Overwintering Snapdragons?

[bluelacedredhead]

I made a lovely little potted floral arrangement this spring , even if I do say so myself. In the center is a pink & white variegated geranium, surrounded by white snaps and red coleus. I have brought this coleus in the house to overwinter, many times over. And am usually good with saving geraniums. But never have bothered with overwintering snapdragons.
Am I just wasting my time, or should I be looking for them to go to seed instead??
I'm honestly not a very savvy flower gardener, can you tell :o

[Lavandula Girl]

BLRH - snaps can be perennial in zones 9-11. There's a chance you could prolong their life with the right temps and some heavy trimming of spent stems, so the plant would keep trying to produce seed, but I'd think you'll probably end up with an exhausted plant. For experimentation purposes, maybe you could let one seed out, so you'll have some saved for just-in-case, and then try overwintering the others? You could probably let them all seed out and try to get the plants to limp along after that, but they may not make it. My snaps usually die back after seeding.

[bluelacedredhead]

Thanks LG. I was so proud of myself because I kept them blooming for most of the summer. The more accomplished flower gardeners at work kept telling me that snaps are very difficult to grow in hanging baskets or planters, yet mine have been consistent with the exception of a few days here and there...
I guess I just got to feeling a bit to sure of myself when I thought it might be an easy task to continue my success with snaps.
No harm in trying though. I just might give it a whirl by heeding your helpful suggestions. :)

[Joan]

a woman on GW has a topic Winter Sowing in case you want to try both ways as insurance. She swears by it

[bluelacedredhead]

I've seen it discussed on other boards and here as well back in the early spring. Might look into it again, thanks.
I went to GW to try and find something specific on winter sowing of flowers...now I know why I don't go there very often. Can't stand the format...how does anyone find anything over there???

[bunkie]

blue, i have overwintered snaps in the cabin here in a sunny window. their growth slows down tremendously during the winter, but they perk up come spring and more sun. :O)

[FarmerCathy]

This is good to know. I'm going to have to try it. I have some trellising snaps in a hanging basket. So it will be easy to bring in.

[bluelacedredhead]

I got them to overwinter and now that they are back outside, they are blooming again.

I was amazed!!

Cathy, I hope you have the same success.. :)