Planting, tending, pruning and more

Plant snowdrops properly

The time window for planting snowdrop is open from the end of August to the end of October. The early bloomers develop their best in a sheltered, semi-shady place in normal garden soil. Arrange the bulbs in small groups of 5 specimens. Place these 6-8 centimeters deep in the ground, at a distance of 5 centimeters. It is important to note the upward pointing onion tip.

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

A snowdrop's care protocol includes just these few factors:

• Water when natural rainfall is insufficient
• Do not fertilize in the bed
• Cut off wilted flower stalks first, followed by the withered leaves
• Plants in the vole basket prevent damage from being eaten

Snowdrop islands in the lawn should not be mowed until the foliage has 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 at home. They thrive in the shelter of tall deciduous trees, at the edge of forests and wherever they are not exposed to direct sunlight. The perfect location in the garden should be like this:

• Partially shaded to shaded lighting 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 planting time?

The planting season for snowdrops extends from the end of August to the end of October. If the weather is mild, there is nothing wrong with planting the flower bulbs in November.
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When is flowering time?

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

• Little Snowdrop: January to March
• Lake Riza Snowdrop: Late January to early April
• Double snowdrop: February to March
• Dainty and Caucasus Snowdrops: February to May

The wild species called Queen Olga snowdrop trumps its fellows 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 stalks so that the flower does not invest all its energy in growing seed pods. Leave the leaves on the flower for some time to allow the bulb to absorb the remaining nutrients. Only then do the scissors come into play.
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Fertilize snowdrops properly

Snowdrops are among the typical self-supporters in the bed. The additional application of fertilizer has a counterproductive effect here, because it results in a masty growth of the leaves at the expense of the flower. In the limited substrate volume of pots and flower boxes, however, fertilizing twice is an advantage. At the beginning and end of the flowering period, the snowdrop is happy about a portion of compost, guano or horn shavings.
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Propagating snowdrops

Since a single snowdrop does not yet herald 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 undergo stratification, during which they are exposed to a cold stimulus for several weeks. It can take up to 5 years for a seedling to develop into a magnificently flowering snowdrop.
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How do I plant correctly?

Transplanting snowdrops is particularly recommended during the flowering period. If the early bloomers are full of juice, they can cope better with the strain than at the end of the flowering period. How to do it right:

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

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

Snowdrops in pots adorn half-shady to shady places on the balcony, the terrace or in the house entrance. To ensure that the early bloomers in the planter develop their perfect beauty, follow these steps:

• Good as a substrate potting soil use compost
• Create drainage over the water outlet with gravel or broken pottery
• Plant the bulbs in small groups 6-8 centimeters deep in autumn
• The tips of the bulbs point upwards, with a planting distance of 5 centimetres

Keep snowdrops constantly moist in the pot. Fertilize 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 alkaloids that are harmful to health. This is especially true for the onions. If small children are romping about in the garden on a journey of discovery, 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 onions. Symptoms of poisoning occur, such as vomiting, signs of paralysis and even cardiac arrest.
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Characteristics

The profile provides a condensed overview of the snowdrop, packed with valuable information for successful cultivation in beds and pots. The following facts are particularly striking:

• 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
• Growth height 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 ran wild in the wild. The stock of spring bells is now threatened here, so that 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 at big snowdrop festivals in search of unique specimens. This is not surprising, given the individual peculiarities:

• Snowdrops are under protection
• The white flowers break through even a blanket of snow with ease
• The onions generate their own bioheat
• With daughter bulbs they take care of offspring themselves
• The slight poison content keeps predators away

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Snowdrops under nature protection

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

The delicate flowers of a snowdrop sprout from a subterranean perennial organ in the shape of a bulb. Planted correctly, snowdrop bulbs repeat the small miracle of their spring blooms for many years. This is how it works:

• Small planting pits dig from 8-10 centimeters deep
• Enrich the excavation with compost and a little sand
• Place the onions in small tufts of 5 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 bulbs are high on the menu for pests.
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Set snowdrop bulbs

Extensive previous knowledge is not required to plant snowdrop bulbs in an exemplary manner. It's so easy:

• The planting pit is 8-10 centimeters deep
• Place the onions in small groups with the tips pointing skywards
• The planting distance is 5 centimeters

Finally, press down the soil with your hands and water with a fine spray.
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The flower of the snowdrop

The media raises our awareness of snowdrops' toxin content 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 surround 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 strength in the growth of capsule fruits. It contains up to 36 seeds for the survival of the genus. You can let nature take its course or harvest the seeds and sow them yourself. Here's how to do it:

• Put the washed seeds in a plastic bag with wet sand
• Store tightly closed in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator for 4-6 weeks
• Germinating seeds in seed pots sow with peat sand
• Sieve over with substrate and moisten with a fine shower

At a temperature of 15 to 18 degrees, keep the seedlings constantly moist in the partially shaded location. Plant the young snowdrops in the bed in autumn. It can take 3 to 5 years until 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 stalk
• Lily of the valley thrive with 10 or more clusters of flowers with broad bells

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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