Snowdrop Flowers
“Snowdrop” is the name used to describe the variety of the flowers that belong to the Galanthus Genus, comprised of perennial flowering bulbs indigenous in Europe as well as to the Middle East. The spring flowers are among the earliest bloomers in the flowering bulb world which bloom in winter or in the early spring. Snowdrop bulbs form the shape of a bell which hangs from the stem and gives it its nickname. When fully open the white flowers resemble snowflakes. They are composed of big outer petals that surround three petals inside, which are stunning against the darker green leaves.
How to Grow and Care for Snowdrop Flowers
Plants that grow in snowdrops make an excellent winter bloom to add to your garden. Follow these steps to guide you in cultivating snowdrops:
- 1. Preparing the soil. The bulbs that are dormant will be planted in the fall for the early spring blooming time. Make sure to thoroughly loosen the soil within your gardening bed. Humus-rich, moist, well-draining soil varieties are ideal. Plant bulbs three to four inches apart for the best growth. Flowers like snowdrops require drainage that is good, which is why they’re great for rock gardens..
- 2. Make sure that snowdrops receive ample sunshine. The snowdrops flower in full sun or in the shade of the larger deciduous trees. They bloom before the trees grow their leaves and throw the sun’s rays in a heavy, drooping shade.
- 3. Water and feed your bulbs. Use moderate to light quantities of water in warmer climates , and in the hotter summer months. In cooler seasons snowdrops require only a small amount of water. Avoid extreme heat and humidity. Snowdrop flowers flourish best in zones of hardiness three to seven. The majority of species benefit from fertilizers rich in potassium.
- 4. Remove brown and yellow foliage. Once the snowdrops have bloomed at the end of spring, the leaves will begin to fade away. Certain botanists will take the leaves off completely after they start to turn become brown. This will ensure that nutrients are retained within the bulbs and stored to ensure that the plant will bloom next year.
- 5. Propagate snowdrop bulbs. They will self-propagate if they are they are left to themselves. You can either transplant the newly-established plants or cut them down and store the bulbs to plant them in the future.
Nowdrop Plant Toxicity
Snowdrops are poisonous for both animals and humans. It is also the reason they make them immune to insects. All of the parts of the plant have phenanthridine-alkaloids, which is a poisonous compound that is particularly concentrated in the bulbs. Make sure that children and pets are kept away from snowdrops If there is any suspicion that component of a plant that has been consumed, consult the poison control center in your area.
Pruning
Do not cut snowdrops. Do not trim the foliage, nor deadhead the flowering snowdrops. All the plant’s branches is likely to “die back” (above ground) once it is ready to go into dormancy. This is one of the reasons why snowdrops require little maintenance.
Propagating Snowdrops
The snowdrops appear every year and can grow and spread throughout the year In fact, they tend to naturally grow. Benefit from this to raise as well as divide bulbs whenever you want to plant snowdrops.
Growing Snowdrops From Seed
Although it is technically possible to grow snowdrops by seed however, it’s not worth the effort and not nearly anyone actually does it. The majority of people begin their snowdrop plant by purchasing bulbs (readily accessible at home improvement stores during the autumn). The bulbs are too cheap to justify purchasing seeds investing your time and effort to plant new plants from seeds. Once you’ve got a patch established, snowdrops when given the right conditions will grow independently through self-seeding. Ants aid in spreading the seeds. Snowdrops can also propagate themselves via bulbs offsets.
Overwintering Snowdrops
If you are able to garden in the zones 3-7 There is no need to do anything extra to freeze snowdrops. They’re cold-tolerant and be able to survive by themselves.
Getting Snowdrops to Bloom
As opposed to certain plants, like the Wisteria and Wisteria, which are known to be fussy bloomers it is not necessary to take additional steps to allow snowdrops to blossom. Just provide them with the conditions for growth that are recommended.
