Can snapdragons be grown as an indoor flower?

Antirrinum belongs to the Norichnikov family. In the Mediterranean, this plant is considered a perennial, but in our harsh, frosty winter latitudes, it is grown as an annual.

He is rightfully in demand in horticulture and floriculture, although planting and caring for this plant has some distinctive features.

Flower bed lovers often ask questions:

• are frosts scary for annuals?
• is pinching important?
• to grow seedlings or sow in the ground?

Varieties

The stem of the pharynx branches well, creating a compact, dense bush, reaching a height of 20 to 150 centimeters. The flower is large and in shape resembles the open mouth of an animal, for which they are called dogs in conversation. Bright with a pronounced aroma, they are collected in spike-shaped or racemose inflorescences. The coloration is so diverse and depends on the type of antirrinum. The most popular are white, lilac, yellow, red flowers.

Currently, flower growers are growing about 900 different varieties, which, in turn,, are divided into one and a half dozen groups:

• tall, 150–160 cm in height;
• high up to 100 cm;
• medium height up to 60–70 cm;
• undersized up to 40-50 cm;
• dwarf up to 20-25 cm.

In tall varieties there is one main distinguishing detail - the central stem of the flower rises above the lateral stems, creating a peduncle with large, strong inflorescences.

All medium-sized varieties branch well and differ radically in flowering time. So, among them you can find early and late species of this annual.

Low-growing varieties of "dogs" have the shape of a ball with many stalks, form miniature bushes, the size of flowers is smaller than that of tall relatives.

All varieties are divided into several classes.

• Cuttings are tall varieties, well suited for bouquets, with large flowers, do not lose their picturesque qualities for a long time.
• Casing - these include stunted and dwarf plants, they are also called border plants, which have a long flowering period and form a dense miniature bush.
• Universal - these are medium-sized varieties that are distinguished by brighter colors and a variety of colors, they are combined into a small bush with a large spike - a peduncle and large flowers. Such "dogs" look good in a bouquet and remain attractive for a long time on a flower bed. The pharynx will delight with its beauty and fragrance for about three to four months.

And also according to the flowering time they are traditionally dividedlike all other garden flowers:

• early terms of the beginning of flowering, the first flowers open in May;
• medium terms, bloom not earlier than July;
• late flowering, flowers appear closer to August.

Planting and leaving

Antirrinum is a very light-loving flower, and with a lack of heat, it slows down its growth and seed cultivation. It can tolerate small frosts down to -5–0 degrees.

Dogs are grown on any soil, but it has been noticed that it grows better in light fertile soil. When choosing a place for planting in the front garden, look for a sunny, bright, protected from drafts.

Growing from seeds

Antirrinum is grown as an annual plant by sowing seed onto seedlings or directly into the ground. Each of these methods has a number of advantages.

Planting seeds in the soil.

This method is suitable for gardeners who live near the greenhouse, in their home or in the country. The easier it will be to observe the sowing and sprouting. Sometimes it seemsthat planting directly into the ground is much easier, but whether your young will survive or not depends entirely on caring for it. The seeds of Antirrinum are sown into the soil in late autumn or early spring in early April. He is not afraid of cold weather and also tolerates spring night frosts well.

Seeds are applied to the soil directly to the flower bed and do not cover them with earth. The seeds of Antirrinum are too small, so it is better to mix them with sand for even distribution over the surface. The bed on which the flowerbed will be located will need care, it must be well cleaned of grass and weeds, because young borings will choke. When the first shoots appear, the flower needs care, weeding and regular, accurate watering.

The grown flowers are thinned out so that the distance between them remains from 15 to 25 cm. The "dogs" grown in the ground begin to bloom much later, around July, and end early because of the threat of cold weather.

Planting Antirrium seeds for seedlings

This concern begins from the first ten days of February until the beginning - mid-April. Seedlings from seedlings will bloom much earlier and already in early May they will delight you with their diversity. The process of growing seedlings Antirrinuma has its own distinctive features, which it is desirable to know and apply to every florist:

• Seeds are sown in loose moist soil without sprinkling. They need light and warmth to germinate quickly. The best temperature for the seed is between 20 and 26 degrees.
• If the planting in the greenhouse was made in February, the days are short and you need to organize additional illumination of the seedlings. If the sowing was in March or April, the plants will not need extra lighting. It all depends on the length of daylight hours, which gradually begins to increase from March. Additional lighting may be needed on cloudy rainy days.
• when the first sprouts appear, you need to open the greenhouse for ventilation and observe the moisture in the soil. Waterlogging and drought will harm the seedlings or even kill the young. When the first pair of leaves appeared, it is time to dive the seedlings into separate containers, this will allow them to develop and form a strong root system. In order for a bush to begin to form, you need to pinch the sprout over 3-4 pairs of leaves. Before you start planting seedlings in a flower bed, you need to harden it for several days, taking it out into the garden for the whole day. Landing starts only with the onset of constant warm weather, usually already in May. The throat seeds are too small, so you can sow in peat tablets, then just thin out the seedlings.

