How do you Grow Snowdrops in your Garden?
This can be a difficult question to answer for beginner gardeners because of numerous factors including climate, soil, and experience level.
This article will help solve this problem and give beginner gardeners Easy-to-Follow Steps on growing snowdrops ANYWHERE.
And I recommend scrolling to the bottom of this page to find answers to the 7 most frequently asked questions most gardeners have when growing snowdrops.
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Step #1. Plant THIS Snowdrop
When buying and planting one type of snowflake you should make sure that the bulbs are firm, unblemished, with few or no tears to the outer coating.
I am recommending one specific type of Snowdrop that is simple to grow and care for regardless of your experience.
Best of all is that this Snowdrop is a perennial and beautiful!
My recommendation is to grow the original or “plain” SnowDrop.
The reason I recommend planting this snowdrop is that it is easy to grow from seed or bulb, care for, and grow. Best of all is that it requires little or no work for it to come up every year.
This type of snowdrop smells lovely, is a perfect complement among other perennial flowers, and does not grow very high.
Add this flower to your raised garden beds, pots, or among other fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers you grow.
Step #2. How to Grow Snowdrops from Bulbs
Snowdrops are beautiful flowers that bloom in early to mid-spring.
Unlike conventional thinking, Snowdrops are perennial flowers.
Most flower gardeners think Snowdrops are annual flowers because hybrid snowdrops can become weakened perennials over time.
Step 1 – Plant Your Snowdrop Bulbs in the Fall
First, make sure you buy your appropriate Snowdrops on Amazon or another reputable garden vendor.
Plant your snowdrop bulbs in the fall when your soil has cooled off & the temperature is between 40 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Plant your bulbs before the first frost!
Take the temperature of your soil and ensure that it will stay below 60 degrees for 12 weeks or think about planting your snowdrops in pots.
- Hardiness Zones 3 – 5: Plant in September
- Hardiness Zones 6 – 7: Plant in October
- Hardy Zones 8 – 9: Plant in December
*Find Your Hardiness Zone HERE*
Step 2 – Prepare Your Soil THIS Way!
Locate the area of your flower garden or yard where you want to plant your snowdrops.
- Snowdrops do best in an area that receives partial to full afternoon sun.
- The soil should be well-draining and should be neutral to slightly acidic (6.0 – 7.0 pH level).
- The flower garden should be well protected from wind and heavy rain.
Mix 3 inches of Flower Garden Soil to the top 6 inches of your garden soil.
Step 3 – Simply Plant Your Snowdrop Bulbs
To have the most success planting your bulbs you should simply dig a hole 8 inches deep and plant 10 snowdrop bulbs next to each other.
*Make sure the Snowdrop Bulbs “pointy” part is facing up*
Then mix flower fertilizer (that has a 10-10-10 NPK ratio) in the hole (according to the the instructions). And then fill the holes with your flower and garden soil mix.
Next, water your snowdrop bulbs for 15 seconds. This will help promote the start of root growth. Continue to water your bulbs for 15 seconds once a week for the first month.
Then continue this process for as many bulbs as you want to grow. Make sure to spread each set of 10 snowdrop bulbs 4 inches apart.
Step 4 – Do THIS in the Winter
In the beginning of winter you will want to mulch your flower garden bed.
After you mulch the flower garden bed do nothing else to your snowdrop bulbs the rest of winter.
Step 5- And do THIS in the Spring
Once the year becomes spring and your snowdrops grow leaves then you should add flower fertilizer again.
Then water your snowdrops once a week until your snowdrops bloom.
As soon your snowdrop petals fall off the flower deadhead it.
And make sure to keep your leaves on the flower for 6 weeks while your flower absorbs and retains energy for next year’s bloom.
Step 6 – Maintain minimal maintenance in summer
Once it becomes summer you should cut the stem and leaves of your snowdrops where it meets the soil.
