Snake Plant requires minimum maintenance, and for this reason, it is a favorite for both amateur and experienced gardeners. However many snake plant owners may not know that this plant produces beautiful and sweet-scented blooms.
But a snake plant in bloom is always tricky; it normally requires the right conditions and patience. Whether your snake plant has been shy about flowering, you might be curious about how to coax a bloom out of it. In this blog, we look at ways to get your snake plant to bloom.
1. Provide Adequate Light
Snake plants can tolerate poor light, but flower production requires bright, indirect light. If lighting conditions are inadequate, your plant will exhibit slow growth and not possess enough energy to flower.
Place the snake plants where they receive filtered sunlight, like near a window with sheer curtains. But if it is too far from the light, then it won't bloom well, and direct sunlight will even burn its leaves and it will not flower.
How to Fix It?
Keep your snake plants near the window if the plants are not getting good light. You can grow them under artificial grow lights, too. Check for sunburn signs through yellow or brown leaves that act as an indication of too much sunlight.
If this happens, you will have to transfer your plant to a spot with less sun or simply hang a curtain to filter the light. Finding the right amount of light will allow your snake plant to collect the much-needed energy for blooming.
2. Optimize Temperature
Snake plants like to stay in warm rooms, and they prefer a temperature range of about 70°F to 90°F to grow well and flower. Whenever the temperature is low or plunges wildly, snake plants get stressed, which suppresses their ability to flower.
Most of all, cold drafts should be avoided because they will cause stunted growth in the plant and will shut down the bloom altogether.
If your snake plant is exposed to cold temperatures, especially during winter, change its placement to a warmer part of your home. Keep it away from drafty windows and doors, and also away from air conditioning vents.
Provide the plant with regular conditions without temperature variation to avoid any sort of stress, which will improve its potential to bloom.
3. Control Humidity Levels
Native to arid lands, snake plants do well in low humidity. High humidity gives rise to problems with the plant in the form of root rot and fungal infections, which in turn will compromise the flowering capability of the plant.
Highly arid air is also not liked because this browns out the tips of its leaves and generally worsens the health of the plant.
How To Fix?
If your snake plant is in a relatively highly humid area, try placing it in a relatively dry spot. You could also use a dehumidifier to get rid of moisture from the air. On the other side, if your home is too dry, increase humidity on the low side with a shallow pan of water next to your plant or a pebble tray.
This is the balance that will keep your plant healthy and maybe even encourage it to flower.
4. Avoid Overwatering
Snake plants can tolerate drought conditions and require a complete drying of the soil between waterings. The number one mistake that leads to root rot is overwatering; this will stunt the growth of the plant and prevent it from blooming.
Too much water washes away some very critical nutrients within the soil that will be needed by the plant to bloom.
If you suspect this is an overwatering problem, cut back the frequency of watering, allowing the soil to go quite dry before rewatering. If there is root rot, carefully remove the plant from the pot, cut off affected roots, and replant it in fresh, well-draining soil.
A change in your habit of watering, concerning the needs of this plant, will result in a healthy bloom.
5. Use the Right Soil Mix
Snake plants prefer to be in well-drained soil with good aeration, emulating their natural habitat. When planted on dense and solid soil, it retains too much water, causing root rot, which prevents flowers from emerging.
A cactus or succulent potting mix added with perlite or sand will work best for snake plants, as this ensures that proper drainage is maintained.
How to Fix?
If your snake plant is currently sitting in dense, moisture-retentive soil, consider changing this and replanting it in a well-draining mix. Let excess water drain out of the pot from the bottom; this will prevent water from gathering on the bottom and possibly causing problems with the roots.
Using the correct type of soil mix will further create an even more hospitable place for your snake plant and allow it to blossom more easily.
6. Fertilize Sparingly
Snake plants are quite hardy and generally don't require much fertilizing to thrive, but giving them the right nutrients encourages blooming. Too much fertilizing can cause the salt buildup in the soil to increase, which not only harms the roots but hinders the process of flowering as well.
The excess may burn the leaves turn them yellow or cause root rot, making it less likely to bloom. Conversely, under-fertilization means the plant is deficient in nutrients: slow growth, pale leaves, and no blooms.
If you have not been fertilizing your snake plant, then you need to take a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer and apply it at half-strength. You will be able to provide the nutrients the plant needs without overloading it by applying fertilizer once a month during spring and summer when it is in the growing season.
