Snowdrop ∗ The 10 best care and planting tips

Plant snowdrops correctly

The time window for planting snowdrop is open from the end of August to the end of October. The early bloomers develop their optimum in a protected, partially shaded place in normal garden soil. Arrange the onions in small groups of 5. You put these 6-8 centimeters deep in the earth, at a distance of 5 centimeters. It is important to note the upward onion tip.

By the way, hobby gardeners suffering from suffering plant their snowdrops in the vole basket. For this purpose, a 15 centimeter deep hole is dug, the wire basket inserted and covered with sand at the bottom 5 centimeters high. Only then do you plant the snowdrop bulbs in the then filled, loose, compost-enriched soil and carefully water them.
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Care tips

The care protocol for a snowdrop includes just these few factors:

• Watering when the natural amount of rain is insufficient
• Do not fertilize in the bed
• First cut off the withered flower stalks, later the withered leaves
• Plants in the vole basket prevent damage from eating

Snowdrop islands in the lawn may only be mowed when the leaves have completely yellowed. The early bloomers are mostly spared from diseases.

Which location is suitable?

A look at the location in the wild reveals where snowdrops feel comfortable. They thrive in the protection of tall deciduous trees, on the edge of the forest and wherever they are not exposed to direct sunlight. The perfect location in the garden should be like this:

• Partial to shady light conditions
• Fresh, moist soil, rich in humus
• Soil with excellent drainage

The spring bells do not want to be confronted with an acidic pH value and waterlogged soil.
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What is the best time to plant?

The planting season for snowdrops extends from late August to late October. In mild weather there is nothing to prevent planting the flower bulbs in November.
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When is the flowering time?

If you cleverly combine the different types and varieties of the snowdrop, you will extend the flowering time by several weeks. We have put together for you here when the most popular snowdrops will present their white flowers:

• Little snowdrop: January to March
• Lake Riza snowdrops: late January to early April
• Filled snowdrop: February to March
• Dainty and Caucasus Snowdrop: February to May

The wild species called Queen Olga Snowdrop trumps its conspecifics with a never-ending flowering period from October to March.
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Cut snowdrops correctly

The pruning of snowdrops takes place in two stages. First, cut off the withered flower stems so that the flower doesn't invest all of its energy in growing seed heads. The leaves remain on the flower for some time so that the onion can absorb the remaining nutrients. Only then will the scissors be used.
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Fertilize snowdrops properly

Snowdrops are typical self-sufficient in the bed. The additional application of fertilizer has a counterproductive effect here, because it results in a pithy growth of the leaves at the expense of the flower. In the limited substrate volume of the pot and Flower box(€ 149.00 at Amazon *) on the other hand, it is advantageous to fertilize twice. At the beginning and at the end of the flowering period, the snowdrop is happy about a portion of compost, guano(€ 9.82 at Amazon *) or horn shavings.
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Propagate snowdrops

Since a single snowdrop does not bring about spring, the desire for uncomplicated propagation is understandable. How good that the flower makes an important contribution, as it provides plenty of offspring in the form of daughter bulbs. After flowering, dig up several bulbs, separate the bulbs with a sharp knife and plant them in the new location.

In contrast, the sowing of seeds as laborious and tedious. As cold germs, the seeds first go through a stratification, whereby they are exposed to a cold stimulus over several weeks. It takes up to 5 years for a seedling to develop into a magnificently blooming snowdrop.
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How do I transplant properly?

Transplanting snowdrops is particularly recommended during the flowering period. If the early bloomers are fully in the sap, they can cope with the exertion better than at the end of the blooming period. How to do it right:

• Do not cut back the flowers
• With the Digging fork lift out of the earth
• Plant 6-8 cm deep in the new, partially shaded location

In group planting, a planting distance of at least 5 centimeters is considered appropriate.
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Snowdrops in the pot

Snowdrops in pots adorn semi-shady to shady places on the balcony, terrace or in the house entrance. In order for the early bloomers to develop their perfect beauty in the planter, follow these steps:

• Good as a substrate Potting soil use on a compost basis
• Create a drainage over the water drain with gravel or potsherds
• In autumn, plant the onions in small groups 6-8 centimeters deep
• The tips of the bulbs point upwards, with a planting distance of 5 centimeters

Keep snowdrops constantly moist in the pot. It is fertilized with a little liquid fertilizer at the beginning and at the end of the flowering period.
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Is snowdrop poisonous?

Snowdrops are classified as slightly poisonous flowers, as all parts of the plant contain harmful alkaloids. This is especially true for the onions. If small children cavort on a voyage of discovery in the garden, they should be made aware of the consequences of eating snowdrops. There is a risk of severe nausea, vomiting and stomach cramps.

