Snowdrop flowers: planting
Snowdrop flowers bloom in early spring on thawed patches, when all the snow has not melted yet. This perennial plant, with white flowers in the form of a bell, is not afraid of frost and cold weather, but does not bloom for long. Another name is galanthus, meaning a milk flower.
Snowdrop flower description
In nature, there are about 18 species of snowdrops. They grow only 15 cm in height. The leaves are narrow, flat, up to 10 cm in length. The flower is white with 6 petals, 3 of which are shorter than the others. The root system is bulbous, about 3 cm in size, both leaves and a stem with a bud immediately grow from it.
The snowdrop flower bends to the ground and becomes like a snow drop, this is what the British call it.
Flowering begins in March and lasts 1-2 weeks. Some species bloom for up to 30 days. Most often, the plant fades before the leaves appear on the trees.
After flowering, the plant dies off. In the fall, the snowdrop bulb releases new roots and a new flower begins to grow from it under the surface of the earth. This is how the plant hibernates. And with the onset of the first warm spring days, ready-made buds make their way out from under the snow.
Planting and caring for snowdrops
The plant grows well in one place for 5-6 years. Loves moist and cold soil, where water does not stagnate. Choose an open place for planting snowdrops, where there is a lot of snow, but where direct sunlight does not fall.
In nature, snowdrops flowers grow in glades and edges among trees.
Flowers reproduce well in two ways:
- Bulbs. Divide and replant them during the summer period: June – August. There are daughter ones near the main bulb, which can be separated and planted immediately. You cannot dry them. Plant the onion at a depth three times its size. The roots will appear immediately, but the sprouts will be there next spring.
- Seeds. The planting material must be fresh. Sow it 1 cm deep into heavy soil, 2 cm deep into light soil. The sprouts will begin to bloom in 3 years.
You can feed the plant during the period of active growth from next year with liquid inorganic fertilizers with a high content of potassium and phosphorus. It is better not to use nitrogen baits.
After the seeds are ripe, remove the dry leaves. In the fall, you can cover the planting with a small layer of compost. This completes the care of the culture until next year.
Mostly flowers are used for decorating rock gardens and for landscape design. Groups of plants look beautiful in the garden, but because of the close planting, the bushes become smaller.
Since the plant is listed in the Red Book, you should not dig up wild bushes for your garden, especially during the flowering period. Protect the environment!