Already partially blooming seedlings are planted in the front garden. To ensure lush flowering, the most open and sunny place is chosen. Before planting seedlings, it is advisable to season the soil with peat and add a little sand for looseness. Leave 20-25 cm between seedlings for free growth. But depending on the type of plant, the distance can be increased.

Snapdragon care

This flower is a rather unpretentious and non-capricious plant, all you need is weeding, protection from pests and regular watering. Necessarily need to followb, so that the flower is not flooded, the roots can get sick from this and your flower bed will die. You can control humidity if you mulch the soil with peat, sawdust or old grass.

Top dressing of an annual flower

Even on poor soils, a beautiful and healthy plant can be grown if top dressing is carried out on time. It is advisable to carry out the first feeding 15–20 days after the seedlings have moved to the flower bed. All subsequent fertilization should be carried out at the same interval of two weeks, throughout the entire flowering time. For this, weak solutions of bird droppings or mullein, as well as weed infusion, are suitable.

Reproduction of Antirrium

For further cultivation and preservation of your favorite varieties of pharynx in a flower bed, it is necessary to learn how to properly propagate it. You can do this in several ways:

• sowing seeds;
• by cuttings.

For proper collection seeds for further reproduction are chosen by healthy and large individuals. The grains of the snapdragon are very small, and so that they simply do not scatter themselves, the seed part of the flower is tied with a cloth and the seeds are waiting for the seeds to ripen. It is better to store the seeds for the future in a cool place and no more than three years.

You need to cut a snapdragon in the spring, cutting off young shoots from a mother bush that has wintered indoors, on a veranda or in a winter garden. We move the rooted seedlings to the front garden by the end of May. Planting material obtained in this way begins its flowering much earlier than its brothers, and has a prolonged flowering period.

Diseases and pests of antirrium

Quite often, seedlings are affected by fungal diseases:

• blackleg;
• septoria;
• fusarium;
• rust.

To prevent diseases, all damaged bushes are sprayed with biological products, which is repeated after a few days to prevent spread.

Snapdragon is very susceptible to attacks by pests, which, in turn, eat up the buds, spoil the stems and leaves of the flower. Most often, the scoop is harmful. Their butterflies debug their eggs on nearby weeds, and the larvae then crawl onto the flowering bush and damage it. To prevent such damage regularly weed near flowers. Eaten and spoiled plants are treated with special preparations and infusions several times. Snapdragon can bloom and please the eye almost until October, if there is no severe frost.

Antirrium in landscape design

In the design of flower beds and alpine slides, all kinds of snapdragons are used. A huge variety of varieties and bright colors made it the leading one among all one-year-old beauties.

Dwarf and undersized flower species are well suited and look in flower beds, they are planted along the borders or as colored circles and squares on the lawn. There are types of annual pharynx that can be grown on the balcony in a box or in a planter. Tall species of antirrinum are suitable mainly for bouquets and will remain in a vase up to the crescent and will delight you with their decorative qualities. Snapdragon flower stalks fit perfectly into many flower arrangements.

> Snapdragon flowers

Snapdragon (Antirrhinum), which is also called antirrinum, is directly related to the genus of herbaceous plants belonging to the plantain family. This genus unites about 50 species of perennial plants, including climbing plants. In the wild, these plants can be found in zones with warm climates, and most species are found in North America. In Russia, these flowers are called "dogs", in England "snapdragon" (biting dragon), in France "wolf's mouth", and in Ukraine "mouths". "Antirrinum" translated from Greek means "nasal", "like a nose." In the ancient Greek myth telling about Hercules, or rather, about his first feat, it is said about how he defeated the Nemean lion, the ferocity of which everyone knew.In honor of the victory, the goddess Flora presented Hercules with a gift - it was a lovely flower called "snapdragon". From that time on, the Greeks had a tradition of giving the heroes a snapdragon. This plant has been cultivated for about five hundred years, and German specialists took up its selection only in the 19th century. During this time, they were able to create about 1 thousand varieties of snapdragons, while it is interesting that only one species was used to create various varieties, namely, antirrhinum majus.