For pets, especially dogs, cats and rabbits, the early bloomers pose a serious threat. For dogs, for example, the critical dose is 2-3 small bulbs. Symptoms of poisoning occur, such as vomiting, symptoms of paralysis and even cardiac arrest.
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Characteristics

The profile provides a condensed overview of the snowdrop, full of valuable information for a successful cultivation in beds and pots. The following facts stand out particularly strikingly:

• Plant family: Amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae)
• Perennial, hardy bulbous flower
• 20-25 known species with more than 2,000 varieties
• Flowering time from January to May, depending on the species
• Height of growth 2 to 25 cm
• Special feature: slightly toxic in all parts

After the snowdrop immigrated to us from its Asian homeland, it found its way out of the gardens and grew wild in the wild. Here the spring bell is now threatened in existence, so it has been placed under nature protection.
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The peculiarities of the snowdrop

Snowdrops awaken the great passion for collecting. Every year, fans of the popular early bloomer gather for large snowdrop festivals, on the hunt for unique specimens. That is hardly surprising, given the individual peculiarities:

• Snowdrops are under nature protection
• The white flowers can easily break through even a blanket of snow
• The onions generate their own bio-heat
• With daughter onions, you provide for your own offspring
• The slight poisonous content keeps predators away

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Snowdrops under nature protection

Since snowdrops are highly endangered in their population, the small beauties of flowers are subject to nature conservation. Therefore, any removal from their natural environment is punishable by heavy fines. Incidentally, all countries in Europe are pulling together in this regard.
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The bulbs of the snowdrop

The delicate flowers of a snowdrop sprout from a subterranean organ in the form of an onion. Put correctly, snowdrop bulbs repeat the little miracle of their spring bloom for many years. This is how it works in an exemplary manner:

• Dig small planting pits 8-10 centimeters deep
• Enrich the excavation with compost and a little sand
• Place the onions in small tuffs of 5 each so that they do not touch
• The tip of a snowdrop bulb always points to the sky

We recommend placing a vole basket in the pit before planting, as the onions are high on the menu for pests.
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Put snowdrop onions

In order to plant snowdrop bulbs in an exemplary manner, extensive prior knowledge is not required. It's that easy:

• The planting pit is 8-10 centimeters deep
• Place the onions with the point skyward in small groups
• The planting distance is 5 centimeters

Finally, press the soil on with your hands and pour with a fine effervescence.
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The blossom of the snowdrop

The media are making us aware of the toxicity of snowdrops and their protected status. In order to be able to identify the flowers in the wild, the blossom serves as an optical identification feature:

• 3 white petals envelop 3 smaller, greenish-white petals
• Drop-like shape in all snowdrop species and varieties
• 2 groups with 3 conical stamens each

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Sow snowdrop seeds

After flowering, a snowdrop invests all its energy in the growth of capsule fruits. It contains up to 36 seeds for the continued existence of the genus. You can let nature run wild or you can harvest and sow the seeds yourself. This is how you do it:

• Put the washed seeds in a plastic bag with damp sand
• Store tightly closed in the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator for 4-6 weeks
• Germinating seeds in Growing pots(€ 13.90 at Amazon *) sow with peat sand
• Sieve with substrate and moisten with a fine effervescence

Keep the seedlings constantly moist in the partially shaded location at a temperature of 15 to 18 degrees. In autumn you plant the young snowdrops in the bed. It can take 3 to 5 years for the first flowering.
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The difference between snowdrops and lilies of the valley

At first glance, snowdrops and lily of the valley confusingly similar. On closer inspection, however, these differences become clear:

• Snowdrops bloom as early as January / February - lilies of the valley only in May
• Snowdrops have a single, teardrop-shaped flower on each stem
• Lilies of the valley thrive with 10 or more broad-bellied flower clusters

The deviation of the leaves is unmistakable. While the foliage of snowdrops appears lanceolate and narrow, lily of the valley leaves develop up to 5 centimeters wide.
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The snowdrop species

The snowdrop genus is populated with more than 20 pretty species. In addition to the widespread common snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis), thrive in our gardens often the large-flowered snowdrop (Galanthus elwesii) and the Crimean snowdrop (Galanthus plicatus).
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The most beautiful varieties

• Large-flowered snowdrop: the Galantus elwesii blooms as one of the first snowdrop varieties
• Flore Pleno: enchants with lush, double flowers and a wonderful scent from February to March
• Sam Arnott: a gem among the snowdrop varieties with particularly large flowers
• Viridapice: characterized by long white petals with a green tip
• Hippolyta: impresses with its double bell-shaped flowers made of white bracts with a delicate green touch
• Anglesey Abbey: a rare variety with petals of equal length
• Wendy Gold: valuable collector's variety with white bracts and yellow crown
• Titania: romantic snowdrop with white frilled flowers