How to Get Your Snake Plant to Bloom for Elegant, Unexpected Flowers

If you’ve ever owned a snake plant, then you know it’s nearly indestructible. This houseplant's beautiful, architectural leaves and low-maintenance needs have made it a favorite among gardeners of all experience levels.

However, many don’t realize that snake plants can also flower under the right conditions. The fragrant, tubular blooms are a delightful surprise—one that can speak volumes about your plant care skills, experts say. Here, these gardening professionals help us uncover the secrets of blooming snake plants.

What They Look Like

Flowering snake plants send up a tall, green shoot lined with small, white, tubular flowers. These blooms usually open from the bottom up, often at night, and release a grassy, sweet aroma.

Some species have pink or violet flowers. It's common for these to produce a sticky nectar—a completely natural part of the process.

When Snake Plants Bloom

Flowering typically occurs during mid-summer, when the plant is mature and the conditions are just right. While rare indoors, it can happen when the plant experiences conditions similar to its native environment, including bright, indirect light and temperature changes.

There's a myth that blooming signals a plant is dying—however, that's not true. “It really just means you have a mature plant that's getting enough light, water, and nutrients,” says Bex Claire Hamell says, a houseplant educator and award-winning horticulturist. "I've seen many unhappy snake plants, and none of them were flowering.”

Varieties That Flower

While nearly all snake plants can flower, some are more likely to bloom under the right conditions than others. Here's how Hamell ranks the following varieties:

• 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

How to Get a Snake Plant to Bloom

Experts agree that there's no foolproof method to get your snake plant to flower, but certain conditions can create the best chance for blooming.

"Coaxing your snake plant into flower means that you have successfully duplicated the conditions that are similar to [its] habitat,” says Rod Haenni, president of the Cactus and Succulent Society of America.

Here are a few steps you can take to make it happen.

Don't Miss

3 Ways to Propagate a Snake Plant—an Easy-to-Grow Species That Thrives in Low Light

5 Reasons Your Snake Plant's Leaves Are Drooping, According to Horticulturists

Let It Mature

Snake plants need time—usually at least two years in the same pot—to reach maturity before they can flower. "This typically means that they have multiple mature-sized leaves and are starting to spread,” Hamell says.

Repot Sparingly

Haenni advises repotting every two to three years into a slightly larger pot and breaking up the root ball to promote healthy growth.

"The plant needs to be pot-bound with the root system filling its pot to have the best chance to bloom," he says. Hamell recommends terracotta pots, which breathe and help prevent overwatering.

Provide Optimal Light

Although they can survive in low light, snake plants prefer bright, indirect light to thrive, giving them the best chance to bloom.

In the summer, try moving your snake plants outdoors to a partially sunny spot that doesn't receive direct midday and afternoon sun. Haenni says these plants do best with bright, east light and morning sun.

Keep Temperatures Fluctuating

Haenni suggests keeping snake plants outside in the summer and early fall so they can experience long days and fluctuating temperatures.

Indoor snake plants do well in winter temperatures around 70 degrees Fahrenheit, he says. In warmer months, outdoor temperatures between 55 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit help mimic their native climate.

Master a Watering Routine

Water your snake plants deeply but infrequently, and allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings. "Snake plants will not flower if they're too thirsty, but they also don't like soggy potting mix," says Hamell.

A helpful rule of thumb is that plants in brighter, warmer conditions need more water, while those in cooler, dimmer areas require less.

Fertilize Lightly

Haenni recommends using a balanced, general-purpose houseplant fertilizer three to four times a year during the growing season. Fertilizer helps promote growth, especially when the plant is actively growing in spring and summer.

While snake plants can survive without fertilizer, feeding them occasionally boosts their health and flowering chances, Hamell says. Just keep in mind that less is more.

Choose the Right Soil

Opt for a quick-draining soil mix. You can improve airflow by adding perlite, pumice, pebbles, or bark to enhance standard potting soil.

To see if the mixture is fast-draining enough, Haenni suggests taking a handful of the mixture in your hand and making a fist. Then, open your fist: "If the mixture immediately falls apart, it's perfect!”