Snapdragon features

This flower is represented by shrubs, as well as herbaceous plants, which have straight, finely grooved shoots, they are branched and colored green. Their height can vary from 15 to 100 centimeters. The bushes have a pyramidal shape. At the top, the leaf plates are alternately located, and at the bottom - opposite. Their shape can be lanceolate or oval-elongated, and the color varies from dark to pale green, while the veins are colored red. Fragrant flowers are relatively large in size, they are two-lipped and have an irregular shape. There are both double flowers and simple (depending on the variety), they are part of the inflorescences that have the shape of an ear. Their color can be yellow, pale fawn, white, pink, red (all shades), and there are also varieties with two- and three-color flowers. The fruit is a two-celled polyspermous capsule. 1 g contains 5-8 thousand seeds. This plant begins to bloom in July, and ends after the first autumn frosts.

Often, snapdragons, which grow as a perennial in the wild, are grown by gardeners as an annual. However, if the plant is well cared for, and if conditions are favorable, the frost-resistant snapdragon can survive the winter in the open field. Moreover, the next year, its flowering will be more spectacular. In garden design, such a flower is grown as a curb flower, but it can decorate both a flower bed and a green lawn (if the snapdragon is planted in groups). Terraces and balconies are also decorated with such a plant. Today, ampelous varieties of such a flower are gaining more and more popularity among florists, for the cultivation of which you can use hanging structures, and they will also become an excellent decoration for galleries and terraces.

Growing snapdragon from seed

Sowing

Reproduction of this plant can be done by seeds, as well as vegetatively. The seeds have good germination for several years. In the event that you live in an area with a relatively mild climate, then sowing the seeds of such a flower can be done directly into open soil. The first shoots can be seen after 2.5–3 weeks, while the seedlings are not afraid of cold snaps that occur at night. In the same places where the spring is relatively cold, it is recommended to grow this plant through seedlings. It is very easy to grow snapdragons from seeds.

Seeds are sown in the first days of March. To do this, you will need a bowl, the diameter of which will be at least 10 centimeters, and at the bottom it should have holes for drainage. Coarse sand should be poured at the bottom, and on top of it compost soil mixed with sand. Lightly tamp and level the surface, then moisten it slightly with a spray bottle and spread the snapdragon seeds mixed with sand, on top of it, pour a thin layer of the same substrate. Water the crops with a fine spray bottle, and then cover the container with clear glass. Every day, condensation must be removed from the glass surface, while airing the seedlings and, if necessary, moistening the surface of the substrate from the sprayer. If in the place where the container stands, there is moderate humidity and warmth (23 degrees), then the first seedlings can be seen after half a month.After the first plants appear, the container must be transferred to a well-lit, but at the same time protected from direct sunlight, place (so that the plants do not stretch out). After the snapdragon begins to emerge en masse (after 3-4 days), the shelter must be removed for good.

Seedling

At first, the plants will grow for a long time, and during this period it is especially important to properly moisten the soil. Watering should be done in the morning so that there is enough moisture for the plants, but it would not be too much. The fact is that waterlogging can cause the development of a "black leg". If the seedling has fallen, then it should be carefully removed using tweezers, while the place where it grew should be sprinkled with crushed charcoal or used for this calcined cold river sand. After 2 true leaves are formed, it is necessary to pick the seedlings into a box or container, while they must be placed so that they are not pressed against each other. Also, for picking plants, you can use individual pots, or you can plant 3 seedlings in 1 larger pot at once. Then the plants must be placed in a well-lit, but at the same time protected from direct sunlight, place. After that, you can start hardening the seedlings. To do this, in the daytime you need to open the window for a while, but drafts should be avoided. When the plant has 4–5 true leaves, it will need to be pinched to increase bushiness, but if the lateral shoots are growing quite quickly, then they should also be pinched.

Landing in open ground

When to plant snapdragons

Snapdragon seedlings should be planted in the last days of May and the first in June. At the same time, you should not be afraid of cold snaps at night, since these plants tolerate them quite calmly. These flowers can be planted both in a sunny area and in a shaded area, but it is worth considering that it must be protected from gusts of wind, and also be well drained. A suitable substrate should be light and rich in nutrients. A mixture consisting of compost, sand, and peat, which are taken in equal proportions, is best suited for growing such a flower. The acidity of the soil should be pH 6-8.

How to plant

The distance between the bushes during planting depends on the variety of snapdragons. So, between dwarf varieties there should be a distance of 15 centimeters, between undersized varieties - about 20 centimeters, between medium-sized ones - 30 centimeters, and between tall ones - from 40 to 50 centimeters. After the bush transplanted into open ground takes root, it grows rather quickly and becomes a spectacular flowering plant. It must be remembered that it is necessary to plant seedlings in a well-watered soil in advance.

