Snapdragon: planting and care, recommendations from experienced gardeners
Antirrinum or snapdragon is a perennial, semi-shrub plant whose flowers attract with their unusual color.
Snapdragon is an ornamental plant of the Plantain family.
You don't need to make any special efforts to plant this ornamental plant. Snapdragon on a personal plot Can be grown by both experienced and novice gardeners.
Content:
What does a snapdragon look like?
The plant gets its name from the shape of the flower, which resembles the mouth of a lion. They have an irregular shape, are large in size and are collected in inflorescences. Flowers, depending on the variety, come in a variety of colors: crimson, burgundy, pink, dark burgundy, yellow, white or golden.
Blue and dark blue flowers are not found. The plant blooms for three months. A special feature of Antirrinum is that the flower blooms from bottom to top.
If faded inflorescences are removed in a timely manner, flowering will continue until late autumn.
The stems of the plant are large and straight, the upper leaves are oval-shaped, the lower ones are located opposite. Snapdragons can be highly branched or have a single stem.
In height the plant can reach up to 100 cm. Medium-sized, low-growing and dwarf plants are also found. They are often planted in flower beds and flower beds, thus creating color spots on the lawn.
Rules for growing antirrinum
Antirrinum is a light-loving and moisture-loving plant. The flower grows well in fertile soils with a drainage layer. Snapdragon can be propagated using seeds.
Sowing is done either in open ground or in seedlings. The optimal method of propagation is considered to be seedlings, since in open ground the plant may not take root due to lack of heat in the spring. You can grow seedlings yourself at home or purchase ready-made ones in the store.
Before purchasing, you need to pay attention to the quality of the planting material: the roots should be well developed, the leaves should be green, and the stems should be healthy and not thin.
For growing seedlings At home, it is necessary to create good conditions and sow the seeds correctly. Only in this case can you achieve the desired results.
Sowing seeds for seedlings must be done in March-April. You can use garden soil as soil and mix it with sand.
For seedlings, you can use ordinary wooden boxes or pots. After filling the container with soil, the seeds are slightly pressed and sprinkled with earth. Next, the seedlings are moistened with a small amount of water and covered with film.
After planting the seeds, the first shoots appear within a week and begin to grow quickly. At this time, you can begin airing. Remove the film for a while and then cover the seedlings again.
In order for the flower to develop well, the temperature regime should be observed - 20-23 degrees. It is better to place the container with seedlings in a lighted place - a windowsill.
As soon as the first snapdragon leaves appear, you can plant the plants separately from each other.
This procedure should be carried out with care so as not to damage the roots of the plant. Some gardeners, when the plant reaches 10 cm in height, pinch the top. This method promotes the growth of side shoots and abundant flowering of antirrinum.
In open ground Snapdragons are planted after warm weather sets in. This is approximately the second or third ten days of May. The seedling holes should be approximately the same size as the plant's root system.
It is recommended to plant low-growing snapdragon varieties at a distance of at least 10 cm from each other. For seedlings of tall varieties there should be enough space and the distance should not be less than 40 cm.
Snapdragon care: recommendations
The first feeding must be done after the plant has taken root. Urea, superphosphate, and potassium sulfate can be used as fertilizer mixtures. The frequency and timing of fertilization is once every 2 weeks until late autumn.
The soil must be loosened regularly and weeds must not be allowed to appear. If the flowers have faded, they should be carefully removed.
The plant should be watered constantly. If it is not possible water frequently antirrinum, then the soil must be mulched with sawdust or peat. This method will help retain moisture in the soil for a long time.
From severe waterlogging, the flower may die from blackleg. This is a disease that affects stem cuttings and seedlings.
To combat the disease, a special medicinal drug, Hom, is used. Treat the plant according to the instructions.
A snapdragon in a summer cottage will become a real decoration, add variety to the landscape and fill the air with a pleasant aroma.
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Comments
My grandmother grew up so beautiful. Just a lovely flower. She had ordinary flowers, so beautiful. And not long ago I came across their seeds, planted them, but they didn’t grow as I would like. Quite frail. Maybe I got this variety.
Our snapdragon (scientifically called antirrhinum) has been growing for 3 years now, the trunks have become woody. Overwinters without shelter. During the season I cut off the faded parts 3-4 times, after 2-3 weeks it blooms again. Previously, I never thought that this plant could survive the winter, although the winters were not cold.