When your snake plant sends up a tall stalk with white flowers, it’s a sign your plant is blooming.
While flowering is normal, it can indicate your plant is under stress, so keep reading to understand what blooming means and how to ensure your snake plant stays healthy.
KEY TAKEAWAY
Blooming snake plant, what to know?
Snake plants rarely bloom, and flowering is uncommon in indoor conditions.
While the plant is known for its air-purifying qualities, creating airtight containers for specific needs is unrelated to its blooming behavior.
What Is Snake Plant Flower?
This snake plant, also commonly known as Dracaena trifasciata…
The snake plant, first found in East Nigeria and the Congo, is a flowering plant from Africa that has spread worldwide.
Many farmers have cultivated snake plants with variegated leaves – more eye-catching.
Mother-in-law’s tongue, of the Asparagaceae family, was once a tropical rainforest plant.
There are a few rare white flowers you might encounter in your snake plant garden. (1)
While not common, every so often a bloom may pop up unexpectedly on your hardy succulent.
Though infrequent, enjoy these exotic blooms on your resilience snake plant if they appear!
What Does Blooming Snake Plant Mean?
When Sansevieria undergoes stress of not being repotted…
Snake plants may flower when root-bound and not repotted.
Their stalks can also create fluids, and flowers may emerge later.
It’s a rare event, occurring just once a decade…
If your plant blooms, be grateful – few snake plants can do this!
The mother-in-law’s tongue flower is white and quite pretty in appearance.
Consider yourself lucky if your resilient snake plant surprises you by overcoming stress to produce its delicate white bloom!
This unique flowering is uncommon but shows the incredible capabilities of this hardy succulent.
Watch for These Signs Your Snake Plant is Blooming
One day you might notice a new tall stalk shooting up from your snake plant. This means it’s getting ready to bloom!
Here’s what to watch for:
- The stalk starts small but keeps growing over weeks. Be patient!
- At the tip, a little bump forms. This flower bud will swell up.
- Finally that bud opens into a bell-shaped white flower. So pretty!
- Enjoy these exotic blooms while they last. Snake plants rarely flower indoors.
Why Does A Snake Plant Flower?
It is rare for a snake plant to bloom, however it can happen anytime…
You may wake up to find your snake plant suddenly blooming!
There’s a slight chance your plant produced the flower from minor stress – but don’t worry, it won’t harm growth.
Only 1 in 100 plants get this bloom…
As the blossoms open, they resemble lily flowers.
The only thing to avoid is forcing it to bloom before it’s ready.
If you wake up to find your hardy snake plant has surprised you with a bloom, consider yourself one of the lucky few!
While an uncommon occurrence, a flower is a sign your plant is overcoming minor stressors.
No need to purposely stress it – let this delicate lily-like flower be a natural gift from your resilient succulent.
How Often Does A Snake Plant Flower?
Snake plant flowers are uncommon because they don’t grow very often…
In the wild, snake plant blooms are extremely rare sights.
One or two Sansevieria trifasciata may produce a stalk if stressed or root bound.
If they bloom at all,…
It would be in spring or early summer when grown outdoors with natural nutrients.
Snake plant leaves have a sharp point and produce oxygen, removing pollutants.
While uncommon, if your snake plant is stressed or rootbound, it may surprise you by producing a flower stalk. Enjoy this rare gift from your resilient plant!
Growing it outside in spring and summer provides natural nutrients needed for the possibility of this exotic bloom. And don’t forget – its sharp leaves filter your air!
Try These Tips to Possibly Get a Bloom
Though rare, you might encourage a snake plant bloom by:
- Giving it bright indirect light from an east window. But avoid hot direct sun.
- Using a quick-draining potting mix, not heavy soil.
- Letting it get a little rootbound. Repotting gives fresh starts.
- Letting the soil dry out between drinks. Too much water causes issues.
- Growing it outside in spring and summer if you can. Natural weather helps.
Even with perfect care, flowering is still uncommon indoors. But who knows, with ideal conditions you might get lucky! If so, enjoy those special blooms on your hardy plant.
Do Snake Plants Ever Bloom?
Blooming is contingent on how tough the conditions are for this plant…
It must avoid being killed in the process of trying to bloom.
The plants produce flower stalks when under constant stress.
All the roots are surrounded and it’s hard to grow new leaves – so it makes a flower instead.
That doesn’t mean you should purposefully root bind your mother-in-law’s tongue.
Doing so can make things worse. Snake plants like smaller pots to hold the soil.
If the roots grow dense and take up the soil, leaving just a root ball, the plant will suffer. You must repot if root bound.
With proper care, perhaps one day you’ll be rewarded with the rare gift of its exotic bloom.
How Do I Get My Snake Plant To Flower?
Your snake plant can bloom if you neglect it…
Not repotting when needed can lead to blooms.
Giving little water and lots of light grows the roots, reducing soil as they bind.
Otherwise, sansevieria may bloom once root-bound…
But I don’t recommend stressing your plant this way!
The better approach…
Place it near a window and prune regularly.
Propagating requires pruning to a manageable size.
For taller plants, use a quality pot to let them grow in your living room or corner.
Proper Care After Blooming
Prune flower stalk all the way down after blooming.
This will help your snake plant put its energy into new growth rather than making more blooms.
Snake plants usually only bloom once a season. Check the soil after pruning.
If it seems dry and crumbly, it’s time to repot in fresh, well-draining potting soil.
Root rot can happen if the soil stays wet for too long.
Resume your regular watering routine and care.
During the growing season, moisten the soil when the top inch becomes dry.
Be careful not to overwater which can lead to root issues.
Monitor for signs of stress or disease.