Care features

Growing

Such a flower is undemanding to care for and only needs timely watering, weeding, feeding, and it is also necessary to systematically loosen the surface of the soil. Watering should be done only during a drought, but remember that this procedure cannot be carried out in the evening. After watering, it will be necessary to loosen the soil surface and weed, this can be done on the same day or every other day. Experts advise, to make a garter of tall varieties to the support. After the flower begins to fade, it must be removed from the bush, as it takes away the strength of the plant. In order for such a plant to bloom for a long time, you should not allow seeds to set in it, and after the last flowers have wither, you need to cut off the flower arrow. It is necessary to cut the peduncle under the flower located at the very bottom, only in this case new arrows and flowers will grow.The first time to feed the snapdragon is after it takes root after transplanting into open soil, and for this, nitrophoska and organic fertilizers are used. The second time you need to feed the plant during budding, in this case, a nutrient solution consisting of potassium sulfate, urea and superphosphate is used, while 1 large spoonful of each substance should be taken in a bucket of water.

Diseases and pests

It happens that the bushes are affected by rust, while specks of red color appear on their surface. Also, this plant is susceptible to infection with black leg, root and gray rot, septoria. Diseased plants must be destroyed as soon as possible, then it is necessary to process the soil area where they grew with a fungicidal (antifungal) agent. For snapdragons, such pests are dangerous as: fly larvae, scale insects, caterpillars, as well as butterflies that are able to lay eggs. It should be remembered that getting rid of diseases or harmful insects is much more difficult than preventing plant infection. For the purpose of prevention, it is necessary to follow all the recommendations for caring for the snapdragon, so it is necessary to timely destroy the sick and infected with harmful insects; flowers should not be planted very close to each other; it is necessary to water correctly, avoiding waterlogging of the soil; watering should be done at the root, while making sure that water does not fall on the surface of the leaf plates.

After flowering

The flowering of such a plant can continue until the first frost in the fall. After the fall is established, those snapdragon bushes that are cultivated as perennials must be cut very shortly, so that the height of the shoots is about 5-8 centimeters. Then you need to mulch the site, sprinkling it with a layer of dried foliage or sawdust mixed with peat. In the event that your annual snapdragon grows, then after the flowers begin to fade, you should remove them, thereby avoiding self-seeding. After all the flowers on the arrow have wither, it should be cut as short as possible. This will prevent the seeds from ripening and scattering on the soil surface. After the onset of deep autumn, it is necessary to dig up the soil where the flowers grew, and burn the remains of the snapdragon, since harmful insects can settle on them.

How and When to Collect Snapdragon Seeds

As a rule, for most plants, seeds are harvested only after they are fully ripe. However, the collection of snapdragon seeds must be carried out in the phase of incomplete maturity. Then they are placed in a dry, well-ventilated room for maturation. Collect the seeds in a long paper bag (like for a baguette). It is necessary to start collecting seeds only after the fruits located at the bottom of the peduncle are fully ripe. To do this, the top of the peduncle, on which there are still green fruits, must be cut off and thrown away. On the part of the flower arrow that remains, you need to put on a bag of paper, tied with a thread below the fruit. Then it remains only to cut the stem below the dressing site. Then the inverted bag must be hung in a dry and warm place and you just have to wait for the ripe seeds to spill out into the bag by themselves. Ripe seeds should be poured into a small cardboard box and stored in a dry place, where the air temperature will be from 3 to 5 degrees. In this case, the boxes must be protected from water ingress.

Main types and varieties

Today, experts have several classifications of this plant according to various characteristics. The most popular classification is by the height of the bush. By the size of the bush, snapdragon varieties are divided into 5 groups:

