Almost everyone knows about the lion's throat. Such a plant is able to revive any garden, summer cottage, to decorate a flower bed. Snapdragon brings brightness and originality to the overall composition. Culture is very common. Since the content is unpretentious, it is often chosen for decorating the area. What is the snapdragon: growing seedlings from seeds and features of care - this article will tell.

Snapdragon or antirrinum is a plant that reaches a height of 15 centimeters to a meter. Grow it as an annual or perennial. The shoots are straight and branched. They form pyramidal or cone-shaped dense bushes that look very elegant. Painted stems in a green tone. Sometimes there is a purple patina.

The shape of the leaf plate is lanceolate, oval. Foliage is more like an original background for beautiful buds than an ornament. Inflorescences fascinate with their attractiveness even experienced gardeners. The flowers are very similar in shape to the face of a lion: two-lipped, less often terry. They thickly cover the shrub. If you press them from the side, the bud opens like a lion's mouth. This is especially noticeable in large species. But dwarf snapdragon looks less impressive, but also very attractive. During flowering culture looks festive, luxuriant and elegant.

What kinds of snapdragon exist?

The genus antirrinum has over 100 different species. However, in ornamental horticulture, only some varieties became widespread. All varieties of snapdragon are combined to grow in several groups.  Below are varieties of snapdragon.

Tall snapdragon

It is a snapdragon high annual herb that reaches a height of 65-110 centimeters. Bush loosely branchy, dense and looks quite compact. Inflorescences are dense, large, spectacular. This is the best variety for cutting.

This category is represented by such varieties: Rocket Lemon, Rocket Orchid, Tip Tor, Rocket Golden, Rocket Bronze. Also popular with gardeners enjoys the snapdragon Madame butterfly: growing from seeds of which is characterized by simplicity. The culture looks original, covered with elegant multi-colored buds. For durability, the Alaska variety is highly valued. Bush looks dull and branches weakly. However, during flowering, it is covered with luxurious, radiant-white buds with a diameter of up to 25 centimeters.

Choosing a snapdragon tall: growing out of seeds must pass according to all the rules and recommendations, and only then the gardener will be able to get a spectacular flowering culture.

Middle-aged snapdragon

Includes floriferous, compact species. The height of the culture varies from 20 to 60 centimeters. The branch is stronger than in tall species. However, their inflorescences are somewhat smaller. The best representatives are the Black Prince, Wild Rose, Golden Monarch.

Middle-aged snapdragon

Short snapdragon

Characterized by a snapdragon undersized height of about 30-40 centimeters. Shrub consists of a large number of shoots. They look semicircular and razlohe. The inflorescences of these varieties are loose and small. The flowering is early or medium. The most famous Crimson Velvet, Crown and Schneeflocke.

Snapdragon undersized

Dwarf snapdragon

Their height does not exceed 20 centimeters. The plant is strongly branched, covered with short, small flowers. Most often from this group choose such varieties as the Hobbit and Floral. Many also buy the snapdragon Tom Tamb: growing from seeds of which does not present any particular difficulties. The grade is allocated with thin escapes, short and bright inflorescences, large leaves. The bud is painted in a rich lemon tone, there is a dark spot on the lip. Tom Tamb looks very original.

How to grow a plant on the site?

Such a culture propagates in vegetative and generative ways.

Seeds collected from the flower retain the ability to germinate for several years. Residents of regions with a warm climate, who choose the lion's mouth ampelnoe: growing from seed will be the best option. This method is simple execution, effortless.

Sowing seeds for seedlings

The question of when to sow the snapdragon, worries almost all novice florist. Most suited the first days of March. Although much depends on the climatic features of the region.

The algorithm is as follows:

  1. Take a container with a diameter of about 10 centimeters. Make holes in it for drainage.
  2. To pour sand krupnofraktsionny.
  3. The next layer is to lay out a mixture of compost earth and sand.
  4. All condense and align.
  5. Lightly moisten with water.
  6. Mix the seeds with sand and distribute them on the ground.
  7. Top with a thin layer of substrate.
  8. Drizzle moderately.
  9. Cover the container with glass.

Care for seedlings culture

Choosing the flower snapdragon cultivation of seeds should be carried out correctly: it is important to create optimal conditions for this culture and to take good care of it. Every day, the substrate should be moistened with a fine atomizer, remove condensate from the glass. The optimum temperature is 23 degrees. With this content, after a couple of weeks sprouts will appear. From this point on, the container is transferred to a bright place where there is no exposure to the direct rays of the sun. When all the seeds sprout, the protective glass can be removed.

