Snake plants are beautiful and sustainable plants to keep both indoors and outdoors. They liven up your home and are known for being one of the easiest plants to take care of.
Their leaves are long and sturdy, often decorated with markings similarly seen on the body of a snake. This is a plant with longevity, living for around 5 to 10 years when cared for properly.
Many people wonder if snake plants flower. Their beautiful leaves are great for brightening your space, and they also come with a hidden surprise—on rare occasions, they do flower.
Several people are unaware of this because it rarely happens. You might be wondering how to encourage them to flourish and how you should take care of your snake plant.
This guide will walk you through all of the necessary tips that you can use to make sure your snake plant thrives. If you are lucky, you might even witness a bloom or two.
Flowers and How to Encourage Blooms
When it comes to snake plants, there is no foolproof plan for making them blossom. This can happen at any time, seemingly out of nowhere.
Most agree that the best approach to take is to just take great care of your snake plant to give it the best chance of blossoming. When you have a happy plant, you are doing everything you can for it to thrive.
If flowers do bloom, you will be greeted by a sweet aroma. These flowers are potent and beautiful.
Appearing very wispy and white in color, your snake plant will begin to grow its flowers in the center of the leaves. It is a very subtle bloom, but they will enrich your environment with their beauty and spicy vanilla-like scent.
If you do notice that your snake plant starts to produce flowers, keep in mind that they do secrete sticky nectar. Because of this and their smell, this can often attract several different bugs and insects.
You might want to keep your snake plant outdoors if this becomes problematic inside of your home. Keeping the area around the plant clean is going to prevent a pest outbreak.
Another tip to encourage flower production is to repot your snake plants. If the plants have enough room for their roots, this will make them more likely to blossom.
A plant that is cramped in a pot or one that outgrows its pot can feel stress just like we do. The plant will begin to focus on how to spread its roots and make enough room rather than producing flowers.
Potting a Snake Plant
Once you get your plant, keeping it in its original pot is usually only a temporary solution. As mentioned, snake plants need plenty of room to thrive.
You should go for a pot that is at least twice as big as the pot it comes in. This will provide ample room for the roots to spread.
After selecting your pot, fill it about two-thirds with potting soil. With your hands or a gardening tool, you are going to create a slight well in the center of the soil.
You can then gently remove the snake plant from its original pot closest to the base. Make sure to loosen all of the roots as you inspect the bottom of your snake plant.
If you notice any tangled roots, you can use a trowel or garden snips to get rid of these knots. This is going to ensure that the roots are able to spread freely.
Gently press the snake plant into the new pot and soil, making sure it is stable. You can then add additional soil to the pot to fill it up the rest of the way.
Make sure you leave about an inch of space from the very top of the pot. Then, you will place the snake plant in a room or outdoors where it can get indirect sunlight.
You can then lightly water your snake plant. It won’t need much water, only enough to be able to feel a dampness with your fingers when you touch the top of the soil.
If your pot has a saucer on the bottom, make sure to check it for any moisture. If there is drainage present, discard this water.
This is one way to keep your plant clean and the area that surrounds it free of mildew and pests. It will also protect your snake plant from developing root rot.
How Often Do You Water it?
Your snake plant does not need water daily or even weekly. It is fine to water your snake plant about every two weeks.
This will keep it moist without the risk of overwatering it. The plant is supposed to dry out in between waterings, but it is still absorbing this water over the period of two weeks.
During colder months, you can even switch your watering routine to only once per month. This will be sufficient to keep your snake plant hydrated.
Make sure to always feel the soil before you water it. If it is still damp, then your plant is still absorbing this water and will not need any until the soil dries out.
Ideal Conditions
Aside from a sufficient pot, occasional watering, and indirect sunlight, there are a few other factors to keep in mind to care for your snake plant. These factors will influence your snake plant’s growth and overall happiness.
Snake plants do not need humidity to thrive. They prefer drier climates, but a little humidity will not hurt.
They thrive in almost any temperature, but temperatures lower than 50 degrees Fahrenheit can be detrimental. If you are keeping your plant outdoors, keep this in mind because you will need to bring it inside when the temperature drops.
The growing seasons for snake plants are spring and summer. This is when you will likely begin to see flowers if your plant decides to bloom.
You can add fertilizer to the pot every two months to encourage maximum health and growth. Any general houseplant fertilizer is suitable.
As far as toxins go, you need to make sure to keep your snake plant away from animals and small children. If consumed, it can be dangerous to both.
If you are ever unsure if you are watering your snake plant enough, it is best to wait a week rather than risk overwatering it. You are much more likely to kill a snake plant if you overwater it rather than if you underwater it.
Keep an eye on your snake plant’s leaves. Discolored or yellowing leaves could be a sign that it is getting too much water.
Even if the soil feels dry, make sure you are checking for proper drainage. Your snake plant does not need to retain a lot of excess moisture, so if it cannot rid the soil of this moisture, it is being overwatered.
Final Thoughts
Keeping a snake plant is both easy and enjoyable. They are beautiful houseplants that generally have an easy time thriving in almost any climate.
As you have learned, snake plants flower. Although it is a rare occurrence, it is still possible to enjoy their fragrant and delicate flowers.
People enjoy keeping snake plants because they require such minimal maintenance. Much like succulents, they do not need frequent watering to be considered happy and healthy.
Keep them indoors, outdoors, or both. You can enjoy this versatility to brighten your living space or to decorate your yard.
As long as you make sure the plant is not getting too cold and has indirect sunlight, you will not need to do much else after you transfer it to a bigger pot. With occasional fertilization, your snake plant is going to be good to go.
Whether you are a first-time plant owner or an established gardener, a snake plant is great for all levels of experience. This plant will not give you very much difficulty, and any problems that arise are usually fixable by monitoring the plant’s water intake.
Your snake plant is tolerant and resistant. More often than not, it will show you when it is unhappy rather than dying quickly.
People often feel discouraged when keeping plants because many will seem like they are doing okay, only to die shortly after. This is not the case with snake plants.
Even if you need to take a trip away from home, your snake plant will probably be just fine. Since you can go two weeks to a month without watering it, there is no need for a house sitter to come by and care for it.
Enjoy your snake plant and its beauty! It is going to work hard for you by purifying the air around you and giving you something amazing to look at. It’s an ideal plant for those who simply do not have a lot of time to set aside for complicated care routines.
Some of the healthiest snake plants can even live up to 25 years, so this is going to be a long-term addition to your plant collection.
Growing up with a mom who filled her home (inside and out) with all sorts of plants, Lisa got her start in gardening at a young age. Living now on her own with a home and yard full of plants (including an indoor greenhouse), she shares all the gardening tips she’s gained over the years.