Flowering Snake Plants: Uncovering the Secrets of Blooming Indoors
Guide for Encouraging Blooms in Snake Plants
Snake plants, revered for their hardy nature and striking architectural leaves, may surprise you with a hidden delight: the potential to bloom and produce beautiful white flowers. However, replicating the conditions for indoor blooming can be a challenge.
The key to coaxing a snake plant into blooming lies in mimicking its natural environment. This means providing bright, indirect light, fluctuating temperatures, and ample water, among other factors.
Rod Haenni, the president of the Cactus and Succulent Society of America, and Bex Claire Hamell, a houseplant educator and award-winning horticulturist, share their insights on fostering blooms in snake plants.
Flowering snake plants sprout tall, green shoots adorned with small, fragrant, tubular white flowers. These blossoms often open from the bottom up and emit a grassy, sweet aroma. Some species may produce pink or violet flowers and a sticky nectar, a natural part of the process.
While snake plants bloom during mid-summer in their natural environment, indoor blooming is rare. However, indoor blooming can happen when the plant experiences conditions similar to its native environment, such as bright, indirect light, temperature changes, and a mature age.
It's important to note that snake plant blooms do not indicate imminent death. "Mature plants that receive enough light, water, and nutrients will naturally produce blooms," says Hamell.
Certain snake plant varieties are more likely to bloom under the right conditions. Here's a list of the top blooming varieties, ranked by Hamell:
- Dracaena 'Fernwood' and Dracaena angolensis, formerly Sansevieria cylindrica, are considered more reliable bloomers
- Dracaena trifasciata 'Hahnii' rarely flowers due to a genetic mutation
- Dracaena pinguicula is slow-growing and blooms infrequently
By following these steps, you can create optimal conditions for blooming snake plants indoors:
- Allow the snake plant to mature for at least two years in the same pot, until it has multiple mature-sized leaves and starts to spread.
- Repot sparingly every two to three years into a slightly larger pot and break up the root ball to promote healthy growth. Opt for terracotta pots to prevent overwatering.
- Place the snake plant in bright, indirect light. In summer, move it outdoors to a partially sunny spot that doesn't receive direct midday and afternoon sun.
- Mimic natural temperature fluctuations by keeping the plant outdoors in the summer and early fall. Indoor temperatures should be around 70 degrees Fahrenheit, while outdoor temperatures between 55 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit help mimic its native climate.
- Water thoroughly, but infrequently, and allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings. Snake plants prefer a watering routine that balances slight moisture stress with ample drainage.
- Feed the snake plant lightly three to four times a year during the growing season with a balanced, general-purpose houseplant fertilizer.
- Use a quick-draining soil mix or improve airflow by adding perlite, pumice, pebbles, or bark to standard potting soil.
While there's no foolproof method to induce blooming in all snake plants, these steps can increase your chances of witnessing the delightful surprise of blooming flowers. Happy planting!
Martha Stewart, a prominent figure in home-and-garden lifestyle, might find joy in nurturing certain houseplants like the snake plant, which can bloom indoors under the right conditions. For instance, the 'Dracaena 'Fernwood' and 'Dracaena angolensis' are considered more reliable bloomers among snake plant varieties.