Usually seedlings grow slowly, during this period the main task is to moisten the soil in such a way that there is enough moisture.  It is impossible to flood culture. As they grow, they pick up, planting sprouts in different pots. Already at the end of May, the grown and grown seedlings are transferred to the open area.

Transplanting plants in the garden

Landing is carried out as follows:

  • Low-growing varieties are planted at a distance of 20 centimeters from each other.
  • Sredneroslye - with an interval of 30 centimeters.
  • High have 40 centimeters from each other.
  • Between the dwarf species leave 15 centimeters.

As soon as the bush takes root, it will begin to actively grow and develop, quickly turning into a luxurious blooming culture.

Which grade to choose?

The market offers a wide range of snapdragons. And for newcomers it is sometimes difficult to make a choice. To purchase a suitable variety, you should understand what types of plants exist. Also pay attention to the most popular options.

Among gardeners in demand such varieties:


Snapdragon or Antirrinum (Antirrhinum) is a perennial herb of the family Plantain. In the culture of this flower there is more than 500 years. For the first time, scientists from Germany in the 19th century took up the selection of snapdragon. Today, about 50 species and over 1000 varieties of antirrhinum have been developed. The lion's mouth for today grows in all warm corners of the Earth.

Plants differ in appearance, height and many other features. The color range of antirrhinum covers almost all colors except blue and blue shades.

The snapdragon in natural conditions is a perennial plant. In gardening, this flower is most often grown as an annual. To save the flower for the winter, it requires special conditions, good and proper care. The plant is used for group plantings on the lawn, for the decoration of flower beds, borders, terraces and balconies.

Types and varieties of snapdragon with photos

The flowers of the lion's pharynx are large, may have a double-toothed or non-meso-shaped, bell-shaped, pinstemon-shaped, azaliform (terry) form.

Antirrhinum varieties are divided into:

  • universal,
  • cut,
  • casing.

Universal varieties are plants of compact form and large inflorescence (sredneroslye varieties).

For shears, plants with large flowers and long legs (gigantic and high varieties).

Casing varieties are distinguished by compact bush and flowering duration (dwarf and undersized varieties).

There are several classifications of antirrinum, but height classification is considered to be the most common qualification of antirrinum. Varieties of height are divided into 5 groups:

They are distinguished by increased stalk formation to third and fourth order shoots. The main shoot is placed at or under the second order shoots.


  • Candy Showers is a braided (ampel) variety of snapdragon,
  • Sakura's color is a pink and white plant with a speck
  • Magick Carpet - pink-yellow color,
  • Tom Tumb, Pixie and others.

Plants are intended for registration of rock gardens, rabatok, borders, carpet flower beds and growing in pots.

Low grades grow to 25-40 centimeters.  These varieties have many shoots with flowers of the second and third orders. The central shoot goes one level or lower with first-order shoots.

  • Kimozu
  • The hobbit
  • Wunderteppih,
  • Lampion (ampel hybrid) and others.

These flowers are used to decorate flower beds, borders, hanging baskets, containers, balcony boxes.

Srednerosly (universal) varieties and hybrids grow to 40-60 centimeters. The plant is highly branched. The main shoot is slightly higher than the side shoots.


  • Scarlet Monarch - red maroon,
  • Golden Monarch - yellow color,
  • Ruby - hot pink flower,
  • Lipstick Silver - white and pink color,
  • F1 Bizari - with a variety of colors, strokes on a yellow (primary) color,
  • grade Day and night, and others.

These varieties are grown in different beds and are suitable for cutting.

High (cut) varieties with a height of 60-90 centimeters.  Their central shoot rises above the secondary (lateral) ones.

Grades:

  • Brilliantrose - a flower of bright pink color,
  • Canary - bright yellow,
  • Alaska - greenish-white,
  • Anna Herman - pale pink,
  • F1 Rocket Lemon - pale lemon shades,
  • F1 Goshenka - orange shades,
  • Swallowtail - a two-color variety of raspberry-yellow color,
  • madame Butterfly varietal terry blend - a flower of various shades,
  • Juliava - open Penstemonovidny or gloxiniavidnym flower,
  • varieties Pink, Ruby, Admiral and others.

Yellow shades have a more pronounced aroma. Plants are suitable for registration mixborders, group compositions, are grown for pruning. Cut flowers in a vase cost more than a week.

Giant (giant) varieties reach 90-130 centimeters in height. Narrow pyramid bushes. The main shoot of a flower strongly rises above the shoots of the second order, and the shoots of the third order are absent.