1. Gigantic - the height of the bush is 90–130 centimeters.In this plant, the stem, located in the center, is much higher than the stems of the second order, while there are no stems of the third order. Popular varieties: "Arthur" - bush height from 90 to 95 centimeters, cherry flowers; "F1 red XL" and "F1 pink XL" - the bush reaches 1.1 meters, the flowers are red and pink (respectively).
2. High - the height of the bush is 60–90 centimeters. They are cultivated for cutting, and also as a vertical accent in groups or in mixborders. The central stem is much higher than the lateral ones. When cut, the flowers of this plant can stand for about 7 days or even longer. The most fragrant varieties are those whose flowers are colored in various shades of yellow. Popular varieties: "Anna German" - flowers are painted in a light pink color; "Canary" - flowers of a rich yellow color; a mixture of varieties "Madame Butterfly" - double flowers can be painted in a variety of colors.
3. Medium (semi-tall) - a bush with a height of 40 to 60 centimeters. The varieties are versatile, they are cultivated both for cutting and as decoration for flower beds. They are distinguished by strong branching. The central stem is slightly higher in height than the lateral ones. Popular varieties: "Golden Monarch" - has a yellow color; "Ruby" - deep pink flowers; "Lipstick Silver" - painted in whitish-pink color.
4. Low - the height of the bush is 25–40 centimeters. They are cultivated as border or flower bed plants. These varieties have a large number of flowering stems of the second and third order, while the central stem has the same height as the stems of the first order or slightly below them. Popular varieties: "Tip-top", "Hobbit", ampelous hybrid plant "Lampion".
5. Dwarf - the height of the bush varies from 15 to 20 centimeters. The varieties are intended for carpet flower beds, ridges, borders, rock gardens. They are also grown as a potted flower. There is strong branching up to stems of the third and fourth order, while the central stem is lower or has the same height as stems of the second order. Popular varieties: "Sakura Blossom" - there is a speck on whitish-pink flowers; Candy Showers is an ampelous variety.

There is also a very popular classification of the Snapdragon of Sanderson and Martin for year-round cut varieties. However, this classification is of interest only to those growers who grow snapdragons for sale.

Antirrinum or snapdragon is a perennial, annual or semi-shrub herbaceous ornamental flowering plant native to the warm Mediterranean countries. In nature, the flower also grows in North America and Europe. The snapdragon plant is also very popular among gardeners. And this is understandable, because amazing colors of buds, bizarre flower shapes and long flowering can decorate any part of the garden throughout the season.

Snapdragon - description, photo

What does snapdragon look like? The antirrinum flower is distinguished by green, straight, finely grooved, large stems, the height of which can be from 15 to 100 cm. The plant has opposite lower leaves and oval or lanceolate elongated upper leaves. By the beginning of summer, racemose inflorescences with numerous large, two-lipped flowers are formed on the stem. They are irregular in shape and can be plain or terry. The color of the flowers can be pink, red, dark brown, orange, yellow, white. There are varieties with flowers painted in two or three colors at once. Snapdragon blooms from the beginning of summer until the onset of autumn frosts.

In nature, the snapdragon flower is a perennial, however, in regions with cold winters, the plant is grown as an annual. Under favorable conditions and good care, antirrinum in the garden can be grown as a perennial plant.

Growing snapdragon from seed

Sowing seeds in open ground

In regions with a warm climate, antirrinum can be grown as a perennial, planting seeds directly on a flower bed. Sowing is carried out in early spring or from mid to late April. It all depends on the weather in your area. Seedlings will appear in about three weeks and can survive even a slight cold snap.

Seeds are planted on a bed prepared in advance in a nesting way, sprinkled with a thin layer of earth, watered from a watering can with a shower head and covered with a film. Crops are aired daily, and the soil is moistened as needed. As soon as the seedlings appear, the film is removed on warm days. It is better to leave shelter at night.

Slightly grown seedlings will need to be thinned out, removing the weakest plants. In order not to damage the roots of closely growing bushes, it is better not to pull out unnecessary seedlings, but to pinch off. When caring for them, watering should be regular, but not frequent. Seedlings are sensitive to soil moisture, when waterlogged, young plants can get sick with a "black leg". Watering is recommended in the early morning.

Growing seedlings of antirrinum (snapdragon)

With the seedling method of growing annuals, sowing seeds should be started already at the beginning of March. For this, seedling containers with drainage holes are prepared. They can be filled with potting soil from the store, or you can make your own using compost soil and sand.

Sowing procedure:

1. Snapdragon seeds are very small, so they are pre-mixed with sand.
2. The soil is poured into a container, leveled and moistened.
3. Seeds are distributed over the surface of the wet soil, which are covered with a thin layer of the prepared soil mixture and carefully moistened with a sprayer.
4. The container is covered from above with cling film, glass or polyethylene to make a greenhouse.
5. Seedling boxes are placed in a place where the air temperature is maintained within +23 degrees.
6. When caring for crops, it is necessary to ventilate the soil for several minutes every day, removing the shelter for this. As needed, the soil is moistened with a sprayer. To do this, use settled water at room temperature.
7. The first seedlings will appear in about two weeks. They must be immediately exposed to a well-lit place. Plants should not be exposed to direct sunlight.
8. After another three or four days, all the seeds should hatch, after which the film or glass will need to be removed.

Features of caring for snapdragon seedlings

The air temperature for the growth of seedlings should be + 20 ... + 23 degrees. They are moistened in a timely manner, and after the appearance of two real leaves, they are seated in disposable cups or other containers. You can use spacious pots by planting three bushes in them at once.

