Fresh flowers bring a feeling of warmth and comfort to the apartment, make the house more residential. What flowers to grow in her apartment, each hostess chooses herself, based on her tastes and preferences. But when planning landscaping a home, you should pay attention to a plant such as Snapdragon.
Antirrinum - photo and description of the plant
The flower is really looks like an open lion's mouth... According to legend, it arose thanks to Hercules, who saved humanity from an aggressive lion. The bloodthirsty monster lived in the Nemean Forest, which was in Ancient Greece. Goddess Hera decided to save people from the evil lion and sent Hercules to destroy the animal. The winner successfully completed the task, after which Flora created an amazing flower, which since then has been customary to give to brave warriors and heroes.
In the common people, the plant is also called dogs (antirrinum). Snapdragon - perennial flower family of norichnikovs. But since the plant already blooms and gives seeds in the first year of planting, it is often used as an annual.
Does not require special care, therefore even a beginner can grow it... In nature, snapdragon grows only in North America and Southern Europe. There are about three hundred varieties of plants of various colors (except blue) and height (15-100 cm).
Planting and features of growing antirrinum
Unlike wild species, the garden plant has larger flowers and brighter colors. The flower grows well on neutral fertile soils with a well-developed drainage system. You can also grow snapdragons indoors, on a windowsill.
His popularity among gardeners due to the following factors:
- unpretentiousness;
- flowering in the first year after planting;
- bright colors;
- beautiful flowers of the original form;
- long flowering period.
Growing seeds in pots
For decorating personal plots use the following landing methods:
- Seedling. This method is most common among gardeners. The method consists in preliminary cultivation of seedlings in room conditions. Initially, seedlings are grown from seeds, which are then planted in open ground or pots.
- Landing in the ground. A rather difficult method of growing snapdragon, as it requires planting in the ground in early spring and the seedlings may simply not have enough heat. In this case, the likelihood of getting a beautiful lush flower bed is significantly reduced.
First you need to select seeds. In a specialized store, you will be helped to choose a mixture of colors of the most incredible colors, and from the picture on the package, you can determine the color compatibility and the location of the plantings.
The main criterion for choosing plants is height. For balcony cultivation, usually choose a shorter (15-20 cm) varietya, in the form of a ball. The plant has low and wide flower brushes, thanks to which, during the blooming period of the dogs, your windowsill will sparkle with fabulous colors.
Hybrid varieties with a stem height of less than 30 cm are also ideal for growing in pots.
It is better to sow seeds for seedlings in April.
For this you need:
- snapdragon seeds;
- sieve;
- small spatula;
- soil mixture;
- container for seedlings (wooden box, plastic flower boxes or separate pots).
An even layer of soil is placed in the container. Ideally, this is not a heavy, loose substrate purchased from a specialized store. Seeds should be placed densely, but not very densely.
With light movements of your fingers, press the seeds into the soil and sprinkle on top with a thin layer of substrate (use a sieve for this).
Moisten.
Cover with cling film.
The seedlings germinate at a temperature of 20-23 ° C. After the sprouts appear, hardening can begin. For this, the greenhouses must be opened at first for a short time, then gradually increase the airing time. As a result, remove the film altogether.
Snapdragon - moisture-loving plant, therefore, you need to constantly monitor the condition of the soil and, if necessary, moisten it.
After about a month, two real leaves will appear, which means it's time to place the seedlings in an individual pot. For more lush flowers, pinch the tops of the plants when they reach 10 cm in height. As a result, side shoots will receive an additional stimulus for growth and development.
If you buy seedlings in a store, be sure to pay attention to their appearance. The root system should be well developed, the stem is strong and not too thin, the leaves should be rich green.
Planting seedlings of antirrinum in the ground
Planting the snapdragon in open ground must be done late spring - early summer... The timing depends on the climatic conditions and temperature regime of a particular region. In order for the seedlings to endure nighttime cold snaps, they must first be grown and hardened.
Planting is carried out in an area protected from drafts and winds, which can be well lit or slightly shaded. The optimal soil composition is a mixture of compost, peat and sand.
The soil must be thoroughly moistened. The distance between plants is determined depending on the variety: undersized species are planted according to the scheme 20 * 20 cm from each other, medium-tall - 25-30 cm, tall - 40-50 cm.
Planted seedlings need periodic loosening of the soil, regular watering and top dressing.
Snapdragon care
Due to its unpretentiousness, the flower does not require any special conditions cultivation and care. To ensure active growth and flowering, you only need to water the plant regularly. Snapdragon is a cold-resistant crop, so do not be alarmed if it freezes a little at night - in the daytime the flowers will take on their original lush appearance. Watering should be done under the root in the morning.
During the entire flowering period, the plant needs to be fed with complex fertilizers. The frequency of dressing is once every 14 days.
Advice: Antirrinum does not bloom? Cut off the longest shoots and flowering will resume. If you remove faded inflorescences in time, you can significantly extend the flowering period.
Diseases and pests
It is not so difficult to grow snapdragons, but in any case, you must follow the basic rules for caring for the plant, otherwise the appearance of pests is possible and various diseases such as septoria, gray rot and black leg.
Before starting treatment, the infected flowers should be removed, then the soil should be treated with an antifungal agent (fungicite, etc.).
Fly larvae, caterpillars, scale insects and butterflies are the main pests of snapdragons. To combat them, special tools are used, which can be purchased at a flower shop.
Collecting antirrinum seeds
It is necessary to collect seeds in a paper bag, so that provide them with adequate ventilation... The seed is harvested unripe and stored in a dry room. The collection is carried out from the lower sections of the peduncle. The tops of the plant are then completely cut off and discarded.The collected seeds are stored at a temperature not exceeding +5 ° C in cardboard boxes.
After collecting seeds, the site should be dug up, the remains of the plant should be burned. If the snapdragon is grown as a perennial, it is necessary to cut the flower, leaving a small shoot. Cover it with a mixture of sand and peat for the winter.
Subject to all planting rules and recommendations for plant care, you will be assured of their rapid growth and development, as well as abundant flowering.