Grades:

  • F1 Red XL - bright red color,
  • Arthur - with large, cherry shade flowers, plant height 90-95 cm,
  • F1 Pink XL - rich pink color, the height of the one and the other 110 cm,
  • University of California - a mixture of shades, height 95 cm
  • Maximum Unicaulis,
  • Start F1 and others.


The snapdragon is propagated by dividing the bush or using seedlings. The peculiarity of this flower is that the seeds in the ground can be stored for more than one year and then grow themselves.

When planting in heated ground, the first shoots appear after two weeks, but this method is suitable for the southern regions. In places with a cooler climate, the antirrinum in open ground is planted by grown seedlings.

Sowing seeds in seedlings tanks or greenhouses is done in late February or early March. In the conditions of a midland sowing is carried out in late April - early May In northern latitudes, snapdragon is not grown.

After the seedlings get stronger, it can be transplanted into the ground. The blooming of the lion's pharynx occurs 85-110 days after the first shoots appear - the plant blooms in June-July and blooms before the first autumn frosts.

The first shoots appear on day 7-10. After 3-4 weeks picks up the plants. Planting in open ground can only be done after the end of frost and warming up of the soil. By this time, the snapdragon should form a small bush.

Snapdragon - landing and care


Sowing seeds for seedlings allows you to speed up the growing process and get an earlier flowering. Planting will require seeds of selected varieties, a growing container, a small and large sieve, and a spatula.

A seedling box, a container or a long pot with a tray about 10 centimeters high is taken for seedlings. Capacity for seedlings should have holes for removing excess water.

A drainage layer of expanded clay, perlite, vermiculite, pebbles and coarse sand is poured on the bottom. Then you can take up the preparation of the land.

Land preparation

A loose, lightweight substrate is suitable for planting, which can be purchased at the store or made independently. To do this, take: 1 part turf, part sand, part peat, part rotted humus and wood ash. The soil is mixed and sifted on a large and small sieve.

Large screenings are piled on top of the drainage, on top there is a small screening. The soil is watered with a solution of potassium permanganate and left to stand indoors for 2 days.

Land should be wet, but not wet.

Seed preparation

Seeds can be bought in the store, while the variety, height and color of plants are easily selected. When choosing, you need to consider the storage conditions and shelf life of seeds.

Self-harvested seeds after harvesting and drying are placed in a plastic bag and then refrigerated until spring. In the refrigerator, the seeds undergo stratification and this improves their germination. Before sowing, seeds are disinfected in a pink solution of potassium permanganate. Removed and dried on a napkin. Then you can start sowing.

Sowing on seedlings

Seeds for even distribution, you need to mix with dry sand. Seeds are sown in smooth paths with an interval of 2-3 centimeters. For convenient distribution, you can use a paper envelope in which a corner is cut off.

Sand with seeds in such a case, pour a neat track. Sand tracks for a more snug fit of the seeds should be slightly pressed with the palms. From above, a thin layer of soil mixture is poured with a sieve.

Then spraying of the soil from a spray is made.

The seating capacity is covered with glass, a transparent film and placed in a room with a temperature above 18 degrees Celsius. Film shelter is removed every day (for airing). When drying, the soil is sprayed with a spray gun.

After 10 days, shoots appear.


Capacity with seedlings exposed to a bright place (window without direct sunlight). One week after seed germination, a film (glass) is removed from the box. Removing the glass immediately is not recommended. This should be done gradually, starting from 20 minutes onwards.

After 3-4 weeks, the first true leaflets will form on the plants. With the appearance of 2-3 sheets of seedlings need to pick out.

For picking used cassettes, peat pots or cups with a diameter of 8-10 centimeters. When planting in large capacity, the gap between plants of 5 to 5 centimeters is observed. The first 2-3 days seedlings cover themselves from the sun.

When planted in a box, after the plants grow, one more seating is done in more spacious pots with a gap between plants of 10 by 10 centimeters.

Intermediate transplanting increases flower bushiness. For better branching and flowering, the upper part of the grown plants pinch.

Seedlings are grown at 23 degrees Celsius. Plants are provided with good lighting, regular watering. An excess of moisture can lead to disease sprouts and watering should be done only after the drying of the soil surface.

With the appearance of any kind of rot, seedlings are treated with Fitosporin (10 drops of the drug are taken per 1 liter of water), crushed charcoal is scattered on the soil.


In the ground snapdragon planted after the end of frost. Depending on the region, this is done from the beginning of May to mid-June.

The best soil for planting is loam, sandy soil with good air and water permeability. To the soil flowers are not demanding.

