![]() Once the seedlings have developed six true leaves, pinch the top of the stem off, as this will encourage branching and bushiness. As the seedlings grow, move the light higher. Use plant lights placed at about two inches above the seedlings for roughly 16 hours every day. If you’re starting them from seed, simply press the seed onto the surface of the potting soil. You can either grow them from cuttings or are buy them as seedlings. ![]() Most snapdragon plants are started indoors about eight to ten weeks before the last frost. Your seeds can be sown in your garden a few weeks prior to the season’s last expected frost. Make sure the seeds are sown directly onto the soil and not on top of a layer of frost. Snapdragons can be winter sown, which means that the seeds can be planted in late autumn. Once they are established in their soil beds and have hardened off, these plants can withstand sub-freezing temperatures, as long as they are well-watered.īy covering snapdragons with a layer of pine straw mulch when it gets very chilly, you can ensure your plant lasts for quite some time. What temperature snapdragons like?Īs mentioned, snapdragon plants much prefer cooler temperatures to warmer ones. Make sure that the snapdragons are then watered well to reduce the plants’ risk of nitrogen burns, and to ensure the fertiliser reaches their roots. A standard, well-balanced all-purpose fertiliser will work best. When your snapdragon first starts producing flowers, be sure to add fertiliser to the soil around the base of the plant. However, adding organic matter will go a long way in helping them stay healthy and ensuring they bloom. Because they are short-lived blossoms, they aren’t heavy feeders. Snapdragons thrive best in neutral soil with a pH anywhere between 6.2 and 7.0. As soon as the plant is established, allow the soil to dry about an inch deep before watering it again. Once it has settled in the ground and established, the plant will require about an inch of water every week when there is no rainfall.īe sure to water the plant near its crown and avoid overhead watering to ensure the snapdragon stays healthy. When you start growing your snapdragon plant, ensure it stays wet for the first few weeks. To keep snapdragon plants happy, they need a fair bit of watering. It must be mentioned that snapdragon plants are quickly established once planted, so it may be just as easy to replace them each season! As soon as the temperature starts to rise, these bright blossoms may stop blooming entirely.īy planting them in partial shade and keeping them well watered, you can help your snapdragon plants make it through the hot summer months, so that come autumn, they may bloom again. Snapdragons bloom best in full sun to partial shade during the springtime. They are also susceptible to pests like aphids, leaf miners, cutworms, cyclamen mites and spider mites. ![]() However, these plants are known to be affected by numerous diseases including botrytis, rust, powdery mildew, damping off and bacterial leaf spot. The snapdragon plant forms seed pods in its first year and occasionally may self-sow. The plant’s bloom cycle can be extended by deadheading. Snapdragons can bloom numerous times throughout the season but perform best in the cooler months of spring, autumn, and even the milder months of winter. These flowers do best in colder climates and are considered to be tender perennials as they’re not very hardy. They blossom in a wide array of colours and at varying heights so can be planted in numerous different formations too. ![]() Snapdragons are relatively low maintenance which makes them ideal for beginner gardeners. Now you know a few fascinating facts about snapdragons, find out how you can grow your own at home! How to Grow Snapdragons These stunning blooms are available in almost every hue and stand tall, proud and bright in any garden. These flowers rely on bumblebees for their pollination because they are snapped tightly shut, and as a result, require more pressure to open than a honeybee has on its own. When you pinch the “jaw” of the two-lipped, tubular blossom on the sides, it will open and snap shut again like a hairy dragon’s mouth. Also known by their scientific name of Antirrhinum majus, which means “like a snout”, the plant’s name derives from the fact that they look like a dragon’s face. Snapdragons are the tropical bird of the flower kingdom.
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