The first time I saw one of my snake plants bloom I thought something was wrong with it. A weird stalk had just shot up out of nowhere between it’s leaves and I panicked. But it turns out I’d got lucky and stumbled onto something quite rare that can happen with snake plants.
Snake plant flowers don’t grow very often. We’re talking once per year if you’re lucky.
But a lot of indoor snake plants never bloom at all. Some people have owned their plants for decades without seeing a single flower.
But getting yours to bloom isn’t out or the question. It can be done. It’s just a bit tricky.
Why? Well nobody knows exactly what makes a snake plant decide it’ll start growing flowers. But after years of growing these plants I’ve got a good idea of what seems to work.
You shouldn’t be trying to force your plant to do anything. What I’ll be showing you is just giving it the right conditions and then letting nature do its thing.
Quick Answer
- Give Brighter Light (Most Common): Snake plants bloom only when the light is strong. Move the plant to somewhere it will get bright, indirect light or gentle morning sun.
- Let the Plant Get Root Bound: Slightly crowded roots help trigger it to grow flowers. And don’t repot it too often.
- Water and Feed Sparingly: Let the soil dry out fully between each time you water and feed it lightly once or twice during the growing season.
What Snake Plant Flowers Look Like
Before we get into how to get it grown it it doesn’t hurt to know what you’re working toward and what snake plant flowers look like.
Snake plant flowers grow on tall stalks that can reach up to 3 feet high. The stalk shoots up from the center of the plant, usually happening very quickly. It can be almost overnight.
Along the stalk you’ll see groups of small flowers (they may look a bit like tubes). They should be mostly creamy white or greenish in color although some varieties give you yellow blooms.
The flowers themselves look a bit like tiny honeysuckle or lily blooms. They open at night and release a sweet scent that you’re more likely to notice in the evening.
Some people say the scent smells similar to vanilla or jasmine. Mine smelled like a mix of honeysuckle and something almost citrusy. If was really pleasant, actually.
But be warned – the flowers produce a nectar that’s sticky and can drip down onto the leaves. It’s won’t harm them or you, it’s just a little messy. I ended up with a few sticky spots on the table under my plant.
The blooms usually last about 2 to 4 weeks, depending on the conditions in your home. After that they’ll start to brown and dry out. Once they’re done you can cut the stalk off at the base and your plant will be fine.
Why Snake Plants Bloom
This is where it gets interesting. For years everyone said snake plants bloom because of stress.
The idea was that when a plant thinks it might die – from a lack of water, being root bound, whatever it might be – it puts out flowers as a last ditch attempt to survival by making seeds and reproducing.
But I’ve talked to enough people now who have cared for their plants in the best way and they’ve still bloomed anyway. So it isn’t as simple as that.
Some snake plants that bloom are well cared for and not neglected or stresses. The real answer seems to be that it’s a mix of things -maturity, a little bit of stress (but not too much) and the right conditions.
Think of it this way: mild, controlled stress signals a snake plant to move from growing leaves to reproducing through flowers. In the wild snake plants deal with long dry seasons and a lot of intense sun.
Indoor snake plants often live too comfortably. They get water on a regular basis, the temperature is kept consistent, there aren’t any major challenges for them. They get lazy about blooming because there’s no real reason for them to do it.
How Age Plays a Role
One thing that’s a must for blooming: your plant needs to be old enough.
Indoor plants often need to be at least four to eight years old to bloom. Some sources say 3 to 5 years at minimum but in my experience the older plants are way more likely to flower. I didn’t see blooms on any of mine until the six year mark.
If you just bought your snake plant last spring you’re going to need to have some patience with it. There’s no rushing this.
Young plants just don’t have the energy or maturity to produce flowers. They’re too busy establishing themselves and growing new leaves.
Light Is Everything
Snake plants are known as low light houseplants, so everyone sticks them in a dark corner and forgets about them.
But that’s a mistake if you want blooms.
Snake plants tolerate low light. But they grow best in bright or even direct sunlight.