But for a more lush and long flowering in the ground you need to add

  • wood ash (1 cup per square meter),
  • nitrophoska or complex fertilizer for flowers (tablespoon per meter)
  • a small amount of humus (3-4 kilograms of humus)
  • peat (1 kilogram per meter).

The earth is digging and loosening. The place should be bright, dark land for planting is not suitable. Plants in the shade practically do not bloom, in the penumbra the flowering is less lush.

Transplantation should be carried out in cloudy weather or in the evening. Landing gap:

  • dwarf varieties should be 15 by 15 centimeters,
  • low grades 20 to 20 centimeters,
  • between average - 30 to 30 centimeters,
  • between high from 40 centimeters.

In prepared holes, seedlings from the pot are lowered together with the earthy clod. The plant is deepened to cotyledon leaves. The soil around the plants is pressed against the palms and watered.

At close planting of different varieties, cross-pollination may occur and new plants for the next year may differ from the parent varieties.


For better flowering and preservation of moisture in the ground, the bushes need to be mulched with sand, sawdust, straw.

A month after transplantation, when the snapdragon takes root, the first additional fertilizing is made with complex fertilizer for garden annual flowers or nitrophoska. The following feeding is carried out every 2-3 weeks throughout the summer.

In case of heavy soil, for good growth of bushes, it is necessary to carry out regular feeding, loosening, tying up high varieties. Loosening protects the root system from leaching and disease. Without tying, tall plants can break off and die in windy weather.

The snapdragon does not like drought, but even with excess moisture it starts to hurt. Based on this, watering should be regular, but moderate.

Pinching the main and lateral shoots to the 2nd order increases the pomp of the bush.
  For long flowering, the buds that have already faded are removed. Flowering lasts 3-3.5 months.

Pests and diseases

Snapdragon has low resistance to stem shovels, mining fly, aphid, mites, minerals, thrips, slugs, butterflies.

Pests appear when weeds overgrown with flowers or close planting of bushes from each other. Timely weeding protects plants from insects.

Stemworm (caterpillar)  settle at the bottom of the stem. They gnaw through the longitudinal passages in the stalks and they wither. When a pest appears, it is necessary to make a low cutting of damaged bushes. Cut stalks are burned.

All weed around is removed. Healthy plants are sprayed with chlorophos. Preventive spraying is done from the time of planting until autumn.

If any pests are damaged by flowers, special chemicals are used.

Most often, with improper care, snapdragon is affected   gall nematode  root system and fungal diseases. Excess moisture leads to septoria, rust, verticillium, fusarium, downy mildew, black leg.

Mosaic causes mottling (spotting)  leaves without necrosis. Flowers grow smaller and become petalled. When the disease appears, all the landings are removed and burned.

Rust affects a fully formed plant.  At the bottom of the leaves, on the seed boxes and sepals appear dusty brown pustules. Spots appear on the top of the leaves and they wilt.

When signs of the disease appear, the bushes and the root circle are treated with a solution of Bordeaux mixture, copper oxychloride and Zineb solution. Processing is repeated in a week.

For the prevention of disease, you can use Zircon (5 drops of the drug per liter of water). To combat these diseases, fungicides are used.


The boll holds about 8 thousand seeds. Ripe seeds are shiny, black, similar to poppy seeds. For the seeds are selected the most beautiful plants with large flowers. Inflorescences need to be shortened by one third.

After that, in place of flowers, large seed boxes are formed. It is not necessary to wait for yellowing of the lower seed pods, for ripening, the inflorescences need to be cut and dried indoors.

Seeds from the opened boxes need to shake out in a paper bag. Then dry on a saucer and put in a plastic bag until spring.

The collected seeds remain viable for 4-6 years.

Snapdragon is a perennial plant and, if desired, even in the mid-lane conditions, flowers can be saved and left to winter in open ground.  In the fall, all shoots are cut, and the roots are covered with peat, grass, dry leaves.

In spring, the plant grows and it can be spread out with shoots or left in place in the form of a lush bush. The flowering next year is more lush.

Snapdragon. How to sow better, how to properly care: video

The snapdragon, many gardeners are afraid to grow because of many factors, such as poor germination, the need for preventive and protective work against diseases, pests and other problems. But with the right approach, all these problems are solved fairly quickly and the flowers delight with their beauty and unusual.

There is a legend that the name of this plant was derived from the ancient Greek myth, which says that an unusual flower was presented to Heracles by one of the goddesses after defeating a ferocious lion. The shape of the inflorescence resembled the mouth of a lion, and the flower was called - snapdragon. In warm countries and North America there are perennial species. In modern floriculture there are about 1000 species of seeds. In the height of the stems, can grow from 20 centimeters to 80 - 90 centimeters.

