Frequently Asked Questions

Depending on the season, you will either get a dormant bulb in late summer or an already bloomed flower with foliage attached to a bulb in late winter. The dormant bulb may or may not have roots attached. Be careful not to damage any roots as they will provide the nutrition for the health and longevity of the bulb in the future. Bulb size may vary according to the species and will be anywhere from the size of a thumbnail to a daffodil bulb.

"Whenever you can get 'em" according to galanthophiles, as many are in short supply. The most important thing is that you plant them immediately whether you grow them in pots or in the ground. It is also important to water them in thoroughly so that the roots make contact with the growing medium.

Snowdrops thrive in deep humus-rich, well-drained moist soil. Keep them from drying out during growth and avoid waterlogged conditions by planting them in small berms if the soil stays wet from winter thaw. Deciduous shade is the best location providing ample sun in the winter months when they are in active growth, and then shade through the hottest summer months when they are dormant.

Yes. Use quality compost, mix in some slow release fertilizer and decomposing hardwood bark to provide air circulation around the roots ensuring good drainage. You can grow them in larger patio containers but plant them in a smaller plastic pot so that you can remove them when they go dormant so that they will not become waterlogged and rot. Some gardeners grow them in mesh pots planted in the ground which keeps them together and safer from rodents, but you must remember to remove them and divide every several years.

That is somewhat dependent upon the weather. Cooler conditions usually extend the flowering period but savvy galanthophiles will have several cultivars which vary in bloom time, ensuring a sequential flowering period throughout a mild winter. If a heavy snow is expected, you may cover already opened flowers with a styrofoam shipping box so that they will not be crushed, and then remove it afterwards. If they are still nosing up, it is best to let them grow through the snow which they will certainly do!

A properly maintained snowdrop will have side growths from the base of the bulb, usually one to two per year. When these mature, they will flower like the one in the main bulb, eventually creating a clump. It is important to allow the foliage to grow until it turns yellow and dies back naturally with the advent of warmer weather, so that the bulbs may store the maximum energy to flower the next season and continue good growth. Some rarer cultivars, including some yellow and green forms, may be much slower growing than this.