When transplanting seedlings, you can use a special spatula or a simple fork, with which the plants are taken out along with a lump of earth and carefully placed in a pot filled with earth. Antirrhinums do not tolerate transplantation well, so everything must be done so as not to damage the roots. The planted plants are carefully watered.

The cut seedlings are grown in a well-lit place, otherwise, with a lack of light, the stems will begin to stretch out. Watering the bushes should be borne in mind that the snapdragon does not like waterlogging of the soil. Constantly wet soil can lead to root rot and the appearance of a disease such as "black leg". However, it is impossible to overdry the soil.

To stimulate the growth of lateral shoots in seedlings 10 cm high, pinch the top. At this time, they should have 4 or 5 real leaves. After this procedure, the snapdragon will turn into a beautiful, lush bush. If the overgrown side shoots begin to grow too actively, they can also be pinched.

Approximately two to three weeks before planting antirrinum in open ground, the seedlings begin to harden. On warm days, it is exposed in the garden or on an open balcony.On the first day, hardening of plants is carried out for one hour. Every day the time spent by seedlings in the fresh air increases. In the last days before planting, the seedlings should be outdoors for 24 hours.

Planting the snapdragon outdoors

For antirrinum, a sunny or slightly shaded area is chosen, which must be protected from strong winds.

When to Plant Snapdragon?

Seasoned and grown seedlings on a flower bed in the garden can be planted in late May or early June. Warm weather should be established, however, the plants are able to survive small, short-term night frosts.

How to plant snapdragon?

The soil for antirrinum should be well-drained, nutritious and light. It is best if it consists of compost, sand and peat (1: 1: 1).

For each bush, a separate planting hole is made, the distance between which depends on the height of the plant:

1. Dwarf antirrinums are planted on a flower bed with a distance of 15 cm from each other.
2. Between undersized specimens, the gap should be 20 cm.
3. Tall snapdragon bushes are planted from each other at a distance of 40 or 50 cm. Immediately during planting, it is recommended to install supports near tall specimens, to which the grown plants will need to be tied.

After planting, the seedlings must be watered.

Snapdragon - care

Snapdragon refers to unpretentious plants that do not require much attention to themselves during the season. The bushes will bloom magnificently and for a long time if you follow the simple recommendations for caring for them:

1. In dry and hot weather, plants require watering. This should be done early in the morning. It is not recommended to water the snapdragon at night. If it rains, there is no need to water the flowers.
2. After rain or watering, it is recommended to remove weeds and loosen the soil around the plantings about once a week. Such a procedure will not allow a crust to form on the ground, and air will flow to the plant roots.
3. After about two weeks, when the seedlings take root and begin to grow, they are fed with universal fertilizer for flowering plants.
4. During budding, it is recommended to feed the bushes with a solution prepared from a mixture of potassium sulfate, urea and superphosphate. For its preparation, take a tablespoon of each fertilizer. The mixture is diluted in 10 liters of water.
5. Withered flowers should be removed regularly so that new buds form faster.
6. After flowering, fruits begin to form and ripen on the peduncle. If you do not need seeds, then the faded peduncle under the lowest flower is cut off. In this case, after a while, new arrows will appear on the bush and begin to grow, which will soon bloom.
7. In regions with not very cold winters, where snapdragon is grown as a perennial plant, the stem of the plant should be cut off in the fall when cold days come. The remainder of the stem should have a height of 5 to 8 cm. After that, the bushes are covered with dry foliage or peat mixed with sawdust.

Snapdragon pests and diseases

Observing all the rules for caring for antirrinum, plants will not be afraid of any diseases and pests. Preventive measures include:

1. Moderate wetting of the area.
2. Planting bushes at a distance of 15 to 50 cm (it all depends on the variety of snapdragons).
3. Instances affected by pests and diseases must be removed immediately.
4. Watering the bushes should only be at the root so that water does not get on the leaves.

If, nevertheless, pests have settled on the plants, then the bushes are treated with insecticidal preparations. Of the pests for snapdragons, caterpillars and butterflies, larvae of flies, and scale insects are dangerous.

Of the diseases, the flower can infect gray or root rot, black leg and septoria. All these diseases cannot be cured, and at the same time they quickly spread to other plants. Therefore, diseased bushes are pulled out and burned.The soil on which they grew must be shed with fungicidal antifungal drugs.

The beautifully blooming antirrinum (snapdragon) plant will decorate the garden with its bright or delicate flowers until late autumn. Its low-growing varieties can be planted in a box or flowerpot and decorate a balcony or loggia.

