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The scientific name of some flowers is often unknown to amateurs. When they hear the word "Antirrinum", they rarely think about snapdragon or "doggies".
Although this is the same plant. The flower is very popular; adults and children love it. Typically, pyramidal antirrhinum bushes of different colors are planted in flower beds to create a composition. But not everyone knows that snapdragon exists. This variety of flower was bred by breeders quite recently and is still considered elite and rare. Beautiful hybrids also received corresponding names - “Candy Showers”, “Lampion”, “Magic”, “Amulet”.
The common flower form is a perennial plant that produces seeds and blooms in the first year after planting. It is grown by summer residents as an annual, although snapdragons can survive the winter well. It forms a powerful bush with an equally strong root system and safely tolerates average frosts. There are varieties of varieties:
- dwarf;
- medium height;
- tall.
The ampelous form forms hanging shoots of different lengths. This parameter depends on the variety and ranges from 20 cm to 100 cm. The shoots are strewn with flowers in large quantities. Plants begin to bloom at the end of June, and end the flowering period when frost occurs.Ampelous species are intended for growing in pots and are not suitable for open ground in the middle zone.
Varieties of ampelous flower shape
All modern types of hanging plants were bred by breeders from one species - Antirrhinum major. Varieties of snapdragon vary:
- size of flowers;
- the length of the hanging shoots;
- coloring.
If different species grow in very close proximity, they are cross-pollinated and the purity of the variety is lost. To choose the appropriate variety, let’s read the description and photo of snapdragon.
The first on the list will be snapdragon "Candy Showers".
The plant has branches 25-30 cm long and a very large range of colors. The stems are flexible but strong. The inflorescences have a pleasant aroma and look like bright flower balls. It blooms very profusely and for a long time, even with short daylight hours, which is considered a feature of the species. This is the first variety of ampelous antirrinums, which began to be propagated by seeds.
Snapdragon ampelous "Lampion"
It is distinguished by long branches that can reach 1 meter. The average length of one shoot ranges from 50 cm to 70 cm. This is a hybrid variety, quite rare and very beautiful. It blooms all summer, forms bright drooping shoots. Grown in hanging baskets and flowerpots. Gardeners compare the variety to a lush flower beard.
Snapdragon ampelous "Amulet"
characterized by uniform growth and relatively short shoots. The length of the branches is about 20 cm. The flowers on the plant have a variety of colors. Distinctive characteristics of the variety:
- cold resistance;
- lush flowering in partial shade;
- need for regular feeding.
Variety of ampelous antirrinum "Magic"
has branches of medium size - 50 cm.The plant is large and has an interesting spherical shape. It reaches 60 cm in diameter. It produces small, glossy flowers, but in large quantities. It requires lighting, so it is recommended to place the pots in sunny places.
Growing seedlings of ampelous varieties
Growing ampelous varieties of snapdragon from seeds has its own nuances, but is quite accessible even to beginning flower growers. Gardeners who decide to grow ampelous varieties of antirrinum on their own purchase them in specialized stores. According to reviews from summer residents, a bag contains no more than 10 small snapdragon seeds of the ampelous variety, so it is better to buy 2-3 bags at once. Taking into account the natural losses when growing seedlings, this number of seeds will be the most optimal.
Pre-sowing treatment of ampel seeds is carried out by the manufacturer, so steps such as soaking or disinfection can be safely skipped. When the seeds are purchased, it is necessary to determine the timing of when to plant snapdragon seedlings. The best time for sowing ampelous varieties is considered to be the second half of March - early April. In Siberia – mid-March.
For tender ampel seedlings, it is necessary to prepare containers. It is convenient to grow seedlings in peat tablets, but for antirrinum it is better to prepare a suitable soil mixture.
Plants prefer medium-loose fertile soil with a light structure. This is important because the seeds of snapdragon varieties are very small and easily fall deep. The main thing is that the soil is slightly alkaline or neutral and nutritious. Flower growers prepare a peat mixture, add a little sand and turf soil. At the same time, you should not get carried away with the amount of humus. You need very little of it so that the soil does not turn out “rotten”.Some people prefer to purchase ready-made soil for flower seedlings.
