Growing flowers is associated with the characteristics of the selected variety. Each flower is unique: the rules for caring for it depend on the structure of the stems, the type of buds and inflorescences. Snapdragon ampelous is especially loved by flower growers because of the culture's ability to adapt to new conditions, as well as because of its spectacular appearance that can decorate any territory.
How to prepare planting material for sowing
Before planting grains in the ground, they need to be prepared. The preparation process usually includes 2 procedures: disinfection and stimulation.
You can disinfect the seeds by soaking them for half an hour in a pink solution of potassium permanganate or a solution of hydrogen peroxide (a teaspoon in a glass of water).
Stimulation includes soaking the planting material in a growth promoter (Epin, hydrogen peroxide, Gumi, aloe juice, etc.).
Unlike other colors, Antirrinum grains do not require long soaking. It is enough to keep the seeds in gauze soaked in a nutritious composition for only 2 hours.
Description
Plant genus - grass, plantain family. There are more than fifty species, numerous representatives of antirrinum are perennials, there are curly subspecies. The main habitat in the wild is North America.
Cultivation
Have been cultivating flowers for over 500 years! In the 19th century, German botanists began to develop new varieties.
Since then, about a thousand new species have appeared. And for breeding, botanists used only one variety, large antirrinum. This is how a thousand varieties emerged from one variety.
Appearance
Regardless of the species, all antirrinums have an erect stem on which green, branched shoots are located. The size of this herb or shrub is within 15-100 cm. Bushy varieties have the shape of a pyramid.
The leaves are found in colors ranging from light green to deep dark green. The leaf shape is lanceolate or slightly elongated. Veins on the leaf are reddish.
The root looks like a rod, it branches heavily in the ground. The root system is in the ground at a depth of 30-35 cm.
Flowers of irregular shape are located on a spike-shaped inflorescence, with large sizes. Due to the fact that there are more than 1000 species of varieties, you can find a wide variety of colors and a wide variety of petal shapes.
Achenes are very tiny, they are in a box consisting of two nests. From one gram, there are up to 8000 seeds.
The beginning of flowering coincides with the second month of summer and continues until the very autumn frosts.
When to sow snapdragon seedlings in 2020 lunar calendar?
Lunar calendar for 2020
In our country, the calendar of agrotechnical works has long been associated with the lunar calendar. There are favorable days for planting, and there are unsuccessful ones, when it is better not to carry out any work with plants.
Good days are those when the moon arrives, and bad days are full and new moons. Days of the waning moon are considered neutral.
ON A NOTE. There is also a superstition that it is impossible to carry out work on those days of the month when the moon passes through the constellation of Aquarius.
Bad days
Agronomists agree that it is impossible to carry out serious agrotechnical work, such as sowing seeds, on the days of full and new moons.
These days are considered unsuccessful, and summer residents traditionally try not to disturb the plants.
IN february 2020 the full moon will be on the 9th, the new moon on the 23rd.
IN march 2020 full moon - 9, new moon - 24.
IN april 2020 full moon - 8, new moon - 23.
IN May 2020 full moon - 7, new moon 22.
ON A NOTE. Some summer residents also do not work for day before and in day after these natural phenomena.
When to plant antirrinum depending on the region?
The climatic conditions of the growing region have a decisive influence on the sowing time of snapdragon seedlings.
- In the Kuban and Crimea, grain can be planted from the first days of March;
- In the Chernozem region, the Volga region, Central Russia - in the 2-3 decade of March;
- In the Leningrad Oblast and in the Vologda Oblast - the end of March;
- Urals, Siberia, Far East - early April.
Seed collection
To collect seeds, leave arrows after flowering, collect them in the phase of incomplete ripening. The green top is cut off, a paper bag is put on the arrow and tied at the bottom. Next, the peduncle is cut and hung in a bag, when the seeds ripen, they spill out into it themselves.
Seeds can be stored for 3 years in a dry room with an air temperature of 3-5 ° C.
Planting snapdragon seeds step by step
The algorithm for sowing Antirrinum seeds is simple and does not differ much from sowing other plants.
- The seed is prepared and processed.
- The containers are being prepared. You can plant a plant in a common box (then a pick will be needed).
- The grains are slightly pressed into the soil. You don't need to fill it with soil later.
- Further, the plantings are moistened and closed with an air-tight material.