If leaves start looking yellow or mushy, there may be an underlying problem.
Make sure your snake plant receives bright, indirect light and has well-draining soil. No need to stress over inducing more blooms! Snake plants don’t bloom very often on their own.
Enjoy this special display your plant is putting on.
Enjoying the Rare Flower Display
Fragrant white flowers will last around 1-2 weeks if conditions are right.
Snake plant blooms resemble small lily flowers and grow in clusters at the top of tall, stiff stalks. The fragile flower stalks can reach heights over 2-3 feet.
Take time to stop and appreciate this rare gift from your resilient houseplant.
You may not see blooms again for a long time. Photograph the exotic blooms to remember this special growing season.
Snake plants usually only bloom when conditions are perfect, so admire each delicate flower while you still can.
Soon they will fade, but your pictures will last. Did you know snakes plants come in over 20 varieties? The blooming types tend to be extra tropical species that grow well in low-light indoor spaces.
Regular care can help them thrive all year round.
Propagating Plants from Cuttings
Have you ever wanted to grow more plants from the ones you already have? Taking cuttings is a fun and easy way to do that.
I’ll share with you how I’ve successfully propagated more plants from my flowering friends.
When your plant is blooming with beautiful flowers, it’s a great time to take cuttings.
The plant is actively growing, so it has the energy needed to make new roots.
Look for stems that still have some leaves attached but have not yet bloomed.
Use sterilized scissors or pruners to trim just below a set of leaves.
Cut at a 45 degree angle so water doesn’t collect inside.
Now it’s time to plant your cuttings.
I like to use small plastic cups filled with potting soil or perlite.
Gently push the stem end about 1/2 inch into the medium.
The leaves should remain above the surface.
Mist the cuttings daily to keep the soil moist.
Within a few weeks you’ll start to see tiny roots emerging.
Once your cuttings have developed a good root system, it’s safe to pot them up.
I transfer mine to 4 inch pots using the same potting mixture.
Keep them in a warm, bright spot and water when the top inch of soil dries out.
Before long you’ll have a whole new plant! Be patient as they get established.
This method allows you to multiply your flowering friends.
I’ve had great success propagating dahlias, begonias, impatiens and more this way.
Give it a try and you can share your plant joy with others.
Soon your home will be filled with even more color and beauty! Let me know if you have any other questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a snake plant flower look like?
Let me tell you, a snake plant flower is really something special. These exotic blooms look totally different from the normal green, strappy leaves.(2)
When a sansevieria decides to shoot up a flower stalk, it’s delicate and eye-catching. The blooms are typically bright white.
They remind me of lilies with their trumpet shape and sweet fragrance.
The stalks themselves can reach 2-3 feet tall! So the flowers tower over the short leaves on a mature plant. It’s like a tropical plant paradise when those elegant blooms open up.
I’ll never forget the first time I walked in and saw flowers on my snake plant. I couldn’t believe that hardy succulent was giving me such exotic blooms.
Now I know it’s rare for indoor snake plants to produce flowers. But I sure hope mine surprises me again soon! When it does, I’ll be ready to enjoy those gorgeous white blooms.
Seeing the unique flower shape and learning how uncommon it is makes me appreciate them even more. I love when my plants give me fun little surprises.
So if you ever spot an unexpected flower stalk on your sansevieria, get ready! In just a week or so you could have some beautiful bell-shaped blooms bringing a touch of the tropics right into your home.
How often do snake plants produce flowers?
Snake plants rarely or infrequently bloom when kept as houseplants. It is estimated that only around 1% of indoor snake plants will produce flowers. So blooming is an uncommon occurrence.
Is it bad if my snake plant blooms?
No, a blooming snake plant is not harmful or detrimental to the plant’s health. The flowers are simply a response to minor environmental stressors, and blooming does not damage the plant. Think of it as your resilient snake plant overcoming its environment.
What causes my snake plant to bloom?
There are a few factors that can lead to snake plant flowers. Becoming pot bound or rootbound is one trigger, as is exposure to increased light.
Minor drought stress may also prompt blooming. But these conditions are not required to produce flowers – it can happen spontaneously.
Should I try to make my snake plant bloom?
It’s not recommended to intentionally stress your snake plant in hopes of seeing flowers. The risks of harming your plant outweigh the benefits of potentially inducing blooms.
Simply provide proper care and let the plant bloom if and when it is ready. The flowers are a rare and pleasant surprise.
To Sum It Up…
While rare, a bloom isn’t necessarily good for your snake plant.
You may want to enjoy the blooms – who wouldn’t?
But also consider your plant’s health.
Stressed and root-bound plants can get diseases and die.
So be mindful not to intentionally harm your plant for the sake of blooms. With proper care, perhaps one day it will gift you its exotic flower!
Conclusion
Now you know all about the rare, exotic blooms of snake plants. While enticing, avoid stressing your plant simply to prompt flowers.
With proper care like ideal light and repotting when rootbound, perhaps one day your hardy succulent will surprise you with a bloom.
But this occurrence is uncommon, so don’t intentionally neglect your plant. A flower is a sign of overcoming stress.
Focus instead on general care for a healthy plant. And if a bloom does occur, enjoy this rare gift!
With the insights shared here, you can now identify the blooms and properly care for your snake plant.
References
- https://justhouseplants.com/snake-plant-flower/
- https://thepracticalplanter.com/do-snake-plants-flower/
Related Articles
- https://allthingsgardener.com/flower-stalk-of-snake-plant/
- https://allthingsgardener.com/snake-plant-flowering/
- https://allthingsgardener.com/does-snake-plants-want-to-be-rootbound-when-to-repot/