Home » Misc » How to care for snapdragons

How to care for snapdragons


Plant Care & Growing Guide

Snapdragons are very popular short-lived garden perennials that are usually grown as annuals. They are a mainstay of classic flower gardens, with infinite uses, from mixed border gardens to flower boxes to patio containers. The common name derives from the shape of the individual flower heads, which resemble the snout of a dragon, and which even open and close in a snapping motion, as often happens when pollinators open the jaws to reach the pollen.

The alternate, lanceolate leaves are arranged in a spiral around the stem. The botanical name, Antirrhinum majus, means "like a snout" and refers to the flower's resemblance to a calf or dragon's nose. Snapdragons rely largely on large bumblebees for pollination, as smaller honeybees are unable to open the flower's "jaws."

Bright snapdragon flowers bloom profusely throughout cool weather in intensely saturated colors (almost every hue) and are real standouts in either the spring or fall garden. The flowers start blooming at the bottom of the stalk and work their way up, making for a long period of bloom. Although snapdragons tend to slow down and stop blooming in heat of mid-summer, if you keep them watered, they will perk up and carry your garden through the fall.

Snapdragons come in many varieties and sizes, from a few inches tall to spires approaching 4 feet. There are tall varieties and dwarf varieties and just about everything in between. Breeders have been playing with snapdragons for years, and now there are even trailing and creeping varieties available. These are great filler plants for containers, baskets, or for planting in garden wall crevices.

From seed germination to flowers can take two to three months, so snapdragons are often started indoors many weeks before the last winter frost.

Common Name Snapdragon, dog's mouth, lion's mouth, toad's mouth
Botanical Name Antirrhinum majus
Family Plantaginaceae
Plant Type Perennial, annual
Mature Size 6–48 in. tall, 6–12 in. wide
Sun Exposure Full, partial
Soil Type Moist, well-draining
Soil pH Acidic, neutral
Bloom Time Spring, summer, fall
Flower Color White, yellow, pink, red, orange, purple
Hardiness Zones 7–11 (USDA)
Native Area Mediterranean, Europe, Asia
​The Spruce / Phoebe Cheong  ​The Spruce / Phoebe Cheong Thang Tat Nguyen / Getty Images

Snapdragon Care

Snapdragons are rather slow-growing when planted from seeds, so they are normally planted from purchased nursery seedlings, which are widely sold in economical six-packs. They can also be grown fairly easily from seeds started indoors weeks before the last winter frost.

Snapdragons do best in rich, well-draining soil in a sunny location, though they will tolerate part shade. Pinching off the stem tips on young plants will make them thicker and bushier, and deadheading the spent flowers will extend the bloom season, often right into the first frost of the late fall or early winter. Snapdragons can repeat bloom throughout the season but they do best in the cool of spring and fall. In cooler climates, they bloom all summer long, and in milder climates, they sometimes bloom throughout the winter.

These short-lived perennials are usually grown as annuals. Even when they do overwinter, snapdragons never seem to bloom as robustly as they did in their first year. However, they should form seed pods in the first year; if you are lucky, they may even self-sow in the garden.

11 Things You Should Know Before Growing Snapdragons

Light

Your snapdragons will bloom most profusely in full sun to partial shade. Once the temperature heats up, they may stop blooming altogether. Planting them in part shade and keeping them well-watered will help them make it through the summer and they will likely bloom again in fall.

Soil

Snapdragons like a neutral soil pH between 6.2 and 7.0, rich in nutrients and well-draining. As short-lived plants, they are not heavy feeders, but adding organic matter will help keep them healthy and blooming.

Water

Snapdragons need adequate watering. Keep seedlings moist for the first few weeks. Once established, snapdragon will need approximately 1 inch of water per week in times of no rainfall. Water near the crown of the plant and avoid overhead watering to keep your snapdragon healthy. Once established, let the top inch of soil dry fully before watering.

Temperature and Humidity

Snapdragons are tender perennials that are hardy in USDA zones 7-11. But snapdragons prefer cooler temperatures and are at their best when nighttime temperatures are in the low 40s F and daytime temperatures in the low 70s F. For this reason, they are usually grown as annuals to provide garden color in the cooler months of spring and fall.

