When do Succulents Flower?

Nothing is more satisfying than seeing succulent plants bloom. It’s the most rewarding experience because it demonstrates your plant is doing great. But do all succulents bloom? Well, unfortunately not all of them bloom. Some may bloom but it’s hard to predict the time they will bloom. Speaking of time, when do succulents flower? In this text, we’ll highlight key details about succulent bloom, and what follows afterward. Let’s start: 

Do all succulent plants bloom?

Unfortunately, not all of the blossoms. That’s because some of them take many years to grow into the right side and mature before they can flower. And some don’t even flower at all. But there are species of succulent plants that blossom before maturity. 

It’s also worth noting that environmental factors can also influence whether or not some of them will blossom. In some cases, a little bit of encouragement is what the plant needs to flower and demonstrate its elegance. When you provide it with the right growing condition like location, sunlight, temperature, nutrients, and water, it will bloom. 

When do succulents blossom?

• Season and Temperature

Well, we’ve established that not all succulent plants flower. And for those that do, they do so at different times of the year. Some succulent flowers depend on their season. For example, Aloe Vera tends to bloom in summer, however, if the conditions are right in other seasons, it can bloom. 

Further, some succulents prefer early summer to flower while some will bloom in late springs. A great example of such a plant is the Echeverias. While you would think that winter is too hostile for flowering, they’re succulent plants that prefer this season. Some of them include jade, hoya, kalanchoe, and Rhipsalis. 

Oftentimes succulents would bloom once they hit four years and above. Some would even bloom at six years of age. But you may find some blooming earlier than that. Therefore, the time they bloom is not a set rule but rather an exception. And that’s what makes it challenging to predict when they are bound to bloom. 

• Photo-period 

Season, age, temperature, nutrients, and water are some of the factors that influence the flowering among succulents. But besides that, photo-period is another strong factor that influences their bloom. In this case, we are talking about the plant’s biological clock. Just like our own, succulents among other plants do have biological clocks. 

According to experts in science, the biological clock influences how the plant responds to external stimuli in a particular pattern. For example, a succulent like Schlumbergera cultivars,  or the holiday cacti requires short days and long nights to bloom. 

After blooming, succulents attract insects to help them with cross-pollination. In the wild, butterflies and crawling insects help these plants with pollination. And that’s what enables them to survive in such conditions. That being said, not all succulents can self-pollinate, therefore, if they bloom indoors, you must help them. Through cross-pollination, they’re able to produce more of their kind. 

• Soil

The type of soil also influences when the succulent should flower. And since soils have varying characteristics, they can be favorable or unfavorable to your plant. But if you’re looking for the best potting soil for these plants, get one with good drainage. Good drainage means the water will flow continuously during watering without soaking the plant roots. As such, the plant will thrive well and blossom due to the absence of stress.

What next after your succulent blossoms?

When you notice the flowering stalks on your plant, it’s t time you improve the rate of caring for it. First, you should keep away aphids from your plant. Aphids feed on sap found in plants. And since succulents have plenty of it, it’s potential prey for this pest. Using horticultural soap or 70% alcohol should help deter them. And do this early to prevent them from destroying your plant’s blooms. 

Expose the plant to sunlight. This is an important step to remember when your plant starts to bloom. Meanwhile, do not overexpose them as sunlight can end up burning their leaves. If you’re placing it outdoors during the flowering season, an hour of sunshine daily is enough.

If you are planning to keep it indoors throughout, then consider installing grow light or heat lamp near the plant. They’re a great alternative to the sunlight energy that the plant needs. You will need this even more in the rainy or winter season when sunlight is scarce. And if your succulent blossoms in winter, ensure there’s enough warmth because it’s essential for the process.

Do Succulent Plants Die after blooming?

Unfortunately, some of them die after blooming, but most of them will live on even after blooming. To be specific, Monocarpic varieties are the ones that die after blooming. Cause of that, the process is also known as the death bloom. 

Oftentimes, it’s easy to tell between Monocarpic plants and those that are not. All of them seem to bloom following the same pattern. The flower will emerge from the center, making the entire plant look like a flower stalk.  

Can you cut the flower of a Monocarpic plant when they bloom?

Unfortunately, there’s nothing you can do to stop the process. Once the monocarpic plant begins to flower, that’s it. The best you can do is enjoy the display until its last day. Even cutting the flower will not stop it from dying. 

On the positive side, their death is not in vain. These plants will produce many baby plants during the flowering process. Therefore, you will have many more plants to add to your garden. 

Finally, when do succulents flower?

Well, we’ve seen that there’s no specific time of the year or season for these plants to blossom. And for those with a specific time, like the Jade, that period doesn’t apply to other succulents. Therefore, if you want to know the specific time that your plant blossoms, research deeper. 

You should focus your search on that specific plant. Other than that, succulents will bloom when the conditions are right. Therefore, you should provide those growing conditions if you want to witness the beauty of succulents at their peak. 

 

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