A day before the scheduled date of sowing the ampel seeds, the soil is treated with a solution of potassium permanganate to prevent infection of the seedlings by the “black leg”.
Seedlings at the beginning of growth are very small and tender, so you should not take 0.5 liter cups. You need to sow seeds of ampelous antirrinum varieties in small containers, and then gradually increase the volume.
The container is washed with a disinfectant, dried and filled with soil. Level the surface and moisten with a spray bottle.
Now the seeds of ampelous varieties of snapdragon are placed on the surface of the soil.
The seed coat is destroyed to release future shoots. This applies to granules containing planting material.
When all the seeds of the ampelous antirrinum varieties are laid out, the container is covered with film. Provide the necessary parameters - air temperature 24°C-25°C and good lighting. If all conditions are met, the first shoots can be seen after a week and a half.
Video on how to properly sow seeds of ampelous antirrinum varieties:
Caring for flower seedlings
As soon as the first sprouts appear, you need to give them maximum attention. There are nuances to growing flower seedlings.
The first is that seedlings of ampels must be given additional illumination. At this time, there is not enough natural light for seedlings due to the short duration of daylight hours. To prevent the seedlings from stretching (they are already thin), the ambient temperature is gradually reduced to 16°C-18°C over the course of a week.
Secondly, you should not immediately remove the film after germination.First, they begin to ventilate the seedlings every day for half an hour, increasing the ventilation time by 30 minutes every day. After a week, the seedlings are ready to grow without shelter. Water the seedlings only through a tray and when a dry top layer forms on the soil.
The next important stage is diving. The first time it is carried out no earlier than a month after the sowing date. By mid-April, the sprouts will have two pairs of true leaves. This will be the signal to start the picking. The soil is moistened a little in advance, then the plant with a lump of earth is transferred into a larger container. The difference in volume should be small so that water does not stagnate in the cups. The second time they dive in the phase of three or four leaves. This is what healthy snapdragon seedlings look like after picking (see photo).
Nutrition of seedlings. It is recommended to start fertilizing 14 days after the first picking of seedlings. For ampelous varieties of snapdragon, any complex mineral fertilizer NPK for flowers is suitable, which should contain microelements. Dilute it according to the instructions, but reduce the concentration by 2 times. Repeat the procedure 2 weeks after the second dive with the same composition. For seedlings of ampelous antirrinum varieties, two feedings will be enough; plants do not like frequent fertilization.
Some gardeners practice cuttings from ampelous snapdragons. To do this, cuttings of at least 10 cm in length are cut from the shoots, the lower cut is dipped in the Kornevin solution and placed in clean water. When lateral branches appear from the axils, the cuttings are sent for growing.
Caring for adult flowers
Planting and caring for adult snapdragon plants does not cause any particular difficulties. It is important to choose the right size of hanging planter or pot. Depending on the variety, plants have shoots of different lengths. For small ampels, a volume of 3 liters is prepared, but the “Lampion” variety with long shoots needs to be planted in a pot with a volume of 5 liters or more.
The transplant is scheduled for the end of May - beginning of June, depending on the climatic conditions of the region. The temperature outside should be above zero at night.
- The soil mixture is prepared with a neutral or slightly alkaline pH value. Before planting, it is recommended to dip the roots of the plant in a solution of the Energen preparation so that the seedlings take root well.
- The flower pots are placed in partial shade. The ampelous antirrinum blooms from June until the onset of frost. Some summer residents then take the plants to the city and arrange them on insulated balconies. They are watered with warm water, and next spring they are transported to the dacha again.
- A couple of weeks after transplantation, the ampels are fed with NPK complex fertilizer for flowers. During the flowering period, fertilizing is repeated at intervals of 2-3 weeks.
- Water only at the roots in moderate doses. The ampelous antirrinum does not tolerate overwatering, but can withstand short dry periods well.
- It is necessary to loosen, but special care is required so as not to damage the roots.
If flowering has stopped, it is recommended to cut off the longest shoots. In this case, new ones will begin to grow and bloom from the lateral sinuses.
It is not necessary to pinch ampelous varieties of snapdragons. You can pinch the seedlings once when they reach a height of 10 cm.
Ampelous antirrinums with gypsophila and lobelias.