Flowers with a pleasant aroma, are large, medium, double, different colors: white, yellow, red. When the flowering period ends, a box with a large number of seeds forms in place of the flowers. Experienced gardeners collect seeds and store until spring for growing seedlings or planting in the ground. In a warm climate, where there is no harsh winters, this plant has all the chances to successfully winter and bloom again next summer. A flower can grow alone in a garden or flower bed, or with others. Snapdragon will look wonderful on the background of green shoots. Today, among the seeds there are ampelous varieties. The flowering period of this sort of pharynx under certain conditions of courtship and watering is also from June to September. Planting of ampelous seeds or seedlings is made in the soil of special constructions or hanging pots.


Growing a snapdragon in the summer cottage, in a city square, is not as difficult as it seems. In the south, planting seed of lion's pharynx can be done directly in open ground, as soon as the soil warms up sufficiently. Planting and departure begin in March - April. We dig up the beds with mineral or organic fertilizers on the spade bayonet, remove all weeds and lumps of soil. We level the ground with the help of a rake and make grooves with a depth of 1 - 2 centimeters, watering. Start sowing. We take the tank with the seeds of snapdragon, add dry small river sand in a ratio of 1:10. This is done to make it easier to sow small plant seeds. Sprinkle gently with earth. Sowing is complete. Next - watering from the watering can. To reduce the time for germination of seeds can be covered with a film or a covering material. After the first shoots remove the film. Then the care will be in thinning the plants. After the appearance of 3-4 leaves, we remove weak, thin stems, leaving the most healthy at a distance of at least 20 centimeters. It depends on the growth conditions of each of the varieties. At the same time, the crown of each plant left must be pinched.  In the ground is completed planting and care is now in the watering and timely loosening.


In the central belt and the northern regions, the cultivation of the pharynx in open ground occurs only through seedlings. Planting and departure begin in March. Wide bowls fill with earth. At the bottom there must be a drainage or holes for the drain of excess moisture. From the spray bottle, scrape the soil to keep it moist. Seeds are mixed with sand and sow evenly. Carefully sprinkle with earth, again produce watering from the sprayer. Cover the container with glass. Planting seeds completed.

Now care is daily ventilation and watering the soil. It should be noted that it is impossible to overfill the soil, it must remain wet, but not damp, otherwise there will be no germination from seeds of lion pharynx. Glass can be removed after the appearance of leaves. By the time it will be 12-16 days after landing. For good cultivation of seedlings we transfer the pot to a sunny warm place. Snapdragon grows very slowly. Care for him should be daily. You should pay attention to the fact that there was enough light, water, the air should not be dry. After the appearance of 3-4 leaves, the flowers dive: they are seated one by one in individual cups. At the bottom of the glass should be a drainage or hole to drain excess water. We fill a glass with the earth, we do a hole, we water. The pot with the seedlings is also watered well, so that a lump of earth remains on the root of each plant during transplantation.


Carefully drop one sprout into the hole with a lump of earth, press it, pour it with earth, press it again.

If there is a glazed porch or balcony, and the temperature at night there does not fall below + 13-15 degrees, in a couple of days the seedlings can be taken out. It is made for hardening seedlings.
  After the appearance of 4-5 leaves, the stem must be pinched so that the plant gives side shoots. In the middle lane in early June, the snapdragon is planted in open ground. The snapdragon is recommended to be planted on a sun bed or slightly shaded. If the plants are strong, hardened, they will not be afraid of the small night temperature drops.

Before planting, it is necessary to add humus, sand, peat to the soil, carefully dig, remove weeds and large clumps of soil. Making holes, pouring them. Seedlings in cups also need to be watered so that it is more convenient to extract the plant along with the ground. Plant the snapdragon so: low varieties after 20 centimeters, medium - after 35, high - no closer than 50. With the right care, if the snapdragon rooted, begins to increase growth. Flowering period from June to September. Further care of the flower is timely weeding, proper watering.

Watering snapdragon requires morning. It should be observed that the earth after watering does not turn into a crust, be sure to loosen it and remove weeds. High varieties must be tied to a support. Withered flowers - delete, then new flowers will appear. If you have a goal to grow a perennial plant from a bush, after flowering, in the fall, you need to cut the plant, leaving no more than 10 centimeters of the stem.

