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By the end of October at the latest, the wonderfully blooming snapdragon will become a sad sight. The plant often ends up mercilessly on the compost, although it is actually perennial.
Snapdragon hardiness
Are snapdragons hardy?
Snapdragons are plants that are actually native to the Mediterranean region. The small ornamental plants can therefore survive light frost without any problems. If, on the other hand, there is a harsh winter, the parts of the plant die off and the snapdragon dies.
You can make the plant hardy through optimal conditions:
- stop fertilizing at the end of September
- cut off all stems a hand's breadth above the ground at the first frost
- cover the root disc with straw, sticks and leaves
For the herbaceous parts of the plant, you should wait until they are completely withered before pruning. During this time, the nutrients migrate into the rootstock. This creates a reserve that the snapdragon can benefit from in winter. In addition, the plant is self-sowing and you can look forward to even more abundance in the bed. If - due to a cold winter - the snapdragon freezes to death, the newly sown plants will take over the flowering.
Snapdragon, Antirrhinum
Attention: The right soil is important
You will not be able to hibernate in the bed if the snapdragon has a location in dense, moist soil. The optimal soil for hibernation should look as follows.
- bright, sunny location
- humic, loose soil
- pH of 5.5 - 6.5
flower box
Make flower boxes hardy
Snapdragons are also often used from potted or tub plants, where the plants can also be overwintered for several years. There are important tips that you should definitely keep in mind.
- place the flower pot in a location with rain and wind protection
- the ideal location is a south wall or a wall niche
- before the frost, wrap the plant with bubble wrap
- Coconut mats prevent frost damage, they should end about 10 cm above the edge of the container
- Flower pots should be placed on wood in winter
- cut the shoots back to a remainder of five centimeters
- cover the substrate with sawdust, brushwood and straw
You have to expect that the remains of the stem will die off after the cut. However, this does not prevent the plant from sprout again in the coming year.
lime content
Beware of excessive lime content
One of the reasons why many snapdragons do not bloom perennial is that there is too much lime in the irrigation water or in the substrate. This locks in nutrients and creates a deficiency. The snapdragon falls ill with leaf chlorosis and cold tolerance drops to almost zero.
Snapdragon, Antirrhinum
cold regions
Snapdragons overwinter in cold regions
If a mild winter is not expected in the area where you live, you need to take other measures to successfully overwinter the snapdragon. A place behind glass is now required, regardless of whether they are bedding plants or potted plants. With the following tips you can get the plant through the winter even in cold regions.
- dig the snapdragon out of the bed in late autumn
- put it in a pot with loose soil and cut back to 5 cm
- move the plant to winter quarters with temperatures around 10 degrees
- in winter a little watering is needed to keep the substrate moist
resting period for the plant
Snapdragons are dormant in winter, so they don't need much attention. A basement, garage or shed is perfect for getting the plant through the winter.
Important: The temperatures must not drop to freezing point, but must not be warmer than 10 degrees Celsius either. If the environment is too warm, the plant will sprout too early and then die.
Snapdragon, Antirrhinum
winter out
Outwinter the snapdragon again
If the plant has survived the winter, it should be wintered out again by mid-May. However, make sure beforehand that there is no longer any threat of ground frost. With the following tips you can end the winter season for your ornamental plants.
- when overwintering in the bed, the protection is removed in mid-April
- Late frost can be mitigated with fleece
- when overwintering indoors, the plant should be placed in a warmer place from mid-April
- Water frequently from April and fertilize every 14 days
- At the end of May the move outside takes place