Once established in the bed and hardened off, snapdragons can withstand sub-freezing temperatures. If you make sure they stay well-watered during cold spells and add a layer of pine straw mulch, they can last for quite some time and will survive quite low temperatures until the chill has passed.

Seedlings grown indoors need to be hardened off for about 10 days to two weeks before planting in the garden.

Fertilizer

Apply fertilizer when the plants first start producing flowers. Use a standard, well-balanced all-purpose fertilizer, such as a 10-10-10 product, at a rate of three pounds for every 100 square feet of the flowerbed. Water well to minimize the risk of nitrogen burns and to help the fertilizer reach the roots.

Illustration: The Spruce / Kaley McKean

Types of Snapdragon

Snapdragons are usually sold as multi-color blends, but you can sometimes find individual colors in both seeds and seedlings. Named varieties come and go every few years, but some of the more classic series include:

Propagating Snapdragons

Snapdragons are fairly inexpensive to purchase as nursery seedlings and easy to grow from seeds, but if you wish you can also propagate them from stem cuttings.

Cut a 2-inch section of stem just below a leaf node on a healthy parent plant. Remove the lower leaves and dip the bottom of the cutting in rooting hormone. Plant the cutting into seed starter mix or potting soil, covering the pot with a plastic bag or dome to keep the cutting humid. When a good root system develops, you can remove the cover and continue growing in a bright window or under artificial lighting. Transplant outside about the time of the last frost in your area.

How Grow Snapdragons from Seed

In milder climates, snapdragons can be winter-sown, simply tossed onto the garden soil in late fall. They can also be direct-sown in the garden a few weeks before the last expected frost. However, snapdragons are relatively slow-growing, so when grown from seeds they are often started indoors six to 12 weeks before the last expected frost.

Use a general seed starting mix or ordinary potting soil, and simply press the seeds onto the surface of the soil. Position the tray under bright lights placed just a few inches above the tray—snapdragon seeds need light to germinate. Keep the light on for a full 16 hours per day, gradually moving it higher as the seedlings grow.

When seedlings have developed about six true leaves (about 3-4 inches tall), pinch off the top of the stem, which will encourage branching and bushiness. Transplant snapdragons outdoors a couple of weeks before your last frost date. Snapdragons can handle a light frost or two.

The Spruce / Phoebe Cheong  baona / Getty Images

Overwintering

These short-lived perennials are usually grown as annuals. Even when they do overwinter, snapdragons never seem to bloom as robustly as they did in their first year. However, they should form seed pods in the first year; if you are lucky, they may even self-sow in the garden.

Common Pests and Plant Diseases

Rust fungus can be a significant problem with snapdragons. If rust does appear in a planting, it is best to grow snapdragons in another part of the garden the following year. This plant is also susceptible to mold, fungal leaf spots, downy mildew, wilt, and root rots.

Aphids and spider mites are the most common pest problem, which may require the use of pesticides or horticultural oils in severe infestations.

How to Get Snapdragon to Bloom

Snapdragons are known for their colorful blooms. They start blooming in early spring, and keep blooming all season long. They are short-lived perennials that act like annuals, and don't usually flower for more than one season.

The right amount of sunlight is the secret sauce to getting your snapdragons to bloom: from full sun to partial shade, adjusting the amount of sun your plants get is the answer. Deadheading the dying flowers will keep your plant blooming abundantly.

Common Problems With Snapdragon

Snapdragons are a never-go-out-of-style summertime bloom. They're bright and cheery, and memorable additions to the summer months. But sometimes, snapdragons have easy-to-fix problems:

Wilting Leaves, Fewer Flowers

Snapdragons will start to falter if they get too much heat and sunlight. Move them to a cooler, shadier spot, and trim them down to encourage new blooms and less wilting.

Yellow and Brown Flecks on the Leaves

Snapdragons often get a fungal disease called snapdragon rust: yellow flecks are the first sign, and those flecks may get darker and larger, with brown or black centers. To treat snapdragon rust, stop it before it starts. Thin out your plants and let air circulate around them. Also, don't water your snapdragons at night.

Plants Toppling Over

In shady spots, where snapdragons can get particularly leggy, taller varieties may get top-heavy and fall over. The fix is easy: protect plants with supports to keep them standing tall.