If you have been over-fertilizing, flush the soil with water to remove excess salt and decrease the frequency of fertilizing. Feeding your snake plant at just the right time will promote its growth and give you more of a chance to see these very elusive blooms.
7. Provide Proper Air Circulation
Snake plants require good air circulation that will help prevent fungal diseases and encourage healthy growth. Poor air circulation around it will provide a very conducive atmosphere for mold, mildew, and a host of other problems that may stunt its growth and prevent it from flowering.
Poor air circulation brings about excess moisture in the air around the leaves and soil, hence promoting root rot, among other problems. Snake plants require fresh air continuously to keep them healthy and strong.
How to Fix?
Keep your snake plant in a very open space for air circulation, if it had been kept in a cramped, stuffy area. Avoid keeping it in corners, small rooms, or places where air doesn't circulate well, as that would narrow down air passage and the chances of its catching a disease would increase.
If needed, keep a small fan around them to provide better air circulation for the plants kept in awfully stuffy places. Proper air circulation will help prevent problems and will provide a better environment for your snake plant in terms of blooming.
8. Ensure Proper Pot Size
The size of the pot can hugely affect the chances of your snake plant blooming. Snake plants like to be slightly root-bound, meaning their roots fill the container without leaving too much extra space.
A pot that is too large might hold excess moisture, which would cause root rot and therefore suppress flowering. On the other hand, if the pot is too small, it could hinder root growth and generally lessen the plant's vigor; it even stops blooming.
If your snake plant sits in a pot that is too big, consider repotting it into a much smaller container that best fits the snake plant's root system. Make sure the new pot has drainage holes so water does not collect on the bottom, which might cause root rot.
Give your snake plant a slightly larger pot in width if it is in a pot that's too small and seems constrained. This will give more room for its roots to grow without being too overwhelmed. Finding the right pot size should get your snake plant going, and maybe even provoke some blooms.
9. Allow for Dormancy
Like most plants, snake plants appreciate winter rest. This resting allows the plant to rejuvenate its energy for possible blooming when a new growth season starts. By maintaining your snake plants in bright and warm conditions throughout the year, you may be preventing them from going into dormancy.
How to Fix?
By gradually withholding water during winter and placing your snake plant in the cooler area of your house, you can induce dormancy. This cool and drier environment tells the plant to enter into its dormant stage, a time when the plant rests and gathers energy.
When the growing season comes again, make normal care available once more, and your snake plant will be better prepared to bloom. A correct period of dormancy can make a difference in encouraging flowering.
10. Avoid Frequent Disturbances
Snake plants are plants of habit and always frown upon being disturbed now and then. Be it shifting from one place to another, constant repotting, or changing the plant surroundings--all these can put the plant under stress.
A stressed snake plant only directs its energy to recovery instead of blooming, therefore reducing the chances of flowering.
If you have constantly been moving or repotting your snake plant, let it be for some time. Place it at a spot that is very comfortable regarding light, temperature, and humidity; let the plant get used to it.
From now on, avoid its repotting or relocation as much as possible. By minimizing disturbances in life and giving it a stable environment, the snake plant will start concentrating on healthy growth and blooming.
11. Prune Dead Leaves
Pruning any dead or damaged leaves that come up on your snake plant is important for general health. Dead leaves are an eyesore on the plant and can house unwanted parasites and diseases that migrate to healthy foliage.
With pruning, energy is then directed to new growth and possibly some blooms. Regular pruning helps in keeping the plant tidy and avoids stressing the healthy parts of the plant.
How to Fix?
Using clean scissors or pruning shears, snip off the leaves from the base that are dead or yellowing. Make your cuts as close to the soil as possible to avoid any dead tissue from remaining on the plant. Regular pruning will also keep the plant healthy and more oriented toward flowering.
12. Avoid Excessive Touching
Snake plants are hardy, yet they are quite sensitive to constant handling. The constant fingering or handling of the leaves will, over time, damage their cells to stimulate brown appearance, stunt growth, and sometimes prevent the blooming process.
This can stress the plant and halt the flowering process to divert its energy to recovery.
Avoid over-handling your snake plant by limiting touching and moving, except when it is necessarily required for watering or pruning. Give the plant some time to accredit itself to the atmosphere and begin growing in peace.