I moved one of my plants from a hallway without much light to a place right next to an east facing window and it made a bug difference. More light = more energy = better chance of getting flowers.
What “Bright Light” Means
Bright, indirect light is ideal. That means near a window where the plant gets a lot of daylight but isn’t sitting directly in harsh afternoon sun all day (which can burn the leaves). An east facing window is perfect because the bright morning sun made a noticeable difference for my plants.
South facing windows work too, just don’t leave the plant back a foot or two from the glass. West facing is fine.
North facing though? Probably not enough light for blooming although your plant will survive there just fine.
Some people have even had success with grow lights that copy the right conditions, especially during the winter when there isn’t much natural daylight. If you’re serious about getting blooms and don’t have great natural light its an option you can try.
You have to be consistent though. Don’t keep moving your plant around. Pick a bright spot and leave it there.
Root Bound
This will probably feel counterintuitive but it’s a big deal: you want your snake plant to be slightly pot bound.
A pot bound snake plant is much more likely to bloom than one with extra space because of stress induced flowering. When the roots are tightly packed and circling the pot the plant gets a signal that it’s time to reproduce rather than keep growing bigger.
How Root Bound Is Too Root Bound?
There’s a sweet spot. You want the roots to have filled most of the pot, maybe starting to circle at the bottom, but not to the point where the plant looks unhealthy. If leaves arent growing,
The ones left in the same pot for 4 5 years were the first to flower – newly repotted ones just kept growing leaves without thinking about blooms. My flowering plant? Definitely pot bound. The roots were pushing against the sides of the plastic pot so hard they were starting to warp it.
Signs your plant is nicely pot bound without being in unhappy:
- Water drains through quickly because roots have displaced most of the soil
- You can see roots poking out of the drainage holes
- The pot feels heavier than it should for its size
- Plant is still growing new leaves and looks healthy overall
If you’ve been repotting your snake plant every year or two without fail then it’s time to stop. Let it get cozy (or cramped, depending on how you look at it) in its current pot.
Watering
Snake plants are succulents. They store water in their leaves which means they’re built to do well with a lack of water. In fact letting the potting mix dry out completely between watering and keeping the plant somewhat dry can help encourage it to bloom.
I water mine every 2 to 4 weeks, depending on the season. In winter I stretch it even longer – sometimes a month or more between waterings.
The Controlled Neglect Method
This sounds weird but some people swear by it. The idea is to water even less than usual to stress the plant just a bit. One grower accidentally skipped watering for a month and the plant didn’t just survive – it bloomed the following season in a big way.
I’m not saying you should abandon your plant. But if you’re the type who waters on a strict schedule, maybe ease up a little. Let the soil get bone dry. Wait a few more days. Then water thoroughly.
This is very similar to the natural wet dry cycles snake plants would experience in their native habitat. When snake plants have minimal water they often get stressed and think they might be dying due to drought, which causes them to create flowers that turn into seeds.
Just make sure your plant still looks healthy. If the leaves are wrinkling badly or looking really sad you’ve probably gone too far.
Temperature and Seasonal Changes Matter
Snake plants are sensitive to the change of seasons. So much so that they’re more likely to bloom during spring and summer. The transition from being dormant in the winter to the active growing season in spring often triggers flowering.
I live in a place with pretty distinct seasons and I’ve noticed my snake plants perk up noticeably when spring arrives and daylight hours start increasing. That seasonal shift seems to wake something up in them.
Temperature Sweet Spot
These plants like it warm. They’re originally from West Africa, so they’re used to heat. Room temperature is generally fine – somewhere between 65 to 85°F on a consistent basis will be perfect.
What you want to be carful of is cold drafts, the temperature changing quickly or putting the plant near to air conditioning. Cold drafts, heat coming from vents or frequent temperature swings can mess up a plant’s internal rhythm.
My apartment gets pretty cold by the windows in winter so I pull my snake plants back a bit during those months. Come the spring I move them back to their bright spots and that seems to help with the getting them to come alive again and even bloom.
What About Fertilizer?