Article Sources

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Antirrhinum majus. Missouri Botanical Garden.

  2. Snapdragon—Antirrhinum majus. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Growing Snapdragon Flowers - How To Care For Snapdragon Plants

Snapdragons

By: Becca Badgett, Co-author of How to Grow an EMERGENCY Garden

Image by jirapongb

Growing snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) in the flower bed provides cool season color and a mid-sized plant to balance tall background plants and shorter bedding plants in the front. Learn how to grow snapdragon for early spring blooms.

Numerous varieties of snapdragon exist with dwarf, intermediate and tall flowering stems that provide a range of colors to work with in the garden. Snapdragons are available in most colors except blue and co-ordinate or contrast with other early spring bloomers. Height of the snapdragon may reach 3 feet (1 m.) or as short as 6 inches (15 cm.).

Planting snapdragons out can be among the first late winter gardening tasks. This fragrant specimen can handle frost, so start planting snapdragons early in the gardening season for most abundant bloom and performance.

How to Grow Snapdragons

After planting snapdragons in a full sun location with well-draining soil, snapdragon care should include a few well-placed clips to manipulate this plant into a bushy, filled-out specimen. Clip the top stem and any long side shoots to encourage more flowers and more attractive planting.

Tall varieties of snapdragons may require staking to remain upright. When blooms begin to fade due to summer’s heat, clip the plant by one-third to one-half and expect more blooms when temperatures begin to cool in fall. Intermingle plantings of snapdragon with heat-loving Angelonia for a similarly formed plant in the summer flower bed.

Further care of snapdragons includes appropriate watering. When growing snapdragon, keep moist for the first few weeks. Once established, snapdragon care includes regular watering. Provide approximately an inch of water per week in times of no rainfall.

Water near the crown of the plant and avoid overhead watering to keep your snapdragon healthy. Once established, let the soil dry about an inch deep before watering.

Snapdragon care includes the removal of spent blooms. Mulch is appropriate when growing snapdragon. Though mostly sold as an annual, proper care of snapdragons may encourage them to return next year, as they are actually a short-lived perennial plant.

Ideas for Planting Snapdragons

This Mediterranean native is deer resistant and grows well in sunny, outlying areas where these pests are prone to nibble. Planting snapdragons in the vegetable garden may offer some protection from browsing deer as well.

Take advantage of the showy blooms of growing snapdragons and bring indoors for arrangements. Many snapdragons are fragrant.

Add snapdragons to those bare sunny areas of the landscape. Work organic material into the bed prior to planting. Proper care of the snapdragon provides a wealth of early blooms in the garden.

This article was last updated on

Read more about Snapdragons

Next>

Did you find this helpful? Share it with your friends!

growing from seed seedlings, planting in the ground and care

Author: Elena N. https://floristics.info/ru/index.php?option=com_contact&view=contact&id=19 Category: Garden Plants Retrained: Last amendments:

Content

The history of the snapdragon, or antirrinum, goes back to the distant past: its origin is poetically described in ancient Greek myths.

The decorative quality of the snapdragon is beyond praise. It is represented by varieties of different heights and all kinds of colors: you can grow antirrinum as a border, as a solo plant, as well as in mixed plantings, combining with other garden crops. nine0007

In our article we will tell you about:

Listen to article

Planting and caring for snapdragons

Read more about the cultivation of snapdragons below

Flowers Earth, but mostly in North America. The Russians call this plant "dogs", the British - "snapdragon" (biting dragon), the French - "cleft palate", and the Ukrainians - "mouths". From the Greek language, the name "antirrinum" is translated as "nose-like", "like a nose." nine0007

Ancient Greek myth tells about the first feat of Hercules, when he defeated the Nemean lion, famous for its ferocity and invulnerability. The goddess Flora gave Hercules a beautiful flower, which she had created in honor of his victory, which she called the “snapdragon”. Since then, it has become a tradition in Greece to give heroes a snapdragon. In culture, the snapdragon flower has existed for about five hundred years, and breeding work was started by German scientists in the 19th century, and today about 1000 varieties of snapdragon are grown in the gardens of the planet, and most interestingly, one single species served as the basis for this variety of forms and hybrids - Antirrhinum large (Antirrhinum majus). nine0007

Botanical description

The snapdragon plant is a semi-shrub or herbaceous plant with straight, branched green finely furrowed stems from 15 cm to one meter tall, forming pyramidal bushes. The upper leaves of the snapdragon are alternate, the lower ones are opposite, they are elongated-oval or lanceolate in shape, the color is from light green to dark green with red veins.

