Snapdragon Plant Care

Planting

• Start snapdragon seeds indoors about six weeks before the last predicted spring frost. Press the seeds lightly into the soil in a flat or individual pots. Do not cover the seeds with soil, as they need sunlight to germinate and sprout. Water your snapdragons thoroughly after planting and place them in a warm location near a window with full or partial sun. If you plant your seeds in a flat, transplant them to individual pots once the sprouts grow true leaves. Place your seedlings in the ground or start flowers from seeds directly in your garden a few weeks before the last frost date. Plant your flowers eight to 12 inches apart, depending on the width of the variety you are growing. Aim for a location with full sun when transplanting to your garden. Snapdragons can grow in partial sun, but they do best in high light conditions.

Growing and Maintenance

• As your snapdragons grow, pinch back growing points once they reach five to six inches tall. This helps promote more side branching and more blooms as the plant matures. Cut your flowers back to below the flowering spike during the hottest summer months to encourage new blooms when cooler weather returns in the fall. Snapdragons flourish when night temperatures are between 45 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit and daytime temperatures are between 55 and 70 degrees. Higher night temperatures can weaken the stems, so consider growing your snapdragons indoors or in a climate-controlled greenhouse if you live in a warmer climate.

  Keep your snapdragons moist throughout the growing season, but do not saturate the soil. Overwatering can lead to root rot and disease. Reduce the amount of water if you notice gray mold forming on the leaves. Try to water the ground directly. Sprinkling water over the leaves can cause spotting.

  Deadhead your flowers before the blooms die completely to prevent self-seeding. Self-seeding can cause the snapdragons to come back the following year, but the color may appear dingy. Feed your snapdragons with a balanced all-purpose fertilizer every other week and follow the label instructions for flowers. Dilute any insecticides that you spray on your snapdragons to prevent damage, Better Homes & Gardens magazine and MarthaStewart.com recommend.