Do not water your snowdrops in the summer. Do not fertilize your snowdrops in the summer. Simply leave your snowdrops in the ground all summer.
Frequently Asked Questions (9 Questions)
#1. How Do You Grow Snowdrops in Pots?
If you are not able to plant your snowdrop bulbs in an area your garden or yard, or if your soil will not stay below 60 degrees Fahrenheit then you should plant your Snowdrops in a container.
To have the most success planting Snowdrop Bulbs in pots you should do the following:
- Bury your bulbs in a container with 8 inches of Flower Garden Soil over it.
- Make sure the “pointy” end of the bulb is facing up
- Immediately water your snowdrop bulbs for 15 seconds
- Before the first frost of the year move your container to an area of your property that is cool and dry. Keep it here throughout winter
- Once you notice green growth emerging in the winter move your container into a sunny area and begin watering it once a week.
- Once your snowdrop petals fall off you will want to deadhead your flower.
- Let the green growth of your plant remain for 6 weeks. Then cut it and your stem where it meets your soil.
#2. How Do I Water My Snowdrops?
You should water your Snowdrops in three different ways.
- Immediately after you plant your snowdrop bulbs you should soak the soil for 15 seconds
- Continue watering your snowdrop bulbs once a week for the first month and then don’t water until the spring
- Begin watering your snowdrops once a week once green growth returns in the spring
#3. How Do I Feed My Snowdrops?
To properly feed your snowdrops with the fertilizer you should wait until the snowdrop flowers have faded and begun falling off your flower.
To have the most success use Snowdrop Fertilizer. This will help your snowdrops store nutrients properly for the next season.
For best results, simply follow the instructions on your fertilizer product.
#4. How Do I Cut Snowdrops?
If you want to display your snowdrops indoors then cut snowdrops when the flowers have grown, but not blossomed. It is okay if the flower bud is slightly green, but should have color.
Place the cut snowdrop in a vase with water at room temperature. Every few days change your water.
If you want your snowdrops to last longer in the vase then you should add Miracle-Gro for Fresh Cut Flowers.
#5. How Do I Protect my Snowdrops from Pests
The biggest threat to your snowdrops is deer, squirrels, and chipmunks. This is both when your snowdrops are growing and blooming.
To prevent your bulbs from digging up place bird netting over the ground where they are planted.
If you are trying to prevent deer then you should use deer repellent. If this does not work then grow your snowdrop bulbs in pots and containers out of the deer’s reach.
#6. How do I Prevent Common Snowdrop Diseases
The most common snowdrop diseases and harmful insects are gray mold, slugs, snail, aphids, nematodes, and bulb rot.
You can help prevent these diseases and harmful insects by using a fungicide spray and an insecticide spray in early spring as green growth begins to emerge.
#7. What are the Best Uses for Snowdrops?
Snowdrops are best used for indoor display, but can also add color to raised garden beds, container gardening, or even in your traditional flower garden.
Snowdrops can complement columbines, azaleas, lilacs, daffodils, crocus, and even hyacinths.
#8. What types of Bulb Should I buy?
Purchasing Snowdrop Bulbs is a much easier task than say vegetable or herb seeds, where you have to worry about GMOs, Organic, Heirloom, etc.
When buying snowdrop bulbs you should stick to hybrid or heirloom. These will give you the best success in growing Snowdrops.
Hybrid Snowdrop Bulbs are weakened perennials that may or may not come up every year.
Heirlom Snowdrop Bulbs are perennial bulbs that come up yearly but have a higher risk of contracting a disease, harmful insect, or fungus.
Just as important is where you buy your bulbs from. I recommend buying your seeds from Amazon. This will provide you with the best price and quickest delivery.
#9. What Type of Gardening Pot Should I Buy?
I recommend buying one type of pot.
Buy a 5-gallon pot.
- This is essential if you want to allow your snowdrops to grow to its fullest. It is also important if you want to continue to grow your snowdrops outside.