Cover with mulch - sawdust, dry leaves, spruce branches - this will help survive the winter.
Before you cut the plant, you should collect the seeds of snapdragon. They are harvested by the unripe, folded in a paper bag and stored in a dry, warm place until the boxes ripen and the seeds spill out. Then the seeds in a paper bag are stored in a dry place at a temperature not higher than +5 degrees.

Planting and maintenance will not be difficult if you follow certain rules.


Snapdragon (or otherwise antirrinum) - flowering plant, beloved by many owners of garden and suburban areas. Also, it can often be seen on city beds. Growing lion's pharynx from seeds and the subsequent care of it are not very difficult, therefore, breeding is possible even for beginning flower growers.

Botanical description

Snapdragon refers to grassy plants. The flower has straight stems that can reach a height of 1 m. The leaves of the plant have a slightly elongated shape, and their color can vary from light green to dark green shades.

The unusual name of the plant was due to the flowers, their appearance resembling an open lion's mouth. Flowers are located in the upper part of the stem, forming inflorescences as an ear. As for the color of the petals, there are white, yellow, pink and red varieties, as well as combining 2 colors. The structure of the petals can be smooth or terry.

The lion's pharynx bloom period covers all summer and early autumn, and ends with the arrival of frost. Despite the fact that the plant belongs to perennial species, flower growers practice sowing of snapdragon on seedlings every spring, as it blooms already in the year of planting.

Variety selection

Color classification is based on plant height. In this regard, the following groups of varieties can be distinguished:

  1. Dwarf - varieties, the length of the stem of which does not exceed 20 cm. They are great for decorating borders and flower beds, when you need to create a "carpet" effect. They can also be grown at home in pots. This group includes the Sakura Color variety, which has a pink and white color, and Candy Schewers, represented by a varied color line.
  2. Low-growing - varieties with a stem height from 25 to 40 cm. The central shoot is usually slightly lower than the rest. They are often used to design flowerbeds and front gardens. The most common are the Tiptop Top in soft pink and yellow, the Ruby Star with a bright red color and the Lampion combining several colors.
  3. Sredneroslye - varieties with stems, the height of which ranges from 40 to 60 cm. Their feature - enhanced branching and the same height of all shoots. These flowers are used for landscape design, and for the preparation of bouquet compositions. The varieties include Golden Monk with a bright yellow color, Ruby with pink flowers and Lipstick Silver, which has pale pink petals.
  4. Tall - varieties with stems ranging in length from 60 to 90 cm. They are often used to compile original bouquets. Flowers of a lion's pharynx retain their freshness and rich pleasant aroma in a vase for up to 7 days. Popular varieties are Canary with bright yellow coloring, Anna Herman pastel pink shades and Madame Butterfly with double flowers of different colors.
  5. Giant - varieties whose height can reach 1.3 m. They have a clearly defined central shoot, exceeding the rest in length. They are usually grown for cutting. These varieties include Arthur with cherry-colored flowers and Rocket with various shades of petals.

How to collect seeds

Plant breeding is usually carried out using seedlings. The seeds of snapdragon can be purchased in specialized stores or independently to collect, if there are already grown flowers.

The collection of seed pods is recommended to produce until their final maturation. The top of the plant with the boxes cut off, placed in a paper or cloth bag and hung in a dry place. The use of plastic packaging is undesirable, as the seeds in it may rot. When the fruits ripen, the grains themselves fall out of them.

Before they start growing lion's pharynx from seeds at home, they are advised to be refrigerated in a paper box. Such a stratification has a beneficial effect on plant germination rates. With proper storage conditions, the seeds can remain germinating for 3–4 years.

Tip! When collecting seeds from your own plot, you can be sure that future flowers will receive a certain color and height, since in stores most often they are sold in mixed species.

How to plant a snapdragon seedlings

The most common method of reproduction antirrinum - planting seedlings. Moreover, if you do not remove the plant for the winter, its seeds can be stored in the soil and germinate the following year.

Cultivation of lion pharynx from seeds is possible immediately in open ground, but this method is applicable only in the southern part of the country in places with a warm climate. In regions where the climate is cooler and sudden changes in temperature occur, planting flowers of a lion's mouth, already grown up seedlings, is practiced.

When to sow snapdragon

When choosing the dates for sowing seedlings of snapdragon, it is necessary to take into account the weather conditions of a particular area and features of the selected variety.

Thus, high varieties sprout longer, so it is advisable to plant them in the second half of February, medium and short stalks can be planted during March, and dwarf ones can be planted until mid-April.

