Did you know that sansevierias (snake plants) bloom? They do! I knew they did, but haven’t ever had one bloom on my windowsill. They have in my sunroom where of course, they get more sun, but never on the window sill. Here it is blooming below. So how do you get your sansevieria to bloom?
Sansevieria ‘Moonshine’ in my west window.
‘Moonshine’ Sansevieria
I have had this ‘Moonshine’ sansevieria for years. It has been in the same window in the same place forever. I’ve lived her 21 years, but am not sure how long I’ve had this particular plant. A long time. The only thing that has changed in the last few months, is that IÂ up-potted it last fall as it was busting out of the pot. The weird thing is the side that is blooming is the side furthest from the sun. The only thing I can think of is that that side faced the sun before I up-potted it and the bud was already there. (Yes, I know I’m supposed to turn my plant regularly to make sure all sides get the same amount of sun) If I had turned it more often, I may have had more than one bloom stalk.
sansevieria buds
Sansevieria bloom
How do you get your snake plant to bloom?
The only thing that can make a plant bloom is the sun/electric light. Many people assume that if a plant isn’t blooming, it needs fertilizer. Fertilizer is simply nutrients or viatmins for your plant. It doesn’t make your plant bloom. If you are using bloom booster fertilizer, it is just that….a booster. Not a bloom “maker”. It helps the bloom color be all that it can be, makes them bigger, last longer….just boost the blooms. The sun or electric light is how a plant makes its food and what makes a plant bloom.
The nectar is dripping from these sanseveiria flowers
Find the sun
Your snake plant may be languishing in a dark corner, as many snake plants are. They have the reputation of being a low light, dark-corner-dwelling plant. Whereas they will “survive” in those corners for a long time, they are slowly declining and will eventually perish in those conditions. If, on the other hand, you place your snake plant in full sun, such as a south or west window, it will “thrive” and may bloom!
Sansevieria blooming
New growth
This plant has taken off since I up-potted it last November. The new growth is looking good!
New growth
So put your sansevieria in as much light as you can, and you will be surprised how fast they fill the pot and may even bloom! has your snake plant bloomed?
An open bloom on my ‘Moonshine’ sansevieria
Here is a Pinterest graphic if you would like to pin it.
Hi Lisa! I have gotten my snake plant to bloom, though it was not by anything I did… haha. I just lucked upon it in a well lit plant room I used to have at another house we used to live in. It had the most perfect picture window that faced south and I grew the most amazing plants, dare I say even more successfully than in my current greenhouse? Yes most definitely. I didn’t know that about the bloom booster fertilizer, I figured it made it bloom like you said most think. Huh, who knew?! Thanks for the great tips. I pinned your photo on Pinterest and I just added a link to your site here on a comment with another gardener 🙂 Sharing the love.
Thanks so much, Jaime! I really appreciate it. Yes, many people think fertilizing their plants will make them bloom. It does help as you are giving your plants nutrients and they will be more healthy, but only the sun can make your plant bloom. Thanks for your comment and for sharing! Have a great day!
This is so interesting! The tip of your snake plant’s bloom looks a bit like my mom’s spider plant bloom, which she once gave me half of hers when she re-potted. Mine’s not dying, but it’s not blooming either. I’d better move it to a more sunshiny spot! Thanks for sharing~
Thanks! I hope it blooms for you!
My sansevieria blooms every year. It spends the winter in my home and all spring, summer and fall outside in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It is at least 70 years old. I rescued it at an estate sale from a gentleman who’d received it from his mother-in-law when he got married 60 plus years before. It gets eastern sun and very little water in the winter. I fertilize it occasionally when it is outside. It has many inflorescences. If you like, I can send a picture to an email.
Hi Marcy,
I would love to see your 70 year old sansevieria! That is awesome! Send to lisa@thehouseplantguru.com
I’m about a year late, but came looking for answers after noticing my snake plant growing 3 flower stalks. I’m also in Oklahoma, and I’ve also put mine outside for the summer. It must really love our climate!
Never too late! So glad they are blooming for you!
Lisa
I just moved my sansevieria outside today. It will get morning sun for a few hours, then afternoon shade. I’m on the Montana-Wyoming border with super low humidity. The afternoon sun tends to tear things up.
Hopeful for some fantastic new growth. My husband thinks it’ll burn up. But, we’ll see!
If you acclimated it first before moving it outside into the sun, it should do fine.
I was shocked when I came home after being away a month and left my plant on a sunny deck, during the winter it is in my basement in front of a sliding door. It is a large plant and now has seven white and green spikes throughout the plant, never seen this plant bloom before nor seen blooms on other plants
So cool! People don’t realize that with enough light, snasevieria/dracaena will bloom! They are pretty!
Gorgeous photos of a gorgeous plant.
Hi Maureen,
Thanks for visiting and commenting!
Lisa
I’ve just managed to find this page after two surprise stalk on two separate snake plants of mine! Here’s where I’m confused, I have been told by many sources that if my snake plants are blooming, it means my plants are stressed and unhappy, I’m great full for this sweet blessing, I don’t want to hurt my 5 year old babies! Help!
Hi Chloe,
Actually, if your snake plant is blooming, it means it is happy! It is supposed to bloom with enough light. Minebloom all the time. You can’t believe everything you read!lol
Have a great day and enjoy your snake plant blooms! Lisa
Hello. I have my Mothers snake plant, (she died in 1962) I was able t0 GIVE cuttings of it to my daughter and sons. Last summer the plant I had given my daughter SUDDENLY BLMED. SURPRISE TO ALL OF US. nOW i WILL BE MOVING THE ORIGINAL PLANT TO A SUNNY LOCATION AND HOPE. AT THIS POINT IT IS 5 FT. TALL AND NEED TO BE REPOTED. iT BROKE THE POT IT IS IN. i WILL HOPE FOR BLOOMS IN THE FUTURE.
Hi, I love family plants and it so nice you could pass them on to your kids. If you put it in a sunny spot, I bet you will have blooms soon.
Lisa
Is it normal for the flower of snake plant to form water-like droplets.
Hi Richard, Yes, that is fine. It is nectar droplets.
Lisa
My best friend told me to lick the nectar – is that safe?
I have not done this, but have seen someone licking hoya nectar….I can’t tell you yes or no. Lisa