How to Grow Snapdragon Plants

Fill a seed tray with vermiculite. Start the seedlings indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost date in your region.

Sow the seeds evenly over the top of the vermiculite. Press the seeds lightly onto the soil, but do not cover them. The snapdragon seeds need light to germinate.

Water the soil thoroughly, by placing the seed tray into a container of water. When the top of the soil is visibly wet, remove the seed tray from the water. Place the seed tray on a drainage rack to allow the excess water to drain.

Place the pots in a warm location or a heat mat with the thermostat set to around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. If you don’t have a heat mat, place the seedling tray on top of the refrigerator.

Repeat step 3 to moisten the vermiculite when the top is dry. It can take up to 21 days for the seeds to germinate.

Move the plants under a grow light when the seeds have germinated. The light should be at about 4 inches above the snapdragons. As the snapdragons grow, move the grow light so it remains at least 4 inches above the plants.

Transplant the snapdragons into 4 inch pots when they have their second set of true leaves. Cover the drainage holes with a coffee filter, and then fill the pots with well-drained potting soil.

Choose a sunny location to plant the snapdragons after all danger of frost has passed.

Dig up the soil with a garden fork or a tiller. Work up the ground to a depth of 10 inches.

Amend the soil with 2 to 3 inches of compost.

Dig holes with a trowel that is twice as wide as the root ball. Space the holes 10 to 12 inches apart.

Remove the root ball from the 4-inch pot and set the root ball into the hole.

Water your snapdragons thoroughly to a depth of 8 inches. Throughout the growing season, water them in the morning to keep the soil evenly moist. Watering in the morning allows the sun to dry the flowers soil and foliage to prevent disease.

Lay a 2-inch layer of mulch around the snapdragon plants. This helps plants to help control weeds and help the soil to retain moisture.

Remove the spent flowers throughout the season to encourage more flowers. Pinch the flowers off with your fingers or use scissors.

Feed the miniature snapdragons with an all-purpose fertilizer once a month. Apply it according to label directions.