Seedlings of flowers snapdragon transferred to the garden in the first half of May, when it was already established stable warm weather. It should be borne in mind that growing plants in the northern regions with frequent cold snaps is almost impossible.

Preparation of soil and tanks

For the cultivation of seedlings of lion's pharynx from the seeds of a regular ordinary soil mixture, which is on sale in any flower shop. To facilitate the spitting of small seeds, it is thoroughly sieved and mixed with washed sand. The soil can be prepared independently: for this you need to take 2 parts of peat, 1 part of the ground and ½ part of sand.

Tip! To minimize the risk of disease and the likelihood of weeds, experienced gardeners recommend steaming the soil for 1 hour, and then adding ash at the rate of 1 tbsp. on ½ kg of soil mixture.

Wooden or plastic containers with a diameter of at least 10 cm and holes at the bottom for drainage will be suitable for planting. Before filling with soil, they can be treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Seed preparation

Although even home gardeners can grow the lion's pharynx from seed at home, it also has its own difficulties. The main one is associated with a very small size of the seed of the plant; about 6,000 to 8,000 seeds per 1 g. This is due to their high need for lighting - when sowing, they need to be evenly placed on the soil surface, almost sprinkling from above.

If the seeds were collected independently, they must first be dried thoroughly and placed in a refrigerator for a while. The purchase version of such training is not required.

Immediately before planting, any seeds must be treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, and then let them dry.

Sowing the Lion's Pharynx for seedlings

Step-by-step instructions for sowing seed crops for growing seedlings:

  1. Prepare the soil mix and containers. Fill containers with soil, level and slightly tamp.
  2. Distribute the seeds gently and evenly over the surface of the soil mixture and lightly sprinkle it on top of the ground (no more than 0.5 cm).
  3. Moisturize the ground surface. If as a result, some seeds surfaced, do not worry - it will not affect their germination.
  4. Cover the container with a film or transparent lid and place in a place with good lighting.
  5. Comfortable temperature for growing seedlings - + 22-24 ° C. The soil must be regularly moistened to avoid drying out.
  6. After 6-7 days, as soon as the first shoots appear, the covering film must be removed.

At first, the seedlings grow very slowly - during this period it is important to ensure a suitable temperature regime (+ 17-28 ° C) and to avoid excessive moisture (when watering, water should be avoided on the leaves). Also, do not recommend keeping seedlings in direct sunlight.

Landless sowing

In addition to conventional seeding technology, there is also a landless method. It is designed specifically for small seeds. It is more convenient to transplant such plants not in separate bushes, but in groups of 3-5 pieces.

For growing seedlings of snapdragon with a similar method is necessary:

  1. Take a plastic or glass plate, cover it with a napkin or paper towels in several layers and thoroughly moisten with water (instead of water, you can moisten with a solution of a special plant growth stimulator).
  2. Spread the seeds on a damp cloth and moisten them again.
  3. Cover the plate with a transparent film and place in a well-lit place.

Important! When using this method, you should not miss the moment when the seeds have already germinated, but have not yet become covered with leaves. When this happens, they should be immediately sprinkled with sifted soil mixture, but not more than 0.5 cm.

Germination Supplements

Immediately after sowing, the Lion's pharynx can be fed with a solution of ash (2 tablespoons per 3 liters of water). 7-10 days after picking, it is advisable to add nitrogen or potassium-phosphate fertilizers or complex preparations containing all 3 components. Watering with fertilizer solution occurs both at the root and from above.

Re-feeding is done a few days after the transfer of plants in open ground.

Seedling care

A few weeks after sowing, when 2-3 leaves have appeared on the plants, it is necessary to make a pick. From the photo of seedlings of lion's pharynx it can be seen that it easily transfers this procedure and rather quickly takes root in a new place.

For picking use the same soil mixture, but it does not require pre-treatment. It is best to carry out the procedure in the evening, so that during the night the plant will get used to the new place.

Technology picks:

  1. Soil needs to be watered abundantly to facilitate the process of extracting seedlings.
  2. Spoon or tweezers to remove shoots, carefully separating them from each other.
  3. Prepare containers with soil, make small pits and place plants there.
  4. Sprinkle spikes with soil and water a little.

When 4-5 leaves appear on the plants, they need to be pinched, that is, to remove the upper part of the stem in order to stimulate the growth of lateral shoots. Thanks to this procedure, the plants after planting on the site will be more lush and thick.

Video with a detailed description of planting a lion's mouth on seedlings and useful recommendations from experienced gardeners.

Conclusion

Growing the lion's pharynx from seed is a task subject even to the beginning florist. With the observance of simple rules and recommendations you can get a bright beautiful plant that will decorate the front garden or suburban area.