- The whole structure is placed in heat until shoots appear.
How to care for snapdragon seedlings, what are the tricks?
From the moment the seedlings emerge, the seedling care phase begins. Young plants need to provide the conditions they need for growth and development.
Snapdragon seeds sprout, what to do next?
When shoots appear, the trays with seedlings must be rearranged to a cooler place with a temperature of about 17-18 degrees. For example, on the windowsill. After a few days, the plants are returned to warmth.
Now you need to create the appropriate conditions in which the seedlings will grow up to planting in the ground.
- Temperature... Ideally 23-24 degrees. It is not necessary to create too hot conditions, but the coolness will not work, otherwise the seedlings will develop too slowly.
- Shine... Seedlings should be illuminated by the sun for at least 12 hours a day. With a lack of sunlight, the seedlings stretch out, become weak and painful.
- Humidity air should be moderate. In winter, due to the batteries, the room is dry, so you will have to increase the humidity. But there is no need to create "tropics" either.
- Watering... You need to moisten the seedlings as the soil dries out in the trays. Overflows should not be allowed - decay processes will begin.
- Top dressing... You need to fertilize seedlings only 2-3 times. The first feeding can be done after germination. Use Agricola. The second feeding is carried out after the pick. The third - 15-20 days after the pick.
ON A NOTE. Agronomists advise feeding seedlings with mineral fertilizers, not organic matter.
How to feed snapdragon seedlings
The most effective preparations for feeding Antirrinum are complex mineral remedies. For example, Agricola, Gumi, Gumat, Zircon, etc.
From folk remedies, it is best to use a solution based on ammonia.
Snapdragon dive rules
The pick is carried out only after the appearance of 2 true leaves.
In order for the plants to be better separated from the soil, it is necessary to moisten the soil 1.5 - 2 hours before the procedure.At the same time, it is necessary to prepare new containers, having previously filled them with the required amount of soil.
A teaspoon, ice cream stick or any other similar tool is used as a picking tool.
It is necessary to separate the seedlings from the soil with a lump of earth so as not to damage the root system.
After picking, the plants are watered, and after a couple of weeks they are fed with mineral fertilizer.
Popular species and varieties with photos
Snapdragon is a perennial plant, but due to climatic conditions in many regions it is grown as an annual. Over the past 200 years, breeders have bred about 50 species and over 1,000 varieties of this crop.
There are different species classifications: according to the type of bud structure, flowering period, height, color. But the most popular is the classification by plant height, it includes 5 groups:
- dwarf,
- low,
- medium-sized,
- high,
- gigantic.
Dwarf
The varieties of this group are represented by small plants 15–20 cm high. They are used to decorate borders, carpet flower beds, rabatki, rock gardens, and are also conveniently grown in pots. The most common varieties are:
- Candy Showers;
- Sakura color;
- Magic carpet;
- Sun light.
Low
Plant heights vary from 25 to 40 cm. This type of snapdragon often decorates flower beds, borders, hanging baskets, balcony boxes and containers. Low grades include:
- Lampion;
- Tom Tamb;
- Kimosa;
- The Hobbit;
- Bell ringing;
- Wunderteppich.
Medium-sized
Snapdragons of medium-sized varieties are not very prone to branching and have a compact shape. Plants grow up to 70 cm. They look bright in flower beds and flower beds. The flowers are ideal for cut flowers. Among the varieties, the most popular are:
- Scarlet Monarch;
- Lipstick Silver;
- Rosella;
- Bizari F1;
- Apricot umbrella;
- Day and night.
High
Such varieties are also called cut-off. They look beautiful in vases and keep their freshness for 7 to 14 days. Flowers are used to decorate mixborders, group compositions. Plant height reaches 90 cm.The group of high varieties includes:
- Diamond Rose;
- California;
- Alaska;
- White bouquet;
- Anna German;
- Madame butterfly.
Gigantic
Plants of gigantic or giant varieties reach a height of 130 cm. They can be used to decorate the garden as a "natural curtain" to hide a sloppy fence or wall. They are good background plants in group plantings. There are such varieties:
- Arthur;
- F1 Red XL;
- Roman holiday;
- F1 Pink XL;
- University of California.
When to plant seedlings outdoors?
Transplanting seedlings into open ground is carried out starting from the second decade of May in the southern regions and from the beginning of June in colder regions of the country.
