year during the spring season.
It’s worth noting that the plant will not produce flowers on the same rosette that has already bloomed before. Instead, new flowers will grow on a fresh stalk. Once the flowers have died, it’s important to cut the stalk from its base.
Why Snake Plant Flower
If snake plants are provided with adequate light but are otherwise neglected, they tend to outgrow their pot and beyond. This limited space causes the plant to redirect its energy from leaf production toward flower production.
How Long Do Snake Plant Blooms Last?
After blooming, snake plant flowers can last for several weeks up to a month. Once the blooms begin to fade, it is recommended to remove the flower stalks by cutting them from the base. This will help the plant conserve its energy and maintain a tidy appearance.
How Does Snake Plant Flower Look Like
Snake plant flowers can grow on tall stalks that can be several inches or feet in height. These flowers have small, narrow petals that are arranged in clusters, similar to lilies or honeysuckles. The appearance of the flowers can vary depending on the type of snake plant. Some have cream or green petals, while others are white with a hint of mauve or lavender. Certain species even have bright red blossoms.
However, it’s important to note that not all snake plant varieties produce flower stalks. In some types, the flowers bloom directly from the base in large clusters.
Note: These pretty, elegant, delicate flowers are not strong enough to be used in flower arrangements, so enjoy them on plants.
Read: Blue Passionflower Care
Snake Plant Flowers Fragrance
One of the remarkable features of snake plant flowers is their intense, spicy vanilla-like fragrance that is distinctive and cannot be compared to anything else. The blooms also produce copious amounts of sweet-scented nectar, so much so that it can even drip down the stalk!
Additionally, the flowers have a unique behavior where they close up during the day and open up at night. As darkness falls, the fragrance becomes more potent and fills the surrounding area with its alluring aroma.
Do Snake Plants Bloom When Stressed?
Some people believe that snake plants can actually do well when they are not given too much attention and care. In fact, they may even bloom better under these conditions. By providing them with suitable lighting, allowing them to experience a bit of healthy stress, and being patient, you can encourage the growth of white blossoms on snake plants.
How to Force a Snake Plant to Bloom?
1. Buy A Mature Snake Plant
Snake plants that are new and young typically do not produce flowers. Your prospect of seeing flowers increases with a mature specimen, so it is advisable to obtain one that is fully grown.
2. Keep the Plant Slightly Stressed
To stimulate the production of flowers in a snake plant, it can be beneficial to maintain a slightly stressed environment and limit fertilization.
Note: keeping the plant under stress means watering and feeding the plant in less quantity.
3. Sufficient Light is the Key!
To help your snake plant bloom, it’s beneficial to expose it to outdoor conditions or position it near a window that gets plenty of sunlight. Keeping the plant in the shade for long periods should be avoided, and it should receive at least 3-4 hours of direct sunlight each day. The best spot for your snake plant is near an east-facing window.
A common mistake people make is keeping their snake plants in areas with low light or in shady places. This can prevent the plant from flowering.
4. Root Bound State
If you want your snake plant to bloom, it’s essential to keep it root-bound. As snake plants mature, they become more susceptible to becoming root-bound in their pots.
This condition can increase stress on the plant, which can be increased if the plant is neglected despite receiving sufficient light. In such cases, the snake plant may grow beyond the confines of its pot, leading to reduced space and prompting the plant to direct its energy toward flower production instead of leaf production.
5. Right Temperatures
To force the snake plant to bloom, keep the snake plant away from AC or heating vents. Do not expose it to abrupt temperature shifts. Additionally, avoid taking the plant outdoors until the risk of frost has gone.
6. Avoid Overwatering
To encourage a snake plant to bloom, it’s important to water it only when the soil has become completely dry during the growing season.
In the winter months, wait until the soil starts to crack and separate from the edges of the pot before watering. It’s crucial not to overwater the plant at any time.
7. Soil
To get a snake plant to bloom, use a growing medium that is specifically formulated for cacti and succulents. The soil has to be well-draining as well.
Do Snake Plants Die After Flowering?
After the snake plant has bloomed, it’s good to know that it will continue to thrive. As the flowers fade, they will turn into orange berries, and the stalks that held the blooms will gradually die off. But don’t worry! The plant will stay healthy and keep growing. It will produce new leaves and roots, ensuring its ongoing growth and vitality.
Read: Tips to Force Aloe Vera to Bloom
Conclusion
The flowers on Sansevieria are rare, and many people are unaware that a snake plant can bloom. Even if you try specific methods to encourage blooming, there is no guarantee they will work for every snake plant. Interestingly, these flowers often appear unexpectedly and without any clear reason. So, it’s a delightful surprise when they do happen to bloom.