- a perennial herb with large green stems of the Podorozhnikov family, grown as an annual one. The plant forms many stems. Stems of lion's pharynx are straight, branched, of the most varied heights: there are undersized varieties, only about 20 cm, and there are tall, up to one meter in height, form pyramidal bushes during the growing season. The leaves of the lion's pharynx are elongated, lanceolate or slightly oval green in color, pubescent with thin fibers.

Flowers in the snapdragon  large, irregularly shaped, double-lipped, resembling a gaping lion's mouth, pubescent on the outside. There are varieties with simple and double flowers. The flowers are collected in racemes. Coloring flowers of snapdragon  will be able to please you with a wide range of colors: they are white, pink, yellow and bicolor. In the wild, there are species of snapdragon with yellow, blue, purple flowers.

Homeland plants considered North America. In Russia, the snapdragon has long been popular and is a very common garden plant adorning flower gardens and flower beds. Snapdragon - a beautiful sunny annual, will fill your garden with a pleasant fragrant aroma, will attract not only bees, but also butterflies.

Growing snapdragon seed

Sowing seeds of snapdragon seedlings  can be done from the end of February, in March, to the beginning of April. Snapdragon seeds  when sown lightly sprinkled with earth. The first shoots begin to appear after ten days, however, the germination of seeds of lion pharynx can last for a whole month. For better germination, cover the seed container with snapdragon glass or polyethylene package. As soon as the seedlings begin to appear, the film or glass must be removed. For better germination, hold a container with seeds of a lion's pharynx at an air temperature not lower than +18 o C. Seeds of lion's pharynx can be sown immediately in open ground in May, covering the bed with a film or agrospanum.

During the first time after the germination of the lion's pharynx, monitor the soil moisture: overdrying, as well as strong waterlogging of the soil can lead to the death of seedlings. Transplanting snapdragon seedlings  do not postpone for a long time: it should be carried out in the stage of the first two or three true leaves. When the seedlings of the snapdragon grow to 4-6 pairs of true leaves, the heads of the plants need to be pinched to form additional stems.

Care for lion throat in the open field

In open ground seedlings of snapdragon They are already partially flowering in late May - early June, when the threat of frost has passed, leaving 30 cm between plants. The lion's mouth is best of all growing in open sunny places. If you have absolutely no open sunny places left, the snapdragon can be planted in partial shade. Only flowering will linger a little, it will not be too abundant, the color of flowers will be softer and not as bright as in the open sun.

Soil under the snapdragon  should be well fertilized. If you have clay soil on the site, add more organic matter, peat, peat, sand to it, in order to make the soil looser and eliminate the stagnation of excessive moisture. If, on your site, sandy soil, add black soil, rotted organic matter, leaf soil, try to improve the structure of the soil, so that it can hold water and stay wet for a while.

Do not forget to water the snapdragon. The next watering is carried out not earlier than the topsoil dries out. To preserve precious moisture, zamulchuyte planting snapdragons with a layer of freshly cut grass, humus, rotted sawdust. With a strong overmoistening, snapdragon is subject to various rot, including root rot.

First top dressing snapdragon  after transplantation into open ground - no sooner than two or three weeks, so as not to burn the roots of the plant damaged by transplant. That's when the plant is fully adapted to the open air, new leaves will grow, then you can carry out the first fertilizing with mineral fertilizers. It is desirable that fertilizers have the full NPK formula, the additional content of trace elements is only welcome. Especially the plant needs additional feeding during the flowering period. Yes, and a strong healthy plant is able to withstand diseases and attacks of pests.

The snapdragon, when grown through seedlings, blooms as early as June and continues to bloom until frost. Try to clean the flowering inflorescences in time. This procedure greatly prolongs the flowering period of all plants.

Healing properties of snapdragon

In addition, the snapdragon is very decorative, its flowers can be used in traditional medicine. Infusion from flowers of a lion's mouth, they drink with swelling of the intestine, it can be used as an additional tool for some liver diseases. Especially good is a mixture of flowers of snapdragon, immortelle and corn silk in the recovery period after hepatitis. Infusions and decoctions of lion's pharynx flowers are used for severe headaches, for dropsy and shortness of breath. When applied externally, infusions and decoctions of snapdragon help with hemorrhoids, open ulcers on the skin, furuncles.

Snapdragon not only decorate your flower beds and flower beds. It can be used for growing on balconies, terraces, window decorations on the outside. Flowers of a lion's pharynx perfectly stand in the cut.

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