How to plant and care for snowdrops in your garden

2020-02-19T14:57:02.712Z

Snowdrops are the heralds of spring. We will show you how to plant and care for the flowers so that winter is soon over for you.

Snowdrops are considered the first harbingers of spring. They can be found at the edge of the forest or in clearings, but also in your own garden.
If you want to see the white flowers growing with you, you can plant them.
Find out what needs to be considered here.

Profile: What you need to know about snowdrops

The snowdrops, with the botanical name Galanthus , form a separate genus within the family of the Amaryllis * (Amaryllidaceae), which includes around 20 species. The Galanthus nivalis is the only type of snowdrop that occurs naturally in Central Europe.

The snowdrop is a perennial onion-forming plant that flashes out from under the snow cover or the garden soil between February and April. Two to three pointed leaves are formed per plant and in total it can grow up to 30 centimeters. The bulb flower is often referred to as the "light measuring bell", "white virgin" or "milk flower" .

Snowdrops: when is flowering?

As already mentioned, the first snowdrops can be seen from February to April . It is also not uncommon for a few of the milk flowers to be seen in January.

Snowdrops bloom extremely rarely even in autumn: However, these are special species such as the Queen Olga Snowdrops (Galanthus reginae-olgae), which bloom in autumn.

When is the best time to plant snowdrops?

If you want to see snowdrops sprouting in your garden in spring, you have to plant the bulbs in late summer until the end of September . In this way, you can form roots before the first long frost so that they will sprout vigorously from the soil next year. Young plants can also be used in spring as long as it is frost-free.

Planting snowdrop bulbs: a guide

Planting snowdrops shouldn't be a problem if you do the following:

Choose the right location : The soil should be humus-rich, loose and able to store a lot of water. The pH should be alkaline to neutral. Make sure that the location is in partial shade or shade.
Start planting as soon as possible after purchase so the bulbs don't dry out.
Dig in the garden planting holes five to eight centimeters deep and ten to 15 centimeters apart .
Place the onions in the planting hole with the tip up. There can be space for up to five bulbs in a planting hole. However, this is not necessary, since many clumps often form over daughter onions.
Water the onions vigorously.

If you preferred snowdrops in the pot, you don't have to bury them completely: You should still protrude up to two centimeters from the ground.

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For balcony or terrace: How to plant snowdrops in a pot

Even if there is no garden available, you do not have to do without snowdrops. The bulbs can be easily flowered on the balcony or terrace. Choose a partially shaded or shady location just like in the garden.

Here's how to plant snowdrops in a pot :

The time for planting the snowdrops in the pot is from September to November . Early young plants from the trade can be bought and planted from late January to early February.
Get a plant pot that is four times the size of the onions.
Line the bottom of the pot with pebbles or potsherds as drainage and fill up the rest with normal potting soil. It should be humorous, loose and alkaline to neutral .
Place the snowdrop onions in a planting hole with the top up and cover them with five centimeters of soil. Up to five bulbs can be placed in a planting hole.

After planting, you should water the snowdrops regularly. During and immediately after flowering, you should maintain them with a liquid fertilizer. Once the snowdrops have faded, you can remove the withered flowers.

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How are snowdrops cared for?

Once the snowdrops are in the ground, they are easy to care for. Fertilization * is not necessary because a nutrient-rich substrate only supports the leaves but does not promote flowering. Otherwise, you should water the plants regularly , even in summer, so that the bulbs do not dry out.

When the bloom is over, trim the inflorescences and remove the leaves as soon as they have withered. Since the snowdrops retract into the bulb after flowering, you should not work the soil too much in the area. Weeding and loosening the soil are not good for plants.

Are Snowdrops Poisonous?

The snowdrops, which look so harmless, are poisonous in all parts of the plant, but especially the onion . They contain amaryllidaceae alkaloids. Therefore, eating a small amount of leaves, onions, or fruits can cause gastrointestinal problems with vomiting, abdominal pain, or diarrhea. With a larger amount, circulatory disorders with sweating or drowsiness are also possible.

The Poison Control Center Bonn assesses the snowdrop as " slightly toxic ". Consuming up to three onions is usually tolerable. Should symptoms nevertheless occur, administration of liquid is sufficient at this dose. A larger dose may require a doctor's coal or poison removal.

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