How do I stake my Snapdragons?

Hello all! I am new here and this is my first year for Snapdragons! LOL I got a mixed color and tall variety. The problem is they are lying on the ground and are starting to get snaky or curvy stokes.

I know they need to be staked to help them straighten out, but I have no idea how to do it to get the stokes straight again!

I planted them in the back of the bed and it they done stand up they will not be seen. They are supposed to get 36 inches tall and the rest of the flowers are arranged by height as well.

Can anyone help me?

I answer where you posted on beginning flowers....

txflower,

I don't have an answer to your question--but, I come from that neck of the woods and just had to say Hello. I'm originally from Pampa!

annie

I misunderstood where you lived so the answer will be different than the one I gave....need to know your zone

First of all, are you sure they are Snapdragons, these normally have quite a strong stalk and will stand up themselves, dont know any that grow to 36 inches, but hey, could be wrong, if they are at the back of the border, maybe they have been trying to compete for light, OR, do they need a good drink of water, have you over fed them and they have shot up and became week, look at all these things first. As to how to stake them, this depends on how many plants you have, if say 12, then you could put canes in zig zag fashion and weave soft garden string around them, but if you have dozens, then perhaps you will need to put more canes in a double row and weave the string into like squares so the are not tightly crushed together, more just supported and see if that helps them, like I said, they normaly stand up for themselves, hope this helps, WeeNel.

Even the Rocket series get 36" tall for me....I forgot to tell her that I just use pvc thin pipes to stake min....she is in zone 6b or 7a.....

Hello,
Yes I am sure they are Snapdragons they are "Rocket Mix" Hybrids of mixed color and the tag says they grow to a height of 36 inches (90cm).

My flower bed is in the middle of you yard on the east side. (I did not make it there, it was there when I moved in) It is about a 5 Foot by 5 Foot square and the flowers where planted according to height, so there should not be a problem there. I would think.

Because I mixed organic top soil and organic potting soil (which I did not realize who smell like manure!! LOL) together I have been watering very well every night. If I don't things look wilted. Our temps are low 80's day time to 50's at night. So I did not think it was hot enough to wilt them but anyway... The good old Texas wind is probably not helping any! LOL

I have not used any flower food (Miracle Grow) yet this year, I am not sure I should knowing now what is in the organic soil.

Thanks for your help!

Why don't you get in the habit of always watering in the morning....plants really don't like to be wet at night....not a real good idea, i don't think to ever water in the evenings...

Hi, I always water at night, never in the morning after say 8:30, the trick is to water the soil and not the plants IF you can manage to do that, If you water in the evening, the soil is slightly cooler, the plants have a longer time to soak up the water you put at the roots and the water does'nt evaporate as fast as in the morning just a few hours before the heat when the sun come out, I know we dont get as high a temp as you folks do in some areas of USA, but even with all our rain, we still get hosepipe/garden watering bans, pluss, why use water that is going to evaporate, it's too time consuming, a good drink at night is less wasted and more time for the plants to recover from the heat of the day, so I guess it all depend on each indeviduals time they can spend watering, and puting the water where it is needed most. happy gardening, WeeNel.

Well like WeeNel said, I just have always watered at night so it does not evaportate. I grow up in New Mexico and it is not uncommon for it to hit 115 in the summer so watering at nigt was just more effective. At least that is what my Grandfather always taught me!

I have wondered about watering every night though. But like I said if I don't they look wilted! LOL

But watering in the morning is a thought! HUMMMM....

Thanks again!

This message was edited May 31, 2007 8:30 PM

I have worked in greenhouses and gardened all my life....have always been told that plants don't like to have wet leaves when nightfall comes as it is an invitation to all kinds of fungus's and bacterial problems...if it works don't fix it.....
I have always tried to be through with watering by 9:30 each morning or they don't get water that day....

*****It probably makes a lot of difference in your humidity....we have very high humidity....you may have low humidity and wet leaves are not a problem in an arid place....welneel doesn't say where he is from or what zone....

This message was edited May 31, 2007 9:24 PM

OK....weenel....I can only think of a few places in the world where it is 2:30 am in the morning right now.....are you in Reykjacik, Aackland or Casablanca????? Inquiring minds want to know where you are (LOL)

If you live in a humid climate, it's not a good idea to water at night because then the leaves will stay wet for a long time and that creates a great breeding ground for fungus. If you live in a dry climate then you can get away with evening watering and be fine because the leaves will not stay wet as long. If you're in a humid climate and regularly water in the evening and haven't had fungal problems then you're lucky, but don't count on the luck to hold out forever!

Hummm well that is good to know! The Panhandle of Texas can be humid! LOL But not as much as the southern part!

Things have looked good so far, but I think maybe I will try and water in the early AM just to be safe! It would really make me mad to kill all of this off, and I would be out more $$, time and heartach!! LOL

I have staked a few in sore of a triangular manner. At least that is the way I found after doing a ton of research on the net that seemed to be the most popular! I used three stakes and them used plant tape (Sturfy Strech Tie) in three layers to hold it up like you would do a Mum. It seemed to prop it up some but I don't think it will get straight! Hope that makes since! I will try and get a pic!

They are fixing to bloom so after they do I will cut it back. The new growth is straight as an arrow, unless trying to stake the adults is going to mess it up! LOL

Thanks everyone for your help!