It is rare to see snake plant flowers. It is possible to own a mother In law’s tongue for decades without knowing it produces flowers.
One fine day, you might be surprised to see the plant bloom. What causes Sansevieria to bloom, when does it bloom, how do the flowers look and smell, and can you force them to bloom?
Snake Plant Flowers
Snake plants make excellent houseplants. They can be left unattended during the winter, while you are on vacation, and would do just fine. There are so many types and varieties to choose from as well. Snake plant or Mother in law’s tongue is a flowering plant. Even though it is extremely rare to see these flowers, these ever-present, hardy houseplants can sometimes bloom. Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Hahnii’ is the only exception. Bird’s nest.
In botanical terms, snake plant refers to the plant Dracaena Trifasciata (Sansevieria trifasciata).
The majority of Sansevieria species, including different cultivars of trifasciata, rarely flower.
What Does a Snake Plant Flowers Look Like?
Flower spikes or stalks of mother-in-law’s tongue plants grow tall and erect the entire time they bloom. Flowers are found on the stalks of these plants, and they can reach a height of 3 feet (one meter) tall. Several tubular flower buds can appear on each stalk, resembling honeysuckle or lily flowers. The flowers are narrow-petaled and grow in clusters. A single flower stalk is the most that a plant can produce. Near the ground, some flowers grow at the base. Some varieties of sansevieria don’t even have flower stalks; instead, they grow directly from the base in big clusters.
Flowers come in a variety of colors and shapes according to the type of plant. Most commonly, they are creamy white, light green, light yellow, white, lavender, and mauve. The flowers of some species are even bright red. Sansevieria trifasciata usually has cream, greenish white flowers.
Despite being slender, elegant, and beautiful, these flowers are typically not durable enough to be used in flower arrangements. You should just enjoy them in their current state.
Snake Plant Blossom Fragrance
Snake plant flowers have a noticeable fragrance. Upon entering the room, you are able to smell it immediately. The blossoms are richly scented and have a pleasant smell. Sansevierias have a distinct aroma that is hard to describe and varies from species to species. Sansevieria Trifasciata Laurenti flower scent, for instance, contains approximately 69 unique compounds such as esters, alcohol, and aldehydes. In addition, the chemical composition of Sansevieria Trifasciata flowers is very different from that of Sansevieria Cylindrica flowers. At night, the fragrance is particularly strong. After dark, the blossom opens again after it closes during the day.
The flowers produce ample amounts of sticky nectar. It trickles down the stem in the form of sticky nectar that twinkles like dew droplets. Despite its attractive appearance, it can cause a lot of mess. During the weeks of blooming, you can cover the pot with paper towels.
Pests are attracted to flowers because of their strong smell and sweet nectar. In addition, if you keep the plant outdoors during this time, you will undoubtedly attract a lot of insects. Plants in containers should not be taken outdoors.
When Do Sansevieria Plants Bloom?
Seeing a snake plant bloom is a rare occurrence that most probably won’t occur more than once a year. Blossoms often appear during spring, and they can last a few weeks. Often, orange berries develop after the flowers. There is no way to predict when the plant will bloom every year, even though it can bloom every year.
If a rosette has previously flowered, it will not produce flowers. Flowers are grown on new stalks each time it blooms. When the blossom has died down, you can cut off the stalk from its base. Maintaining the neat and tidy appearance of your plant will help.
What Causes The Plants To Bloom?
Under these conditions, snake plants might not bear flowers, even though they are tolerant and can survive harsh conditions. The exact conditions necessary for the plants to bloom are unknown. Even after decades of care, some plants fail to bloom.
A few plants, however, can bloom each year despite frequent neglect. Some plants thrive when neglected. People may find this counter-intuitive, as they want to be nice and attentive to their plants. Sansevieria differ from other houseplants in this respect.
Their maintenance requirements are lower overall. During winter, showing them the sun once in a while and watering them sparingly can do the trick.
Age
It is unknown if the plants must be of a certain age in order to bloom. Plants as young as a couple of years old have been known to flower annually in anecdotal cases.
As the plants age, however, the more likely they are to flower. Flowering is more likely in mature plants under ideal conditions. After plants are moved, they may not bloom the first season.
A Pot’s Condition
When snake plants are “mildly stressed”, they produce flowers. Is there a logic to this? If these plants are left on their own with little water and plenty of bright light, they spread quickly and can become root-bound very quickly. Plants produce flowers to propagate themselves when there is no room for new leaves to grow.
Keeping your plant in a pot, even under conditions of overcrowding, doesn’t guarantee that it will bloom. Additionally, there can be numerous reasons such as species, watering, soil, location, warmth, overfeeding, which makes it difficult to pinpoint the cause.
You should also keep in mind that a snake plant’s rosette blooms only once. Therefore, one must provide favorable conditions for these plants to grow so they can bloom every year. It’s important to re-pot the pups if it is not possible to grow them outdoors at a normal pace, so they don’t spend too much time under the soil.
Water
Plants like Sansevieria are succulents with leaves that store water. Watering them isn’t necessary very often, because they don’t require much. Normally, you should water them once a week. Their ability to survive without water in winter is astounding. Water them thoroughly to ensure fast growth during the growing season, typically from spring through fall. Before watering again, let the soil completely dry out.
Growing snake plants outdoors doesn’t require anything more than rain. If it rains frequently, there is no problem as long as the soil is fast-draining and the roots are not soaked in water all the time. Snake plants also require loose soil and pots with drainage holes.
The Temperature
The Sansevieria plant is native to Africa and South Asia. They can, therefore, not survive freezing temperatures. It is best to keep your pets indoors during the colder months. The plants can be moved outside again after the last spring frost. Place them in a partly sunny location. Snake plants can live outdoors all year long if your winters are not too harsh.
The Soil
Snake plants don’t care about soil, so you can use a DIY soil-based medium or even a soilless potting mix. It is best to use a potting mix for cacti and succulents. Compost or manure can be added to the soil to provide nutrients to plants and promote the growth of microorganisms. Fertilizer can also be applied once or twice a year.
Snake Plants Die After Flowering?
Sansevierias are not monocarpic, so they won’t die after they flower and set seeds. It is very unlikely that the flowers will harm your plant.