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One may have had a Sansevieria plant for years, and they might not even know whether it is a flowering plant. It is more likely to blossom in the springtime and would not happen more than once a year.
To induce flowering In snake plants, you should keep snake plants in a root-bound stage while ensuring it gets plenty of sunlight but less water. This helps constrict the rootball and forces the Snake Plants to flower.
Despite being tolerant to harsh growing conditions, snake plants may be unable to bear flowers under circumstances that are not ideal for their growth.
However, there is still no definite guide that will spur the plant to bloom. While some would not flower even after caring for decades, some may bloom even when neglected.
So, what should one do to help their snake plant produce healthy and bright flowers? We have a few tips that might work.
What Makes a Snake Plant Flower?
There are a bunch of factors that can help induce flowering in your snake plant. Here are some things you should consider, along with a few tips that will help you increase the chances of the Sansevieria plant producing beautiful and healthy flowers.
What Age Do Snake Plants Flower?
Your Sansevieria plant does not have to attain a certain age to be capable of blooming. While some younger snake plants can flower annually, there are also mature plants that are more prone to blossom when provided with optimal growing conditions.
However, it is believed that the older the snake plant gets, the higher the chances of it blooming are. Other than this, it is possible that some plants would not bloom in their first season after being moved to a different climate or growing environment.
What Are The Light Requirements For Snake Plants To Flower
Snake plants prefer bright, indirect light. Even though Sansevieria plants can tolerate direct sunlight, it is recommended to avoid exposing them to full sun, especially during the peak hours like summer afternoons. So, you can grow them outdoors in a place that receives consistently dappled sunlight.
If you are growing a snake plant for the first time, you should know that sunlight plays a great role in the overall growth of the plant. Here is a blog to help you know how much sunlight your snake plant needs.
And if you are planning to grow it indoors, you should consider doing so in a well-lit room. You can even consider placing them on the windowsill to ensure it gets better exposure which will help the plant to grow quicker, thus increasing the chances of it producing flowers.
What Is The Best Size Of Pot To Induce Your Snake Plants To Flower
Gardeners often say that snake plants bloom when they are a little stressed. And it is important to know what they mean by ‘stressed.’ Generally, when plants are neglected and offered little water but a lot of sunshine, it is seen that they spread quickly.
This can quickly make them root-bound; soon enough, it would not have space to grow new shoots. That is when the plant tries to propagate itself by blooming.
While this may induce flowering, it does not guarantee that your plant will bloom when kept pot-bound. This might be because other factors like watering, species, soil, location, and warmth may affect the chances of the plant producing flowers.
What’s The Best Temperature To Force Snake Plants To Flower
Sansevieria are native to tropical regions, so they do not like a lot of warmth or cold. Thus, it is suggested that you do not keep your snake plant near the air conditioner or a heating vent.
Also, bringing the plant indoors during the winter is better as it cannot handle freezing temperatures. And while bringing them back outside, be sure to do so after the last spring frost.
How Much Water Do Snake Plants Need To Flower
As mentioned earlier, Sansevieria plants can survive in harsh conditions. This is because they are succulents and can store water in their leaves. Thus, they do not require frequent watering as well. Usually, they would do well if you water them once a week and even less during the winter months.
If you live in an area with extreme winters, your plant may survive for months without being watered.
However, your plant would need to be watered thoroughly from spring through fall as this is their growing season, and with enough moisture, they can grow quickly.
But ensure the soil is completely dried before you water your plant again.
And if you are residing in a tropical region, you can consider growing your snake plant outdoors. This is because the plant can sustain the rain and would not depend on you for water.
All you need to ensure is that the soil drains quickly so the roots are not drenched in water for a long time. You should grow your mother-in-law’s tongue plant in pots with drainage holes and use loose soil for this.
Can Soil Induce Flowering In Snake Plants
You need soil that drains quickly to get your snake plant to flower. And as mentioned earlier, you do not have to water your plant frequently. And be sure you do not offer it a lot of fertilizer.
The main idea here is to keep the soil dry enough to make the plant that is going to die from drought.
This is what motivates it to produce flowers to spread. Moreover, snake plants are not quite fussy about the soil. So, you may even use a ready-to-use potting mix or a DIY soil-based medium.
While these factors can influence the flowering cycle of your snake plant, there is no guarantee that your mother-in-law’s tongue will blossom even when you follow all these steps and tips. But if you are lucky enough, you may come across this rare sight.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take for a snake plant to bloom?
Seeing a Snake Plant blossom is usually a rare event. Seeing a flower emerging from your Sansevieria plant may take several years or decades. And while all the variants of a snake plant can bloom, there is only one exception, i.e., a group of Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Hahnii’ aka—bird’s nest plants, which do not bloom.
Is it bad for snake plants to flower?
Mother-in-law’s tongue plant plants bloom when they are a little stressed. However, this does not mean that your plant is damaged. One does have to worry about the health of the snake plant if it blooms. As these are quite hardy, a little stress would not hamper the overall growth of the plant.
What do Sansevierias flowers look like?
The snake plant produces flowers on a long flower stalk. The stalk may even reach a length of up to 3 feet. Once the plant starts blooming, it will be covered with dozens of flower buds. The flowers are usually white or cream in color. As the flowers begin to open up, they will start resembling lilies. And these would even have a very strong and pleasing fragrance that may occasionally attract pests.
Conclusion On How To Get Snake Plants To Flower
Getting your snake plant to blossom could be time-consuming, dreadful, and confusing. However, it would be worth the wait and effort once you come across the first sight of those white-colored blossoms. So, are you ready to see some healthy and stunning flowers emerging from your mother-in-law’s tongue plant?
