If you’re someone who thinks you can’t keep a plant alive – this plant will prove you wrong! In fact, you’ve probably seen one at a doctor’s office, home improvement store, or hotel lobby because they’re so low maintenance. Thanks to being so easy to care for and widely liked, they’re a great option for anyone who wants a low-effort plant. So today we’ll share why serial plant-killers and seasoned plant lovers all love this spear-shaped beauty.
There are dozens of varieties of snake plants, but today we’ll mainly be talking about the most popular cultivar: Dracaena trifasciata ‘Laurentii.’ The Laurentii refers to the specific variant of this species seen in these photos. They’re identifiable by their stiff, sword-like leaves with bright yellow edges.
The African spear plant, also known as kiwano or horned melon, is an exotic vine grown for its jelly-like fruit. While it originates from sub-Saharan Africa, this unusual plant is now grown in suitable climates worldwide.
The oval fruits are about 5 inches long and covered in sharp spines, which is how the plant got its name. Beneath the spiky yellow exterior is a juicy green pulp speckled with small edible seeds. The horned melon has a refreshingly sweet taste, akin to a mix of cucumber and banana.
![African Spear Plant Flower][]
African spear plants can self-pollinate However, manually pollinating the blossoms will dramatically increase fruit production. This simple process helps ensure thorough pollination so more flowers develop into full-sized oblong melons Here’s a handy guide to maximizing your spear plant yield through hand pollination.
When Do African Spear Plants Flower?
The African horned melon is a warmth-loving annual vine It thrives in hot conditions with daytime temperatures of 75-90°F Cooler weather will stunt growth and reduce flowering,
Spear plants take 60-90 days from seed sowing to flower. In ideal growing zones like Florida and Southern California, they’ll bloom continuously from summer through fall. In cooler climates, time sowing so flowers emerge during the hottest stretch of summer.
This exotic vine produces small yellow male and female blossoms on separate flower stems. The male flowers come first, releasing pollen for a week or two before the female flowers open. Hand pollination is done by transferring pollen from the male flowers to newly opened female blooms.
Steps for Pollinating African Spear Plants
Follow these simple steps for effective hand pollination of your kiwano vines:
1. Identify Male and Female Flowers
The spear plant’s male and female blossoms look slightly different:
- Male flowers have longer, thinner stems and bright yellow petals. They grow in clusters and release abundant pollen.
- Female flowers sit closer to the vine on short, stout stalks. They have a darker yellow center and short pale yellow petals.
2. Collect Pollen from Male Flowers
Select several fully open male flowers. Remove their petals to expose the stamen inside.
Use a small brush, cotton swab, or fingertip to sweep up the yellow pollen grains. Transfer the pollen to a small dry container like a bottle cap or folded paper. ![Collecting Pollen][]
Collect fresh pollen every couple days during the male flowering stage. Store collected grains in the refrigerator to retain viability.
3. Transfer Pollen to Female Flowers
Hand pollination works best in the morning when female spear plant flowers first open for the day.
Gently remove the female flower’s petals to access the yellow stigma inside. Use a clean brush to transfer pollen grains onto the sticky stigma surface.
Alternatively, simply collect pollen on your fingertip and lightly touch the flower’s stigma to deposit grains. Pollinate all open female blooms to maximize fruiting.![Pollinating by Hand][]
4. Tag and Date Pollinated Flowers
To track your pollinating success, tag each flower stem you manually pollenate. Writing the date helps indicate when fruits should mature in about 45 days. Monitoring tagged blooms also allows you to identify any issues with inadequate pollination.
5. Water and Fertilize for Best Fruit Development
Proper fertilization and moisture are key for good fruit set after pollinating. Avoid water stress by providing 1-2 inches per week, adjusting as needed for rainfall.
Fertilize plants every 2-3 weeks with a balanced liquid fertilizer. Apply an extra dose of phosphorus-rich bloom booster when female flowers appear to promote fruiting.
Tips for Maximizing Pollination Success
Follow these handy tips and tricks for getting the most out of hand pollinating your African horned melons:
- Pollinate daily, transferring fresh pollen each morning. Viability decreases quickly so use pollen within 48 hours.
- Shake flower stems to distribute pollen across the entire sticky stigma surface.
- Gently tie a small paper tag around each pollinated stem using cotton string or twist ties. Avoid damaging the delicate peduncle below the flower.
- Mist plants regularly to increase humidity around blooms. Pollen grains require moisture to germinate and fertilize the flowers.
- Grow plants up a strong trellis or fence so vines and fruits don’t drag on the ground. Good airflow and sun exposure keeps plants healthy.
- Weed and mulch around spear plants to reduce competition. Their sprawling vines need ample space.
- Pinch off the first 6-10 female flowers that form. Let the vine establish before allowing fruits to develop.
- Hand pollinate at least 10 female flowers per plant. Aim for 1 successfully developing fruit out of every 3 blooms pollinated.
With attentive pollen transfer from male to female blossoms, your African horned melon yield can triple compared to wind pollination alone. The extra effort is well worth the bountiful harvest of deliciously unique fruits. Happy hand pollinating!
Frequently Asked Questions About Pollinating African Spear Plants
Many growers, especially first-timers with African horned melons, have questions about maximizing fruit set through hand pollination. Here are answers to some of the most common kiwano pollination queries:
How often should plants be pollinated?
