When rearing snapdragons, it is now common practice to remove the plants after the flowering phase has ended and to replace them with new young plants in the new year. But does that even have to be the case? How hardy is the snapdragon and how do you get it safely through the cold months? We'll tell you all the important information about winter hardiness and wintering options.
Is snapdragon hardy?
This question can be answered clearly with yes or no for numerous other plants, but with snapdragons the only general answer that can be given is "it depends". Originally, the Antirrhinum, the scientific name of the snapdragon, is a perennial and at least moderately hardy perennial. Anyone who is lucky enough to own such a specimen can, with a little effort, rely on a rich bloom in the coming year.
In contrast, many of the cultivated forms offered today are so-called F1 hybrids. They are bred exclusively for the purpose of strong growth and enormous flower formation. The lifespan
NOTE: Your gardener will tell you what kind of snapdragons it is. When purchasing from a hardware store or gardening retailer, in addition to belonging to the F1 hybrid, information on winter hardiness is usually included.
Hibernate perennial shrubs
If you are lucky enough to actually have a perennial snapdragon perennial in your garden, the chances of overwintering are usually very promising. These measures will help the plant to safely overwinter until the coming spring:
Cut back
Although many gardeners tend to remove faded and wilted plants from the plants in autumn, they should not be pruned here. The dead leaves perform several functions in winter:
- Protection of the plant stem from wind and the resulting frostbite
- Protection of the root area from intense ground frost
- Fallen leaves or leaves that have sunk to the ground as evaporation protection against drying out in wintry winds
Cover
An additional protective layer helps to protect the plants from the winter cold
maintain. The main thing is to protect the sensitive roots while the above-ground parts of the plant sprout again in spring. Suitable materials for the protective cover are:- Coconut mats
- brushwood
- Mulch
- leaves
- straw
ATTENTION: Airtight covers such as foils, on the other hand, should be avoided as much as possible. Although they also protect against evaporation and cold, moisture can build up under them and thus promote the formation of rot and mold.
The covers can be carried out independently of the planting in the bed or pot. With smaller pots, a handful of leaves from the nearby shrubs can be enough to protect the roots from above.
Neighboring plants
Although snapdragons love the sun, it can be useful to plant them in the company of larger perennials or shrubs. The partially overhanging branches of these neighbors can offer some protection from the wintry cold of starry nights.
Protected locations
Anyone who pays attention to a protected location when planting the snapdragons has already done a lot in terms of winter protection. Above all, protection from wind, but also heat radiation from nearby buildings, contribute to successful wintering. Good options are, for example:
- Plant beds close to the building
- Location in the area of the eaves of garbage bins, garages or sheds
- Position on the leeward side of privacy screens, tool sheds, etc.
The protective effect of a well-chosen location can be used even better if the plants are in the plant trough or
Flower pot to be held. The pots can then simply be moved to the wall of the house or spend the winter under a protective patio cover.Protection from the bottom and the sides
While snapdragons do not need any protection from below in the planting bed, the cold on all sides in potted plants represents a real danger for the sensitive roots. Put flower pots on a styrofoam plate or a mat made of bast or coconut fibers over the winter. They keep out the cold coming from below and complement the protective measures effectively. The same applies to the sides of the pot if the remaining soil around the roots does not provide sufficient protection. Coconut mats or even bubble wrap are effective here.
Stop fertilizing
Those who fertilize their plants usually mean well to them. For a successful wintering, however, you should stop the fertilization for the snapdragon in September. This reduces the growth drive and the plant matures and prepares itself for hibernation. Particularly susceptible new shoots on branches and roots are no longer formed.
Dig out
One hears again and again that snapdragons can be dug up together with their root ball in particularly cold locations and overwintered in the cellar. In fact, this method works, but the plants are significantly weakened and react in the following year with less growth and less flower formation. When storing in the basement, the following should be observed:
- Keep roots moist, if necessary protect against intensive evaporation
- Avoid waterlogging, e.g. B: by laying on straw
- Store in the dark, otherwise higher temperatures will result in growth without sufficient supply
