Propagating snowdrops – two easy ways
Snowdrops can be propagated by dividing or by sowing. Here are detailed instructions on how to propagate snowdrops.
When snowdrops are in bloom, winter is over – or almost. That’s why gardeners love to see these delicate flowers in spring, because it feels like the gardening season is just around the corner. That’s why you can’t get enough of these delicate bulb flowers in your garden. So the question quickly arises: how do you propagate snowdrops?
General information about snowdrops
The white flowers nod on delicate stems, the three outer petals enveloping the three inner petals. The flowers have a light fragrance and serve as food for the first insects. After flowering, the leaves of the snowdrop die back so that these delicate harbingers of spring do not take up space in the border during the summer.
Propagating snowdrops by division
After flowering, bulblets form at the base of the bulb. These separate from the ‘mother bulb’ and form their own clump. This is why snowdrops often grow in dense clumps. These clumps can easily be separated. Proceed as follows:
- It is best to divide snowdrops in the weeks after flowering. The foliage of the bulb flowers should still be green. This is usually the case in March.
- Use a spade to dig up fist-sized clumps from the clump.
- Make sure that as much soil as possible remains around the snowdrop bulbs so that the roots are not damaged.
- Try not to damage the leaves. The plants need the leaves to store nutrients for next year’s new growth.
- Plant the separated bulbs in their new location as soon as possible, water carefully and water well – done.
Growing snowdrops from seed
Wondering if you can sow snowdrops? Yes, you can. When the snowdrop has finished flowering, each flower produces a capsule containing 18 to 36 seeds. Snowdrop seeds ripen between May and June.
If you don’t want the ants to decide where to plant the snowdrops in your garden, you can harvest the seed capsules and scatter the snowdrop seeds where you want them.