How to sow calendula, how to care for it

The flowers are fragrant, rather large, irregular, two-lipped, simple or double, depending on the variety, collected in spike-shaped inflorescences, they are painted in white, yellow, pink, pale fawn, all shades of red, but there are also two-color and even three-color varieties . The fruit is a two-celled multi-seeded box, in one gram from 5000 to 8000 seeds. Snapdragon bloom usually begins in June and ends with frost.

Most often perennial snapdragon in nature is grown in horticulture as an annual plant, but with good care and favorable conditions, cold-resistant snapdragon can successfully overwinter in the garden and bloom the next year more beautifully than before. In garden design, antirrinum is grown as a border plant, although snapdragons look great both in a flower bed and planted in groups against a green lawn. Often snapdragons are used to decorate balconies and terraces. nine0007

Florists are especially interested in ampelous forms of snapdragons, which can be grown in hanging structures to decorate terraces and galleries.

In the photo: Snapdragon blooming in the garden

Growing snapdragon from seeds

Sowing seedlings

Snapdragon is propagated by generative and vegetative methods. Snapdragon seeds retain the ability to germinate for several years. If you live in a warm climate, you can grow snapdragons from seeds by sowing them directly into the ground, and they will sprout in two and a half or three weeks, surviving even a slight night cold snap, which is common in spring, but in areas where it is warm without problems comes gradually, it is better to use the seedling method of growing snapdragons. nine0090 How to grow snapdragons from seeds in seedlings? This process is neither complex nor labor intensive.

So, we sow the snapdragon: at the beginning of March we pour coarse-grained sand into bowls with a diameter of at least 10 cm with drainage holes, and on top of the sand - compost soil mixed with sand, compact it, level it, sprinkle it with water from a spray bottle and distribute it over its surface is also seeds mixed with sand, which are then covered on top with a thin layer of the same substrate, moistened with a finely dispersed spray gun and covered with glass sowing bowl. nine0007

Conditions for growing healthy asters

Every day we remove the condensate from the glass, let the crops breathe and, if necessary, moisten the soil from the sprayer. At a temperature of 23 ºC and moderate humidity of the substrate, sprouts will appear in a couple of weeks. As soon as this happens, move the bowl to a bright, non-sunny place so that they do not stretch out, and as soon as the emergence of seedlings becomes massive (in 3-4 days), remove the glass.

Pictured: Growing snapdragons from seeds

Care of seedlings

Seedlings will grow slowly at first, and your task during this period is to monitor the correct soil moisture by watering the soil in the morning in such a way that there is enough moisture, but not in excess, as this can lead to disease seedlings with a black leg. “Fallen” sprouts must be removed with tweezers, and the place where they grew should be powdered with crushed coal or sprinkled with a small amount of calcined and cooled river sand. After the appearance of a pair of real - not cotyledon - leaves, the seedlings dive into a container or box, arranging them so that they grow freely. nine0007

Seedlings can be transplanted into individual pots or, for example, three seedlings can be dived into larger pots.

Place the picked seedlings in a bright place, protecting them from direct sunlight, and begin to gradually accustom them to the environment and temperature in which they will find themselves after transplanting into open ground: open the window for a while during the day, but keep the seedlings out of drafts . The central shoot of each seedling after the development of 4-5 leaves must be pinched to enhance tillering, but if the side shoots are also growing too actively, pinch them too.

In the photo: Red snapdragon

Planting snapdragon

When to plant

At the end of May - beginning of June, grown, strengthened and hardened seedlings are planted in open ground. And do not be afraid of the last night cold snaps: your young "lion cubs" will survive them calmly. The site for growing snapdragons can be either sunny or slightly shaded, but be sure to be well-drained and protected from strong winds. The soil is required light and nutritious. nine0183 The best soil for snapdragons is a mixture of sand, compost and peat in approximately equal proportions. The optimal soil pH for snapdragons is pH 6-8.