Snapdragon (antirrinum) is an ornamental plant often found in garden plots. They are often decorated with flower beds in parks and city boulevards. These flowers are popularly known as "dogs". The popularity of the plant among summer residents is also explained by the fact that caring for it is not particularly difficult.

Snapdragon

Snapdragon: growing from seed, when to plant

Peculiarities

Antirrinum is a herbaceous plant, the straight stems of which grow up to 1 m in height. Elongated leaves can be either light or dark in color. The flowers have a pleasant aroma, in shape they resemble an open lion's mouth. This is the secret of such an unusual name. Smooth or double flowers growing at the top of the stem are collected in an inflorescence in the form of an ear.

Snapdragon flower

On a note! The flower is grown on balconies and loggias. On the street, he is planted both in flower beds and in suspended structures.

Luxurious flowerbed with antirrinums

A riot of colorful snapdragons in a hanging planter

There are antirrhinums of white, pink, red and yellow colors. Flowering lasts all summer, and ends in autumn with the onset of frost. The plant is perennial, but is usually re-planted every year. Snapdragon blooms in the year of disembarkation. Then the seed box ripens.

Antirrinum varieties

Snapdragon large

These plants, depending on the variety, are either very small or very tall. According to this principle, snapdragon is divided into the following groups.

1. Dwarf, maximum 20 cm in length. They are used to decorate borders and flower beds. These anti-rhinums are planted in pots like houseplants. Among them there are varieties such as "Sakura Blossom" and "Candy Showers F1".

   Snapdragon Candy Showers F1 Orange

2. Undersizedgrowing from 25 to 40 cm. They can also be found on borders and flower beds. These include the "Tip-Top", "Lampion", "Hobbit" varieties.

   Snapdragon ampelous "Lampion"

3. Averagestretching up to 40-60 cm. Used for landscaping or creating bouquets. The most common are pink Ruby, yellow Golden Monarch and pale pink Lipstick Silver.

   Snapdragon (Antirrinum) Golden Monarch

4. High, up to 60–90 cm long. They make wonderful fragrant bouquets or original flower beds. A cut flower can stand in water for over a week. The best of them: terry varieties "Madame Butterfly F1", yellow "Canary", pink "Anna German".

   Snapdragon F1 "Madame Butterfly"

5. Giantsreaching 1.3 m. These are such varieties as cherry "Arthur F1" and others.

Tulips and snapdragons in one flower bed

Breeding methods

Antirrinum is usually propagated using seedlings. Tall varieties will bloom later than their undersized counterparts. This must be taken into account when sowing.

Snapdragon seedlings

On a note! Plant seeds can also be sown directly into open ground. This only applies to small varieties of snapdragons. The right time for sowing is the first decade of May. Flowering should be expected later than seedlings.

If you do not destroy the faded antirrinums, then it is likely that, having survived the winter, their seeds will germinate in the thawed soil. Such plants produce strong, luxuriantly flowering bushes.

Vivid variety of snapdragons

When to plant seeds for seedlings

The sowing time of seeds depends on the climatic conditions of the region and the plant variety. High anti-rhinums are sown in the third decade of February. Low and medium height - during March. Sowing dwarf varieties is allowed until April 15.

Snapdragon seeds photo

In the northern regions, snapdragons can only be grown in seedlings. Planting the plant in open ground is carried out later due to the fact that during almost the entire spring, the return of cold weather is likely. This must be taken into account when planting seeds for seedlings. Growing antirrinum as a perennial plant in cold climates will not work.

On a note! Sufficiently developed plants are transplanted into flower beds only in late spring or early summer. During this period, flowers will not suffer from a drop in temperature at night.

Sowing seeds for seedlings step by step

Table. Instructions for growing a snapdragon seedling method.