Snake plants don’t need much fertilizer. They’re not heavy feeders.
If you do fertilize though then use a diluted, all purpose blend. Don’t use a lot though and only use it during the growing season.
Don’t fertilize during fall and winter when the plant is less active. Too much fertilizer, especially one that’s got a lot of nitrogen in it, will make the plant grow leaves instead of flowers.
Some people suggest using a high phosphorus fertilizer to boost the chances of getting your plant to flower. Phosphorus is the nutrient that promotes blooms and roots (it’s the middle number on fertilizer labels). But I’ve had better luck with just not fertilizing much at all. But you can definitely try and see how it goes for you.
Picking the Right Variety
Not all snake plants are equally likely to bloom. Some snake plant varieties like Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Laurentii’ are more likely to flower than others.
If you’re dead set on seeing flowers then some research before you buy one. Some varieties just don’t bloom much indoors even under the most perfect conditions. The common Sansevieria trifasciata (the one with yellow edges) seems to flower more so than some of the fancier ones.
That said I wouldn’t buy a whole new plant just for this reason. Work with what you’ve got. Any snake plant can potentially bloom, some are just easier than others.
After Your Plant Blooms
So you did it! Your snake plant has a flower stalk! Now what?
First: enjoy it. Take pictures. Show it to your friends who also love plants.
This is really quite special. So you deserve to make a big deal out of it. Some people have had their snake plant for 40 years and only seen it bloom once.
The flowers will last a few weeks. You might notice that they close during the day and open again at night to release their scent. Catch them in the evening for the best smell.
Do You Need to Cut the Flower Stalk?
Once the flowers start to fade and turn brown you can cut the stalk off at the base with scissors. This helps the plant keep some energy for new growth. But there’s no rush – wait until the stalk dries out completely if you want.
Some people worry that flowering harms the plant. It doesn’t.
Flowering doesn’t harm the plant, though it may need extra energy while the bloom is active. Your snake plant will be fine. In fact, many plants produce new offsets (baby plants) after blooming.
Will It Bloom Again?
Maybe? Most snake plants flower once in several years usually when mature and they have the right conditions. Annual blooms are uncommon and experiencing a second bloom within the same year is even rarer.
Don’t expect it to happen every year. Even happy, healthy plants might only bloom occasionally. Just keep giving it the best care and maybe – maybe – you’ll see another flower stalk pop up in a few years.
Why Your Snake Plant Might Not Bloom
Even if you do everything right your snake plant might never bloom. And that’s completely fine.
Not all snake plants bloom even under ideal conditions. Some are just not genetically inclined to flower indoors.
Others might need to be even older than you think. And sometimes plants are just mysterious creatures that do what they want.
I have three snake plants. Only one has ever bloomed for me. The other two? Perfectly healthy, lovely plants that just have no interest in flowering. I’ve stopped worrying about it.
To me snake plants are already amazing without flowers. They need very little in the way of maintenance, they clean the air, look great and they’re pretty much indestructible. If you get a bloom, that’s a bonus. A really cool bonus, but still just a bonus.
Final Thoughts
After growing snake plants for years and getting a bit obsessed with having them bloom I came to the conclusion that you simply can’t force it. But you can set the stage for it to happen.
Give your plant bright light. Way more than you probably think it needs.
Let it get root bound and don’t repot it every time you think you should. Water less than feels comfortable.
And be patient! Because snake plants can live 25 years or longer and flowering is linked to maturity.
The most important thing though? Just be a good plant parent.
Keep your snake plant healthy and happy, give it consistent care and let the plant decide when (or if) it wants to bloom. Sometimes the best things happen when you stop trying so hard to make them happen.
My first bloom showed up on a random morning in April. I hadn’t done anything special – I’d just been taking care of the plant the same way I always had for years.
And suddenly there it was. A tall stalk covered in tiny white buds that smelled incredible when they opened that evening.
It felt like the plant was saying thanks for taking good care of it for all that time. And then treated me with something special. And that made all the years of waiting totally worth it.