In the photo: Snapdragon in a flower bed

How to plant

Planting of snapdragon flowers is carried out according to the following scheme: tall varieties are planted at a distance of 40-50 cm from each other, medium-sized - at a distance of 30 cm, undersized - after 20 cm, dwarf - after 15 cm. As soon as the snapdragon takes root, it begins to grow very quickly and turn into a lush flowering bush. You should know that snapdragon planting is carried out in well-moistened soil. nine0007

Snapdragon care

Growing conditions

This plant is unpretentious and needs only what any garden flower needs: watering, loosening the soil, removing weeds and top dressing. You will have to water the plants only in dry times, when there is no rain, but not at night. The next day after watering or on the same day in the evening, it is advisable to loosen the ground and weed out the weeds. It is advisable to tie tall varieties of snapdragon to a support. Withered flowers are best cut off so that the plant does not expend energy on them. nine0007

If you want to keep the snapdragon flowering for a long time, do not let it set seeds, remove the flower head as soon as the last flowers have withered. You need to cut the peduncle under the lowest flower, then new arrows and new flowers will appear.

As soon as the plant takes root in the soil after planting, it must be fed with nitrophos and organic matter, the second feeding is carried out when the snapdragon begins to form buds, in which case a solution of urea, potassium sulfate and superphosphate is used at the rate of one tablespoon of each ingredient per 10 liters of water. nine0007

In the photo: Pink flowers of antirrinum

Pests and diseases

Sometimes red spots of rust appear on the plant, snapdragon septoria, black leg, gray or root rot can affect. Sick specimens should be immediately removed and burned, and the soil in the place where they grew should be treated with an antifungal drug (fungicide).

How to grow sweet peas from seeds - a proven way

Insect pests include scale insects, fly larvae, caterpillars and egg-laying butterflies. It is always easier to take preventive measures than to treat an already existing disease or expel insects that have settled in flowers, so follow the recommendations for plant care, remove diseased or pest-infested specimens in time, do not allow plants to grow too close to each other, observe moderation in moistening the site, watering the flowers under the root, and not over the leaves, and snapdragons will not be afraid of either disease or insects. nine0007

Pictured: Growing snapdragon

Post-flowering care

Snapdragon can bloom until the autumn frosts, but when a steady fall sets in, prune the snapdragon, if you are growing it as a perennial plant, short enough so that the rest of the stem rises above the ground 5-8 cm tall, and cover the area with peat with sawdust or dry foliage - mulch will help the plants survive the winter. If you are growing an annual snapdragon, then, in order to avoid self-seeding, during the entire flowering period, pick off faded flowers in a timely manner, and when all the flowers on the arrow have faded, cut the peduncle as low as possible. This must be done in order to prevent the seeds from ripening and waking up on the ground. When deep autumn comes, dig up the area and burn the remains of the plants to destroy the pests that have settled in them. nine0007

Pictured: Snapdragon flower

How and when to collect seeds

Most garden plants are harvested when they are fully mature. But snapdragon seeds need to be harvested in the phase of incomplete maturity, in order to then finish them in a dry room with good ventilation. The collection is carried out in a long paper bag, as for a baguette. They start collecting seeds when the fruits ripen on the lower part of the peduncle: the upper part of the peduncle, on which the fruits are still green, is cut and thrown away, and a paper bag is put on the rest of the flower arrow, tied with a thread below the fruit and the shoot is cut off below the dressing. The inverted bag is hung in a warm, dry room and they are waiting for the ripened seeds to spill out of the boxes into the bag. Then they are placed in cardboard boxes and stored at a temperature of +3-5 ºC, protected from possible moisture ingress. nine0007

In the photo: Antirrinum flower

Types and varieties of snapdragon

Today in professional floriculture there are several classifications of snapdragon, and the most common of them is according to plant height. On this basis, the varieties are divided into five groups:

Gigantic

Height from 90 to 130 cm. The central shoot of the plants of this group is much higher than the second order shoots, the third order shoots are absent. Varieties: Arthur - cherry color, height 90-95 cm, F1 red XL and F1 pink XL 110 cm high respectively in red and pink.