Step 1	For seedlings of antirrinum, a universal soil mixture is suitable, which can be purchased at a specialized store. So that the small seeds of the plant can hatch, the soil is sifted and washed sand is added to it. The mixture can also be prepared from earth, peat and sand, mixing them in a 1: 2: 0.5 ratio. To protect seedlings from diseases and weeds, it is recommended to steam the soil mixture with a double boiler. Steam for 1 hour will protect the plant from the blackleg. In order to make the soil slightly alkaline, after steaming, add to it half a tablespoon of dolomite flour or 1 tablespoon of ash per 0.5 kg of soil. The soil mixture must be slightly moistened.
Step 2	Fill the container with a mixture of soil, level the surface and tamp quite a bit. Place the seeds on the fold of a piece of paper and spread carefully over the entire surface. Pour the earth on top with a layer of no more than 1 cm.
Step 3	Spray the topsoil with water from a spray bottle. However, some seeds may float to the surface. This is not scary, since more light is needed for their germination.
Step 4	Cover the container with a transparent lid or plastic bag. Then install it in a lighted place. For the emergence of seedlings, it is necessary to maintain the temperature in the room + 21-24 ° C. The soil must be periodically irrigated with water, otherwise the seeds will dry out and not germinate.
Step 5	After about a week, sprouts will begin to hatch. After emergence, it is recommended to maintain a temperature of + 16 + 29 ° C. Seedlings grow at a slow rate at first. It is especially important to avoid excess water during this time. Watering should be done so that moisture does not get on the leaves. Frequent ventilation is required. The container lid must be removed after 7 days. Immediately after this, the plants must be protected from direct sunlight.
Step 6	With an excessive density of seedlings, they are thinned out using tweezers.
Step 7	The pick is made after the first two true leaves grow. Snapdragon is not afraid of this procedure. In a new place, he will feel good almost immediately. The same soil mixture is suitable, but without preliminary sieving and steaming. Fill the cups or pots with soil, lightly tamp the soil. Then you need to make holes so that there is enough space for the roots. Deepen the sprout by 3 mm and cover with soil. Lightly tamp the earth, otherwise the sprout may tilt when moistened.
Step 8	After picking, the seedlings must be carefully watered. In this case, it is advisable to hold the sprouts until the moisture is completely absorbed.
Step 9	It is recommended to apply liquid fertilizer to the soil every 14 days. The grown seedlings can be pinched between the fourth and fifth pairs of leaves to improve growth and further lush flowering.
Step 10	In the second decade of May, you can plan to transfer seedlings to open ground. Snapdragon needs a well-lit area. In shady areas, antirrinum will not bloom so abundantly. If the seedlings were hardened, then even small frosts are not afraid of it. The soil for good plant growth must be loose. A fertile slightly alkaline soil is suitable (otherwise the roots will not be sufficiently developed). Heavy soil must be diluted with sand, dolomite flour or ash.Before planting seedlings, mineral fertilizing should be applied to the soil, including phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen.
Step 11	Planting holes must be dug at a distance of up to 45 cm from each other, depending on the height of the future plant. The specified distance between plants must be observed if a tall variety is planted. For medium antirrinums, this interval is 30 cm. And plants of small varieties of snapdragons will get along well at a distance of 20 cm between them.
Step 12	Planting must be completed with generous watering, after which it is required to cover the soil with a layer of peat.

Snapdragon in composition with other flowers

Composition using snapdragon flowers

Video - How best to sow snapdragon

Plant care

Further care of the plant does not require much effort. It needs to be weeded periodically, and antirrinum also needs frequent loosening of the soil. During the period of active growth, the culture should be fed with a complex of mineral fertilizers. It is undesirable to allow both waterlogging of the soil and a lack of moisture. Watering should be done in moderation. Withered inflorescences must be removed in a timely manner.

Antirrinum (snapdragon). Types and terms of work when growing

Snapdragon - growing and care

Snapdragon diseases

If the root system of the seedlings has been exposed to excessive moisture, then the antirrinum can get sick with root rot. This can ultimately ruin the shoots. To cope with the problem, you can use a drug called "Hom". A teaspoon of the product is diluted with 1 liter of water and the seedlings are treated. Re-processing is carried out after transferring plants to open ground. For this, 1 liter of solution is taken for 10 m2 of flower beds. The procedure must be done before flowering.

Diseases and pests of antirrinum

In cool, damp summers, there are suitable conditions for the development of rust. Red spots quickly spread on the foliage, which lead to the death of the flower. It is recommended to fight this disease with the help of special fungicides ("Cumulus", "Strobi", "Abiga-Peak", "Poliram") and 1% Bordeaux liquid. Products that include sulfur are effective. Plants affected by the disease must be burned.

"Strobe"

"Abiga Peak"

On a note! Gray spots with yellow edging on the leaves of snapdragon indicate infection with septoria. This usually happens in hot, but rainy summers. To eliminate the infection, such means as "Skor", "Previkur", "Fundazol", "Acrobat MC", "Ordan", "Profit Gold" are used.

"Speed"

Fundazol

The following pests are dangerous for snapdragons:

• aphid;
• scoop;
• slugs;
• avocado shield;
• rootworm nematode.

To destroy them, plants and the land on which they are planted should be treated with insecticides. Infected bushes must be removed from the flower bed and burned.

Snapdragon is a beautiful flower that is undeservedly forgotten by many growers.

Snapdragon is able to surprise with its lush color until late autumn, as it is not afraid of light frosts. Subject to simple rules, these colorful flowers can be planted and successfully grown on their site by every amateur gardener.