ON A NOTE. The transplant can be carried out when the temperature reaches at least 10 degrees at night.
Snapdragons love the sun, so don't plant them in the shade. Also, the flower prefers drained soil, so before planting in the ground, you can add a little sifted river sand.
Plants need to be planted at a distance of at least 20 cm from each other. So the seedlings will not interfere with each other's growth, but the feeling of sparseness of plantings will not be created either.
What a flower
Snapdragon is a type of semi-shrub type perennial that is grown outdoors. Ampel varieties of snapdragons are used for growing at home, but in the latter they can be found in hanging pots on terraces or as part of flower arrangements on special prefabricated structures. The culture has the main external features:
- the bush grows from 15 to 100 cm, it depends on the variety; the shape of the bushes is close to pyramidal;
- leaf plates are arranged alternately, to the base their order changes to the opposite; they can be from simple oval to complex lanceolate; however, the color of the leaves can vary from light to dark green;
- flowers of a double or simple type are collected in spike-shaped inflorescences, their color depends on varietal characteristics.
Shoots of ampelous varieties, as a rule, droop down, therefore, it is customary to grow a hybrid snapdragon in pots or hanging baskets. On the beds, high varieties are cultivated, which are tied to additional supports.
Interesting Facts
- From ancient Greek, the name of the plant is translated "like a nose."
- According to legend, the flower was presented to Hercules for the victory over the Nemean lion.
- In Russia Antirrinum is called "dogs", in France - "wolf's mouth", in England - "biting dragon".
- In the United States, snapdragon is one of the most popular flowers used in bouquets.
- The dried fruit-boxes of Antirrinum are similar to human skulls.
General information about the plant
It is a herbaceous plant with straight, branched stems and can grow up to one meter in height. It has long green leaves that are dark or light in color and are covered with thin villi. As they unfold, the flowers take on an unusual shape, similar to the open mouth of a lion or a small dog. Because of this feature, the plant got its name. Terry or glossy flowers exude a pleasant aroma, they gather at the tops of the shoots and form inflorescences in the form of spikelets.
The birthplace of antirrinum is the southwestern part of Europe and the Mediterranean countries. Today, snapdragons can be found in yellow, white, red and pink colors. It begins to bloom in early summer, and ends in late autumn with the onset of the first frost.
By its nature, this flower is a perennial, but gardeners grow it as an annual plant and fill the flower bed with new specimens every year. This feature of cultivation is due to the fact that antirrinum blooms only in the year of planting. At the same time, the fruit-box with seeds ripens.
Frequently asked questions
Despite the fact that growing seedlings is a traditional and well-known type of agricultural work, some questions still remain. Let's consider the most popular ones.
What soil to buy for growing seedlings?
If you do not yet have sufficient experience in growing seedlings, then it is better not to experiment and acquire a universal soil. This substrate has all the necessary properties for the healthy growth of seedlings.
Also, manufacturers now offer special soil for seedlings. It is also suitable, although, in fact, it is not much different from the universal one.
How can the seeds be stimulated for further growth?
For stimulation, it is better to use growth biostimulants. For example, Agricola, Zircon, Gumi, etc. You can also use folk remedies: infusions based on yeast, drunk coffee or onion peels.
REFERENCE. It is better to use purchased products. They show great efficiency. In addition, some plants do not accept organic matter well during growth.
Why don't the seeds germinate?
There are three reasons for this:
- Poor quality seeds. You need to purchase proven seed material.
- Agrotechnical mistakes. Planting too deep, not soaking, etc.
- The deadline has not come yet. Some seeds only germinate 2 weeks after sowing.
Why are seeds soaked?
Soaking the seeds before planting has the goal of stimulating growth, softening the outer shell and decontaminating them.
Soaking is optional, but it significantly increases seed germination.
How to harden snapdragon seedlings?
To harden seedlings before planting in a flower bed, start taking out boxes with seedlings in the open air in 1-2 weeks.Gradually increase the length of time your plants stay outside the home from 1 to 24 hours. On cloudy and rainy days, it is better to leave the seedlings at home. After the procedure, the seedlings are ready for transplantation.
What to do if the seedlings of the snapdragon are not growing?
Seedlings do not grow solely due to mistakes in agricultural technology. Normalize watering, provide the right amount of sun and the required temperature, pick and feed the seedlings.