Tall

60 to 90 cm, grown for cutting or as a vertical accent in mixborders or groups. Lateral shoots are much lower than the central one. Snapdragon tall in the cut is up to a week or longer, the most fragrant varieties are yellow shades. Popular varieties: Anna Herman - soft pink snapdragon, Canary - bright yellow variety, a mixture of varieties Madama Butterfly - terry snapdragon of different shades and others. nine0007

In the photo: Yellow snapdragon

Tall or medium height

The representatives of the variety reach 40-60 cm in height, versatile varieties grown both as a flower bed decoration and for cutting. They have strong branching. A characteristic feature of the varieties of this group is also that the central shoot is slightly higher than the side shoots. Varieties: Golden Monarch - yellow, Ruby - bright pink, Lipstick silver - pinkish-white.

Low

25 to 40 cm tall, grown as a flower bed or border flower. These varieties have many flowering shoots of the second and third order, while the main shoot is at the same level or slightly lower than the shoots of the first order. Varieties: Hobbit, Tip-top, Lampion ampelous hybrid.

In the photo: White snapdragon

Dwarf

15-20 cm high, flowers for borders, carpet flower beds, rock gardens and flower gardens. They are also grown as potted plants. These varieties are distinguished by strong branching up to shoots of the third and fourth order, the main shoot is usually lower or at the level of shoots of the second order. Varieties: Sakura Blossom is a pinkish-white variety with a spot, Candy Showers is an ampelous snapdragon. nine0007

In addition to this classification, there is no less popular classification by Sanderson and Martin for year-round cut varieties, but it is of interest only to those for whom the cultivation of snapdragons is not a pleasure and not an aesthetic need, but a means of enrichment.

Literature

  1. Read related topics on Wikipedia
  2. Peculiarities and other plants of the Plantain family
  3. List of all species on The Plant List
  4. More information on World Flora Online nine0012


Lunnik: planting and care, types and varieties
Snapdragon: sowing seedlings with a syringe

Sections: Garden plants Garden perennials Garden herbaceous plants Garden flowering plants Garden shrubs Plants on L Plantain

People usually read after this article

Add a comment

Snapdragon: growing from seeds, planting and care in the open field

Snapdragon, or antirrinum, is an annual plant with inflorescences of a wide variety of colors. Decorative and unpretentiousness allowed him to earn the love of many flower growers. Are you growing snapdragons yet? It's time to change that! nine0007

According to legend, the snapdragon was created in honor of the first labor of Hercules. The hero of ancient Greek mythology strangled a bloodthirsty cannibal lion and thus proved his superhuman strength. Also, the flower is often compared with the mouth of a dragon or a wolf, and even a dog's head (hence another name for snapdragon - dogs). Antirrinum seed pods vaguely resemble a human skull.

In a word, this is an amazing plant that will become a worthy decoration for flowerbeds, alpine slides, mixborders. It can also be grown in containers. Snapdragon blooms from June to October, depending on the sowing time. Antirrinum is photophilous and will easily endure slight frosts. nine0007

Which snapdragon should I choose? When buying seeds, be guided not only by the color of the inflorescences, but also by the height of the plants. On this basis, approximately the following groups of antirrinum are distinguished:

Snapdragon is widely used in folk medicine for the treatment of the liver, intestines, and genitourinary system. An infusion of flowers helps with headaches. nine0007

In cold regions, it is practiced to sow snapdragons for seedlings. So you can get flowering plants faster.

When to sow snapdragon for seedlings

Seedlings of snapdragon are planted in the ground approximately 50-60 days after sowing. Therefore, it is best to sow antirrinum in March - early April. In general, the colder it is in your area, the later you can sow snapdragon seeds for seedlings. But you should not delay too much, otherwise the plants will outgrow in room conditions and will take root worse in the flower bed. nine0007

How to grow snapdragons - preparing seeds for sowing

So you have chosen the right kind of snapdragon. Now you need to prepare its seeds for sowing. Purchased seed is usually sold already processed. If the seeds were collected by you on your own or received from neighbors in the country, then we recommend that you carry out two procedures.