Ideally, pollinate daily during peak flowering. Pollen from fresh male blooms has much higher viability. Fertilizing every open female flower ensures none are missed.
Do spear plants require pollination to bear fruit?
They can self-pollinate without assistance, but few fruits may develop. Hand pollinating greatly increases the number of melons produced per vine.
What time of day works best?
Early morning, shortly after female spear plant flowers open for the day, is ideal. Pollen from newly opened male blooms is freshest then too.
How long until fruits form after pollinating?
Fertilized female flowers begin swelling into tiny melons within a week. Fruits grow to maturity in about 6-8 weeks after successful pollination.
Should pollinated flowers be marked?
Tagging and dating each pollinated bloom helps monitor their development. It also identifies issues like poor fruit set related to pollination problems.
How can pollination success be improved?
Mist vines daily, avoid water stress, use fresh pollen, pinch early female blooms, and pollinate every newly opened flower to maximize fruiting.
Why pollinate if plants are self-fertile?
While kiwano can technically self-pollinate, the resulting fruit production is low. Assisted pollination ensures thorough fertilization for a much larger horned melon harvest.
Hand pollinating African horned cucumber blossoms is simple and extremely rewarding. A bit of effort during flowering results in an abundant supply of unusual fruits all summer long. The additional melons are certainly worth the extra work at harvest time!
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/grow-sansevieria-cylindrica-1902732-06-eaa2a39580bc490d9b00fbd2943fd794.jpg)
Snake Plant: Quick Facts
Here’s what you need to know about your snake plant at a glance:
- Latin name: Dracaena trifasciata (formerly Sansevieria trifasciata)
- Common names: Snake Plant, Mother-in-Law’s Tongue, Devil’s Tongue, Saint George’s Sword, Vipers Bowstring Hemp, Spear Plant
- Native to: West Africa
- Light: Prefers medium, indirect light but is low light tolerant
- Watering: About every 2 weeks or whenever the soil is dry
- Soil: Well-drained soil such as a cactus, palm, or succulent mix
- Ideal Humidity: Average household humidity
- Ideal Temperature: 70-90 degrees
- Cold Hardiness: USDA Zones 9-11
Beyond being attractive and low maintenance, snake plants are also popular houseplants for their health benefits. A NASA study showed that several plants, including mother-in-law’s tongue (as they call it in the report) increase indoor air quality by filtering out pollutants. Snake plants also convert a large amount of CO2 into oxygen overnight, which is pretty unique in the plant world. That’s why many people choose to put snake plants in their bedrooms to enjoy those benefits while they sleep. We actually have one in ours!
In Feng Shui, it’s also said that snake plants can attract good luck, money, and positive energy in your home. Some consider it the go-to, all-purpose plant for Feng Shui. They say snake plants are especially good near your home’s entrance to block negativity from coming inside.
How To Care For A Snake Plant
Snake plants are low-maintenance succulents that tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions. They’re a great starter plant because they’re hard to kill and don’t require a lot of attention. Here are some care tips to keep in mind.
Snake plants can survive in just about any lighting condition, but they prefer medium indirect light. Too much direct sunlight can burn the leaves, while too little can stunt growth or affect its color. Still, it’s one of the best low-light plants out there! We have one in a corner of our bedroom that gets no direct sunlight, but enjoys a few hours of ambient light throughout the day.
Snake plants don’t need a lot of water, and it’s a good idea to let the soil dry out completely between waterings. We try to water ours every other week in the spring & summer when it’s growing season, and even less in the winter. Some people even wait a month between those waterings! You can always check by sticking a finger into the soil a bit. If it’s still moist, don’t water yet. If the leaves are looking brittle and crisp, it’s time to water.
Snake plants love loose, well-draining soil. The soil in storebought snake plants should be fine for the first year or two. But when you are repotting or potting a propagated leaf clipping use a soil mix designated for cacti, palms, or succulents. Make sure any pot you use has drainage holes.
Snake plants are slow growers that don’t need frequent repotting. Consider replacing the soil after 1-2 years, but it may be up to 5 years before they require a new, larger pot. You’ll know it’s time for a large pot when you see roots growing out the bottom of its current one. Choose a new pot that’s a couple of inches wider on all sides. Snake plants especially like clay or terracotta pots that wick excess moisture out of the soil.
In addition to regular watering, consider taking the following steps to help your snake plant thrive:
- Dust & wipe leaves: Use a damp cloth or plant wipe to clean its leaves, just like you dust any other surface in your home. This helps your plant look clean and shiny, while also removing dust that may impede photosynthesis.
- Turn your pot: Consider slightly rotating your snake plant every time you water to encourage even growth, especially if it lives near a window. This helps to ensure that all sides get equal sunlight.
- Fertilizing: Give your snake plant a boost with a balanced fertilizer, ideally with a NPK of 10-10-10, such as this general plant food or this special snake plant fertilizer. Follow the bottle’s directions, but generally you apply once every 2-4 weeks during its growing season.
- Prune: Prune your snake plant as needed to remove dead or damaged leaves, control height & shape, and encourage new growth. Use sharp clean scissors to clip leaves at the soil line.