How to Grow Snapdragons? Latest Cultivation Methods and Techniques Explained

Snapdragon, also known as dragon's head flower, lion flower, dragon's mouth flower, foreign colorful bird, etc., is a perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Antirrhinum in the family Scrophulariaceae, often grown as a biennial or annual, flowering in summer and autumn, widely cultivated in Chinese gardens, suitable for mass planting in flower beds and flower borders, and especially good when combined with zinnia, petunia, marigold, scarlet sage, etc. Now let's take a look at how to grow snapdragons!

Cultivation Value of Snapdragon

1. Ornamental value: Snapdragon is a flower, and just like its name, each of its small petals is like a glistening fish scale. Many brightly colored flowers form a large cluster of snapdragons, giving it high ornamental value. The flowers come in white, pink, deep red, flesh color, orange, and many other colors. Most surprisingly, a single flower branch of snapdragon can produce two flowers of different colors; the bicolor flowers are very astonishing, making it a plant of extremely high ornamental value.

2. Decorative effect: Snapdragon flowers are large and beautiful, so many countries place great importance on using snapdragons to beautify the environment and decorate courtyards. Generally, snapdragons are planted in flower beds, outside windows, or placed indoors as potted plants, or a single snapdragon flower branch is taken to make cut flowers and other crafts. In recent years, snapdragons have risen to fame in the cut flower and flower arrangement world, winning the affection of many floral enthusiasts.

3. Edible value: An important use of snapdragon is as an oil crop; it can be pressed to extract oil for human consumption, and it is very healthy and rich in nutrients.

4. Medicinal effects: Snapdragon is a traditional Chinese medicine, slightly bitter in taste. The entire plant can be used medicinally, and it belongs to cool-natured Chinese medicine. It has the functions of clearing deficiency heat, removing toxins, activating blood circulation, and eliminating swelling and pain. It can treat summer heat cold and headache with feverish restlessness, and can also treat fractures, sprains, and skin abscesses and other conditions. It can be taken internally or used externally. For internal use, grind snapdragon and decoct it for oral administration, but because snapdragon has a certain toxicity, you must follow the doctor's instructions when consuming it, taking it according to the dosage and method. For external application, simply apply the crushed snapdragon powder to the suppurating area.

Snapdragon Cultivation Methods

1. Soil: Snapdragon does not have very high requirements for soil, but it grows best in fertile, loose, well-draining, slightly acidic sandy loam.

2. Watering: Snapdragon is very sensitive to moisture. The potting soil must remain moist, and when the seedlings are potted they must be watered thoroughly, but the potting soil must have good drainage and must not become waterlogged, otherwise it can easily cause root rot as well as yellowing and wilting of stems and leaves.

3. Sunlight: Snapdragon is a light-loving herbaceous plant and needs to grow under conditions of sufficient sunlight. The plants are dwarf and compact in clumps, grow very neatly, have consistent height, and bloom uniformly with bright flower colors. If under semi-shaded conditions, the plants will grow taller, the inflorescences will elongate, and the flower colors will be dull.

4. Temperature: Snapdragon is relatively cold-tolerant but not heat-tolerant. The most suitable growing temperature is 7-10 degrees, and high temperatures are unfavorable for growth and development. The most suitable temperature for flowering is around 15-16 degrees. For some varieties, if the temperature exceeds 15 degrees, they will not branch and the plant form will be affected.

5. Fertilizing: Strengthening the management of fertilizer and water is necessary, and when fertilizing, attention must be paid to the coordination of phosphorus, potassium, etc., because it itself has rhizobia and therefore has nitrogen-fixing ability, so under normal circumstances there is no need to apply nitrogen fertilizer. During the growing period, combined with watering, apply fermented oil residue water once every half month, and before fertilizing, appropriately loosen the soil and weed.

6. Pruning: For snapdragon, only after each flowering ends, cut off the branches that have already flowered, so as to better promote the sprouting of new branches and continued flowering.

Snapdragon Disease Prevention and Control

1. Gray mold

[Harm characteristics] Gray mold is an important disease of snapdragons cultivated in greenhouses. The stems, leaves, and flowers of the plant can all be affected, with flowers being the main target.

[Solution] In the early stage of the disease, choose 70% thiophanate-methyl wettable powder 1000-times solution, or 50% carbendazim wettable powder 800-times solution for spray control. Spray once every 10-15 days, for 2-3 consecutive sprays.

2. Scorch disease

[Harm characteristics] High temperature, abundant rain, and high humidity are favorable for the onset of snapdragon scorch disease. The middle of the leaf lesions is grayish white, and the edges are brown and slightly raised. The lesion diameter can develop from about 1 mm to 15 mm, and concentric rings appear. Stem lesions mainly occur at the base, and the middle of the lesion is slightly sunken, while the rest is similar to leaf lesions. When the disease is severe, leaves fall early and plants become stunted.

[Solution] When disease is found, promptly spray 70% thiophanate-methyl 1000-times solution or 65% zineb wettable powder 500-times solution for control. Spray once every 10 days, for 2-3 consecutive sprays to effectively control the condition.

3. Grass rust

[Harm characteristics] Grass rust mainly damages snapdragon leaves, tender stems, and calyxes.

[Solution] In the early stage of the disease, spray 15% triadimefon wettable powder 2000-times solution or 65% zineb wettable powder 500-times solution.

4. Leaf blight

[Harm characteristics] Leaf blight mainly occurs on the leaves and stems of snapdragons.

[Solution] In the early stage of the disease, spray equal-strength Bordeaux mixture, or 65% zineb wettable powder 600-times solution, or 50% benlate wettable powder 2000-2500-times solution.

5. Stem rot

[Harm characteristics] Stem rot mainly damages the stems and roots of snapdragons. In the early stage of the disease, light brown lesions appear on the root crown, and in severe cases the plant dies.

[Solution] In the early stage of the disease, spray the affected area with 40% fosetyl-aluminum wettable powder 200-400-times solution, or irrigate the root crown of the plant with 50% captafol wettable powder 1000-times solution.

6. Seedling rot

[Harm characteristics] Seedling rot mainly damages snapdragon seedlings. In the early stage of the disease, the base near the soil surface or the roots of the seedlings become water-soaked, and finally rot, causing the whole plant to lodge or wilt and die.

[Solution] In the early stage of the disease, spray 50% carbendazim wettable powder 800-times solution or 75% chlorothalonil wettable powder 800-times solution.