Decontamination . Soak the seeds for 20-30 minutes in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Then rinse and dry. nine0007

Incentive . To speed up germination, soak the seed in Epin, Zircon, Heteroauxin, or other growth stimulant. You can also use an aloe leaf (the plant must be at least 3 years old). Keep it in the refrigerator for a few days, then cut open and place the snapdragon seeds in the center. Remove and dry after two hours. No need to rinse.

Plant seeds that are less than 2 years old. Older ones will also sprout, but snapdragon blooms will not be as lush. nine0007

How to sow snapdragons

Growing snapdragon seedlings is not without container preparation. Choose convenient low containers or individual pots, pre-disinfect them in potassium permanganate. Be sure to drain the containers.

Use store-bought soil (not pure peat, snapdragons don't like peat) or make your own. To do this, mix approximately equal proportions of sand, compost and peat. Additionally, you can add some wood ash to the soil. Before sowing, it is advisable to steam the soil in order to reduce the likelihood of seedlings being affected by rot, and also to sift so that it is easier for the seeds to sprout. nine0007

Then fill the containers with soil and moisten it. Mix small antirrinum seeds with sand so that they are more evenly distributed over the soil surface, sow them, sprinkle with earth, then moisten with a spray bottle and cover the container with film or glass. Place the greenhouse in a warm and well-lit area.

How to care for snapdragon sprouts

Homemade snapdragons germinate in about 2 weeks. All this time, regularly ventilate the greenhouse and monitor the soil moisture. Watering is best done with a spray bottle. nine0007

When the first shoots appear, the container should be moved to a moderately lit place so that the plants do not stretch out. If necessary, additional lighting can be carried out with phytolamps. In total, plants need about 16 hours of light per day. The room temperature should be between 18-20°C.

Snapdragon seedlings don't grow very fast at first, but don't worry about that. When you notice that the seedlings have become massive, remove the film or glass.

To prevent blackleg, you can sprinkle the ground with crushed charcoal or activated charcoal. Also remove damaged sprouts with tweezers. nine0007

Snapdragon pick

Seedlings of snapdragons at home need a mandatory pick. It should be carried out when the seedlings have 1-2 true leaves. It is convenient to separate the plants with tweezers or a spoon. The soil can be taken the same as for sowing. It's just not necessary to sift it. Plant the sprouts in separate pots or 2-3 pieces in a large container. After picking, return the young plants to a sunny place and begin to gradually accustom them to fresh air: open the window, but make sure that there is no draft. nine0007

After 5-7 days, feed snapdragons with any complex fertilizer, for example, nitroammophos. You can also use ashes for feeding (100 g per 1.5 l, let it brew for 1-2 days). The second root dressing is carried out in the phase of 7 pairs of leaves. This will launch an abundant flowering of the antirrinum in the future.

When the fifth leaf appears, pinch it. When the side shoots grow three leaves, repeat the procedure on them to start the growth of additional shoots.

Continue to harden off the plants and take them to the balcony and then outdoors. It is better to do this 1-2 weeks before planting, so that the seedlings become stronger and take root faster in a new place.

Planting snapdragons in open ground

From mid-May, when the danger of night frost has passed and the night temperature does not drop below 10°C, seedlings can be planted in the ground. For planting snapdragons, choose a sunny or slightly shaded place, without wind and drafts. nine0007

In terms of soil, snapdragons prefer well-drained, loose and slightly alkaline soils. It is in such that its root system can fully develop, which will be the key to good flowering.

Snapdragon seedlings should be planted together with a clod of earth in well-moistened soil. It is very important to maintain the correct distance between plants. On average, the distance should be:

Outdoor snapdragon maintenance

Despite its unpretentiousness, snapdragons still need regular, simple care. In hot weather, water plantings with water, preferably early in the morning. After watering, loosen the soil and remove weeds.

Tall antirrinums may need support.

If you do not plan to collect snapdragon seeds, cut off the faded inflorescences in time. This procedure will stimulate the formation of new peduncles. And of course, do not forget about top dressing. Two weeks after planting, apply nitrophoska under young plants, and at the time of laying the buds - a mixture of urea (10 g), potassium sulfate and superphosphate (15-20 g each) per 1 sq.

Learn more