In Animal Crossing: New Horizons, your plants – specifically flowers – sparkle to indicate that they have been successfully watered for the day. This visual cue signifies that the flowers have received the necessary hydration to either progress in their growth cycle or increase their chances of producing new hybrid flowers.
Understanding Sparkling Flowers
A flower will display a sparkling effect under two distinct conditions, both related to receiving water:
- Self-Watering: If you, as the island's resident representative, personally water a flower using a watering can, it will immediately begin to sparkle. This confirms your daily watering effort.
- Visitor Watering: Alternatively, if a flower has been watered by at least five unique visitors to your island on the same day, it will also sparkle. This collaborative effort from friends or other players is particularly valuable for promoting hybrid flower growth.
How Flowers Get Their Sparkle
The table below summarizes the conditions under which your flowers will sparkle:
| Condition for Sparkling | Description |
|---|---|
| Player Watered | You, the island representative, have used a watering can on the flower during the current in-game day. |
| Visitor Watered | At least five unique visitors to your island have watered the same flower on the current in-game day. |
The Importance of Watering and Sparkling
Watering your flowers daily is a crucial task in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. The sparkling effect serves as a helpful visual confirmation that your efforts, or those of your visitors, have been registered successfully. Consistent watering is essential for several reasons:
- Growth Progression: Flowers grow through distinct stages over the course of four days. Regular watering helps them advance from one stage to the next:
- Sprout: The initial stage after planting a seed.
- Stem: The plant develops a visible stem.
- Budding: Flower buds begin to form.
- Flowering: The flower fully blooms.
- Hybrid Flower Production: When flowers are watered, especially by multiple unique visitors, their chances of reproducing and creating new, often rarer, hybrid color variations significantly increase. The sparkle indicates they are primed for this reproductive potential.
