What a fun surprise to see a flowering bloom peek around one of my snake plant leaves. A few days later, another one emerged – I am still in disbelief. Like many houseplant owners, I have a long history of trial and error with snake plants. I spent years propping up floppy leaves and trying to figure out why mine struggled. Sansevierias are one of the most common, but misunderstood houseplants. A snake plant bloom seemed impossible in my home, but the surprising sansevieria flower arrived this week like a thumbs up from nature. Here’s what I’ve learned and how you can encourage your snake plant to bloom. 

The Low Light Confusion

I frequently see sansevierias marketed as “low light” houseplants, but this label is misleading. Native to South Africa, sansevierias need bright light to thrive indoors. The low light confusion exists because sansevierias tend to look good even when deprived of light. This is why designers use them in shopping malls, hotel lobbies, and dimly lit commercial spaces. Snake plants tolerate low light, but grow best in bright or even direct sunlight. If you want your snake plant to bloom, place it in very bright light near a window. My blooming sansevieria sits next to glass patio doors with lots of direct, east-facing sunlight. 

Light And Water Work In Tandem

I’ve seen beautiful snake plants whose owners confess they forget to water for weeks at a time. I’ve also seen a 75 year-old snake plant that gets watered 3 to 4 times a week! Sansevierias thrive in a range of growing environments. The key is to match your watering frequency with the amount of sunlight your plant receives, because light and water work in tandem. If you want your plant to bloom, water more often, but only if there is an abundance of light. My snake plant flower arrived in early spring right after I increased its watering frequency. I not only got a flower, but three new rosettes. 

Stress-Induced Flowering

A pot-bound snake plant is much more likely to bloom than one with extra space because of stress-induced flowering. In a pot packed with roots and rhizomes a sansevieria knows its limits. With enough water and light, it sends a flowering bloom out in an effort to reproduce. Allow your plant to fill out its pot, and you will have a better chance of seeing a spring bloom. My flowering sansevieria is definitely pot-bound. The roots and rhizomes are so full they currently stretch the sides of the plastic nursery pot. 

Sansevieria Flower At 5:00PM

One of the best gifts of a sansevieria flower is the fragrance. Some people report that the flowering stalks release a grassy smell, but I think it depends on the plant. Mine is full of honeysuckle and lavender notes and smells amazing. The flowers close during the day, then open up again at night to release their fragrance. Every sansevieria enthusiast should get to experience this. If your snake plant hasn’t bloomed yet, I am wishing you good luck!