Antirrhinum Plant: Known for colorful flowers

Image by Eveline de Bruin from Pixabay

Antirrhinum Plant grows best in cold or warm places with no harsh summers. The plants are attractive, unique and can add a charm to the garden. They do not require much mare and maintenance.

Quick Details of Antirrhinum Plant

Other Common Names	Snapdragon, Dragon flower
Type	Outdoor flowering plants
Maintenance	Low/Moderate
Flowering	Spring – autumn
Light	Bright direct sunlight
Water	Once the plants mature, water when the soil is dry.
Temperature	Colder climatic conditions with normal humidity
Soil	Well draining slightly acidic soil
Fertilizer	Balanced fertilizer before planting the seeds an while blooming.
Habitat	Europe, Africa, America
Toxicity	No
Common Diseases	Powdery mildew, rot, aphids
Scientific name	Antirrhinum majus

Antirrhinum Buying Instructions

• Buy a bushy and healthy Antirrhinum Plant
• As the Antirrhinum flowers comes in variety of colors so buy the plant as per your choice.

Overview of Antirrhinum

Antirrhinum Plant are short lived perennial plants that belong to the family Plantaginaceae and native to Europe, America and North Africa. They survive best in cold regions. The seeds are usually sown during winter.

The plants can either be dwarfs, medium height or can grow really tall to a height of 30-50 inches. The plants bloom mostly during spring and fall. The flowers bloom in colors ranging from: yellow, white, orange, red, pink and purple. Some of the flowers are multicolored. The flowers are tubular and face open . The leaves are dark green in color.

Usage and Advantage of Antirrhinum Plant

• Grown as an ornamental plant.
• The flowers are used as cut flowers.
• They are said to have anti-inflammatory properties.

General Care for Antirrhinum

Soil

Antirrhinum Plant prefer a well draining slightly acidic to neutral pH soil which is rich in organic matter.

Water

Water the Antirrhinum Plant regularly while the plants are growing, especially during the initial stages. Ones the plants are mature and the roots establish, reduce the frequency of watering to ones a week. Deep water the mature plants when the soil is dry.

Sunlight

They prefer bright direct sunlight. While sprouting from the seeds, make sure to provide them with continuous light for at least 10-12 hours a day. The mature plants thrive and bloom under bright direct sunlight. Shift the plants to partial shade during summers.

Temperature

Antirrhinum Plant can tolerate cold climatic conditions. They thrive during colder conditions. The plants are not very resistant to harsh summers and should be protected from them. They usually go dormant during summers. The change in humidity does not harm them but they thrive best in normal humidity.

Special Care

Mulch the soil to prevent loss of moisture and to protect it from the harsh climatic changes. Pinch off the tip of the seedlings to promote bushier growth. The plants can be pruned back after the blooming period. Deadhead the flowers to promote flowering.

Fertilization

Add a balanced fertilizer , compost or manure when the plants start to bloom. Add compost or manure before planting the seeds or cuttings.

Pests and other problems for Antirrhinum

Antirrhinum Plants are prone to attack of pests like aphids and spider mites. Force spray water or treat with a mild insecticide to get rid of them.

Powdery mildew

Excess moisture in the soil and the plant parts can attract pathogens causing powdery mildew. Make sure to not overwater the plants. Avoid over head watering. Provide enough space between the plants to regulate proper aeration. In case of uncontrollable spread, use a mild fungicide or spray neem oil.

Botrytis Blight

Caused by a fungal pathogen called Botrytis cinerea. The pathogens grow and spread when there is no proper air circulation and at high humid conditions. They mostly infect the flowers of the plant. The petals of the infected flowers turn brown in color and gets covered by gray fungal growth. Provide enough space between the plants for proper air circulation. Remove the dead leaves and other parts of the plants to reduce thickness. Maintain low humidity and do not over water the plants and avoid overhead watering. In case of severe infection, apply any mild fungicide.

Pythium Root Rot

These are caused by the fungal pathogens of Pythium species. The roots just affected. The infected root tips starts to turn brown and die. As the infection spreads the plants start to turn yellow, wilt and die. In the initial stages, the plants show a stunted growth. Mostly affects the younger plants. Make sure not to overwater the plants. In case of reusing the soil, make sure to sterilize it. Use a mild fungicide or neem oil during the initial stages of the infection to prevent its spread.

Rust

Caused by a fungal pathogen Puccinia antirrhini. Mostly infects the leaves and the stem. The infected leaves or the stem develop small yellow swellings which burst out to release rusty colored spores which gets arranged in concentric circles. These can spread quite quickly infecting the whole plant. Remove the infected parts of the plant. Apply a mild fungicide or neem oil. Provide proper aeration and control the humidity to prevent the spread of the disease.

Downy Mildew

Caused by Peronospora antirrhini. The infected leaves or the stems develop white r gray powdery cover initially seen at the underside of the leaf which later spreads to the upper side. The infected leaves starts to turn yellow, wilt and die. The infection can spread if not treated at the right time. The plants can show stunted growth and die. The flowering is hindered. Provide proper humidity during cloudy days. Avoid over water and over head watering of the plants. Make sure to sterilize or steam the soil before planting the saplings or seeds. Use a fungicide or neem oil to avoid the spread of the disease.

Propagation of Antirrhinum

Antirrhinum plants are propagated through seeds or by cuttings.

The seeds can be sown during winters. Spread the seeds on a potting mix and press it to the soil. Do mot cover it with the soil. They require light for germination. In cases of seeds sown indoors, provide them with continuous light for at least 10-12 hours a day. Water them regularly to maintain moisture. The seedlings, ones they develop true leaves can be transplanted outside.

Antirrhinum Plant are also propagated through cuttings. Select a growing tip and chop out a 4-6 inch long cutting. Remove the leaves from the base and dip the tip into a growing hormone and plant it in a well draining potting mix. Water them regularly till the roots are formed.