Antirrhinum Flowers

Antirrhinum, the common snapdragon, is loved for its tall, upright flower spikes packed with velvety two-lipped blooms that "snap" open when gently pressed. The colour range is wonderfully wide, making it a star for cool-season borders, mixed beds, and long-lasting cut-flower arrangements with elegant vertical form.

Planting

Surface-sow the seeds and do not cover them with soil, since snapdragon seed needs light to germinate; press it onto the surface, adding at most a very fine dusting of vermiculite to hold moisture. Germinate at about 16-20 C, aiming for roughly 17-18 C soil for even emergence within 7-14 days. In Egypt, sow in nursery beds in autumn (September-October) and transplant out in October-November. Move seedlings once they show two to three fully expanded true leaves, about 3-4 weeks after sowing. Space plants around 15 cm apart for dwarf types and up to 30 cm for tall ones, in full sun.

Fertilizing

Feed with a balanced N-K fertilizer at about 150-200 ppm nitrogen, every other watering at the seedling stage and every third watering once growing on. Snapdragons are sensitive to high salts, so avoid over-fertilizing; below about 18 C, skip ammonium-heavy feeds.

Care

Keep the soil moist but well-drained and avoid waterlogging, which invites root rots; bottom-water or mist seed trays gently. For bushier plants, pinch back to 4-5 cm when seedlings reach 8-10 cm. Provide airflow and avoid overhead wetting to limit rust and mildew, plus aphids. Cut spikes when the lower third to half of florets open, and deadhead to extend bloom.