Galanthus elwesii aka Giant Snowdrop
Taxonomy
Galanthus elwesii, also known as Elwes's snowdrop or greater snowdrop, is a robust herbaceous perennial plant in the Amaryllidaceae family. It is native to the Caucasus and grows from a globose bulb that is 2-3 cm in diameter. The plant produces two blue-green linear leaves and pendulous white flowers that are solitary at the tip of a solid, pointed scape. The flowers are globose, 2-3 cm long, and have outer floral tepals that are oblanceolate with shorter inner tepals that are emarginate. The fruit forms a dehiscent capsule with three valves. Compared to Galanthus nivalis, Galanthus elwesii is a more robust plant.
Snowdrop is a rare houseplant that belongs to the Galanthus genus and is native to the Balkans and western Turkey. It thrives with regular watering and does best in direct light less than 1 foot away from a window. The plant prefers well-draining soil and doesn't typically need added fertilizers if repotted each time it doubles in size.
Common names
Giant Snowdrop, Greater Snowdrop, Caucasian SnowdropHow to care for Giant Snowdrop
Difficulty
Giant Snowdrop is a low-maintenance plant that requires minimal attention, making it an excellent choice for beginners.
Water
Giant Snowdrop should be watered regularly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.
Soil
Giant Snowdrop loves a well-draining soil. Perlite and vermiculite help with drainage, while coco coir adds organic matter, so a good potting soil mix will have all three. You can improve store-bought soil by adding some perlite to it.
Dormancy
During the cold period, it is common for Giant Snowdrop to go dormant and their growth may slow down, so waterings should be spaced out more during this period.
Toxicity
Giant Snowdrop is poisonous if ingested. We suggest keeping this plant out of reach if you have children, cats, or dogs in the home.
Fertilizer
The Giant Snowdrop should be transferred to a new pot once it has increased in size two-fold, or on an annual basis, whichever occurs earlier. Replacing the soil with fresh potting soil containing all the necessary nutrients, is sufficient enough to support the growth of the plant, thus avoiding the need to use fertilizer. It's important to note that plants derive their energy from the sun and not fertilizer.
Growth-pattern
The Giant Snowdrop is a clumping species, with new growth arising from the soil surrounding the parent plant.
More info:
Wikipedia
