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Snowdrops: A Prelude to Spring

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | January 14, 2010 9 Comments

Last updated on December 31st, 2014

Hallelujah — my snowdrops have bloomed! You probably know these Galanthus nivalis from the outdoor garden. But it is indoors, not out, where we can best appreciate the nodding, icy-white bells that are brushed, on the inside, with ribbons of green.

Snowdrops are a cinch to force. In October, plant 5 bulbs in a 4-inch pot. Soak the soil, then let it drain. Then place the pot in a dark, cold (40°F) location for at least 8 weeks.  After the cold-duration, transfer the bulbs to a sunny but cool window garden. There, the enchanting flowers will emerge in only 3 weeks time.

If you’d like to save the bulbs for future planting outdoors, be sure to provide food and water until the foliage dies back.  Then store the bulbs in a dry, cool place. In autumn, give them a permanent location in a sunny spot outdoors.

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Comments

  1. 1

    Erika says

    January 14, 2010 at 4:20 pm

    Oooh, I wish that I had forced snowdrops this year! I have them in the garden, but they never bloom for me before March. Who knew the inside of the flowers were so beautiful? Well, I guess you did!

  2. 2

    Yolanda says

    January 14, 2010 at 4:49 pm

    Kevin, have you tried forcing the double variety?

  3. 3

    Randy J says

    January 14, 2010 at 6:58 pm

    Kevin,
    Catherine the Great had an armed guard posted at the spot where her Snowdrops would bloom. I am sure that they were a very welcome sight at the end of a Russian winter. I couldn't imagine a garden with out them, and I have also forced some this winter. They are now budded and I should have flowers in a few days.
    A note to Erika, Snowdrops are one of the few plants tat actually like to be transplanted when they are in bloom. That will not help in regard to enjoying them indoors now, but when they start to bloom in the garden you can pop up a small clump and set them in a nice pot somewhere where you can enjoy them indoors and then just pop them back in the ground when they are finished flowering.

  4. 4

    Judy says

    January 14, 2010 at 7:15 pm

    What a great day to plant! I have spring fever today — it's finally over 35 degrees!!

  5. 5

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    January 14, 2010 at 7:57 pm

    Randy – Thanks for the terrific snowdrop-history lesson! Now I will think of Kate the Great whenever I plant a galanthus bulb!

    Judy – Over 35 degrees? Now that's what I call spring! It's about 20 degrees here, but the sun is shining so I can't complain.

  6. 6

    Sara Swift says

    January 14, 2010 at 9:14 pm

    kevin
    What an incredible photograph with the delicate detail in the Snowdrop's petals next to your finger with the detail of your fingerprint.
    Nature revealed in its intricate beauty…
    Sara Swift

  7. 7

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    January 14, 2010 at 9:32 pm

    Greetings, Sara, and welcome back from Ireland, where the snowdrops were probably already in bloom.

  8. 8

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    January 23, 2010 at 1:54 pm

    Yolanda – I missed your question earlier. This is the first year I've tried the double snowdrops. I'll bring them out of cold-storage today. Thanks for the reminder!

  9. 9

    fred debros says

    February 25, 2019 at 9:47 am

    i have thousands of snowdrops . but in fall i do not find the bulblets. i’d like to take them in in fall, set them in the basement and put the pots out in the kitchen in february.
    this year i dug up a bunch in jan, located them when they just about stuck out their tips, set them in a pot and put them on a windowsill….only greenery, 5 inches, no flowers! what went wrong?

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