This kind of stability will help the plant concentrate its energies on blooming rather than recovering from stress.
13. Watch for Pests
You always need to be on the watch for pests like spider mites, mealybugs, and scale insects because they can greatly reduce the chances of your Snake plant blooming. Since these pests feed on the plant's sap they might cause leaf damage and even stunted growth of the plant.
If you leave the pest infestation untreated, this might even risk greater damage to the plant.
How To Fix?
You can start by regularly inspecting your snake plant for signs of pests. Go and look out for tiny webs, white cottony spots, or sticky residue on the leaves. If you find any pests, treat the plant with insecticidal soap or neem oil.
Meanwhile, you need to ensure you cover all affected areas. Preventive measures and early treatment will keep your snake plant healthy and capable of blooming.
While fertilization is quite paramount for growth, over-fertilizing your snake plant will do more harm than good. Too much fertilizer may cause a salt buildup in the soil that could damage the roots and inhibit flowering.
A lot of fertilizer will also result in a plant with lots of foliage and no blooms since all the energy will have been concentrated on leaf growth.
How to Fix?
If suspected, flush the soil with water to remove excess salts. Reduce fertilizing frequency. Use a balanced fertilizer at half strength sparingly and especially during the growing season. The right amount of nutrients will give you more favorable ground for blooming.
15. Be Patient
The snake plant, of course, is notorious for its slow growth rate, and it will, however, take several years before it will bloom. Sometimes, you have given the best possible care, and the plant just needs more time to mature enough and then flower.
Aha, patience will be required here, as hurrying up or trying to force the blooming imposes unnecessary stress on the plant.
How to Fix?
If your snake plant refuses to bloom despite your best efforts, stay on your regular care routine and just give it time. Sometimes, a little patience is all it takes. With time, the snake plant will give back beautiful blooms to equal your care when it is ready.
What is Snake Plant?
Snake plants- also known by the names of Sansevieria or Dracaena trifasciata-are one of the most popular and hardy houseplants with a very distinct, sword-like shape in the form of their leaf blades.
It's a very common plant, quite popular in usage for its ornamental purpose, given that it has characteristics of air purification. Therefore, these plants are found in homes, offices, or any other tropical set-ups where moderate climatic conditions occur.
Leaves: Generally, snake plants have hard, upright leaves, normally with dark green variegation with light grayish-green cross-banding. The width, length, and color may differ among varieties.
Growth Habit: Plants of the snake varieties grow in a rosette fashion, with new leaves emerging from the plant base. They tend to grow rather slowly and may reach several feet in height.
Roots: Snake plants form rhizomes for water storage to help them survive during the dry period. The roots are not deep, and plants can do quite well in different types of soils.
Flowers: Snake plants can be made to flower, though seldom, when under the right conditions. These flowers bear long stalks, are small in size, fragrant with a greenish-white color, but equally not considered the star attraction of the plant.
When Does a Snake Plant Bloom?
Snake plants, or Sansevieria, are more renowned for their hardy nature and striking foliage than their blooms. However, with the right conditions, snake plant flowers can appear. Here's an overview of when a snake plant might flower
Season: Snake plant flowers do not have a set blooming season. They tend to bloom sporadically, typically during the warmer months like late spring or early summer. If you're wondering, "Does a snake plant flower in winter?" the answer is, that it's unlikely.
Conditions: For snake plants to flower, they need to be mature and placed in bright, indirect light. Interestingly, a bit of stress such as being root-bound or experiencing a change in their environment can trigger Sansevieria flowers. If you’re asking, “Why isn’t my snake plant growing flowers?” it might be because it hasn’t experienced the right combination of factors.
Appearance: The flowers of snake plants are small, tubular, and grow on tall stalks from the center of the plant. They are typically pale green or white and have a sweet fragrance, particularly noticeable at night. Some even refer to this event as a "snake plant flower bloom," and though it's rare, it’s a special occurrence when it happens.
While snake plants can flower, it's not something that happens often. Many plant owners may never witness a flowering snake plant, as it’s quite rare and often seen as a bonus rather than a regular event.
The snake plant flowering meaning is sometimes associated with the plant reaching a certain maturity or experiencing ideal conditions.
After flowering, snake plants can sometimes produce fruit, though this is even more uncommon. The fruit of snake plants is not the main attraction but rather a curious byproduct of the rare blooming process.
