Ornithogalum

The genus Ornithogalum (Ornithogalum), has about 200 species-herbaceous bulbous plants with linear or belt-shaped leaves with a whitish middle vein. Flowers are three-membered, odorless, collected in racemose or corymbose inflorescences. Many species are poisonous and require careful care, so you should keep them away from children. Ornithogalum arabicum is a capricious plant with a height of 40-50 cm. White fragrant flowers with yellow stamens are collected in a loose brush. It occurs naturally in meadows in mild climates. Used for distilling. Ornithogalum drooping (O. nutans) - a stable species with a height of 20-35 cm. The leaves are linear, furrowed. Collected in 9-11-flowered racemes, the flowers are white or greenish, bell-shaped. Pyrenaicum is a frost-resistant species with a height of 40 cm. The flowers are light yellow. O. thyrsoides is a relatively stable species with a height of 40-70 cm, with very interesting white flowers with yellow stamens in dense panicles. The leaves are fleshy. Ornithogalum umbrella (O. umbellatum), Europeans call it "chicken milk", is a stable species up to 25 cm high with white star-shaped flat flowers collected in umbrellas with green stripes on the outside.

The genus Ornithogalum (Ornithogalum), has about 200 species-herbaceous bulbous plants with linear or belt-shaped leaves with a whitish middle vein. Flowers are three-membered, odorless, collected in racemose or corymbose inflorescences. Many species are poisonous and require careful care, so you should keep them away from children.

Ornithogalum arabicum is a capricious plant with a height of 40-50 cm. White fragrant flowers with yellow stamens are collected in a loose brush. It occurs naturally in meadows in mild climates. Used for distilling.

Ornithogalum drooping (O. nutans) - a stable species with a height of 20-35 cm. The leaves are linear, furrowed. Collected in 9-11-flowered racemes, the flowers are white or greenish, bell-shaped. Pyrenaicum is a frost-resistant species with a height of 40 cm. The flowers are light yellow. O. thyrsoides is a relatively stable species with a height of 40-70 cm, with very interesting white flowers with yellow stamens in dense panicles. The leaves are fleshy.

Ornithogalum umbrella (O. umbellatum), Europeans call it "chicken milk", is a stable species up to 25 cm high with white star-shaped flat flowers collected in umbrellas with green stripes on the outside.

Cultivation

Ornithogalum is grown in the fresh air: in the open ground in sunny places (mainly in flower beds) or in pots on balconies and terraces (mainly low-growing species). Pots with flowering plants can be brought into the house for a while and enjoy their flowering, after which it is preferable to return them to the air. Bulbs are planted in spring or autumn to a depth of 5-10 cm in fertile loose loamy soil. Ornithogalum thyrsoides is grown mainly for its long-standing flowers in the cut. To approach the beginning of flowering (in early spring) of the Arabian bird's nest, it is planted in the fall in a pot, and then kept indoors. In autumn, bulbs of both types are removed from the ground and kept cool until spring. When growing in a pot, a substrate is used, which is a mixture of fertile land (50%) and neutral peat and sand (50%) with the addition of complex fertilizers. In spring, plants are fed once every 30-40 days - mineral fertilizer is added to the water for irrigation at the rate of 15 g per bucket. After when the leaves wither, watering and fertilizing are stopped.

Ornithogalum is grown in the fresh air: in the open ground in sunny places (mainly in flower beds) or in pots on balconies and terraces (mainly low-growing species). Pots with flowering plants can be brought into the house for a while and enjoy their flowering, after which it is preferable to return them to the air.

Bulbs are planted in spring or autumn to a depth of 5-10 cm in fertile loose loamy soil.

Ornithogalum thyrsoides is grown mainly for its long-standing flowers in the cut. To approach the beginning of flowering (in early spring) of the Arabian bird's nest, it is planted in the fall in a pot, and then kept indoors. In autumn, bulbs of both types are removed from the ground and kept cool until spring. When growing in a pot, a substrate is used, which is a mixture of fertile land (50%) and neutral peat and sand (50%) with the addition of complex fertilizers. In spring, plants are fed once every 30-40 days - mineral fertilizer is added to the water for irrigation at the rate of 15 g per bucket. After when the leaves wither, watering and fertilizing are stopped.

Location

All the described species grow well in the open sun, but you can also plant them in a semi-shaded place.

Temperature

Only relatively stable species (Arabica Ornithogalum and Thyrsus Ornithogalum) do not tolerate winter cold - frost can damage the bulbs.

Watering

In the spring, during the flowering of the drooping bird's-eye, Pyrenean bird's-eye and umbrella bird's-eye watering, as a rule, is limited. Ornithogalum arabicum and Ornithogalum thyrsoides, blooming in the summer, are limited watered during this period.

Transplant

Transplanted in the spring, once every 2-3 years, use the same substrate as before.

Care

Remove withered flowers and inflorescences.

Reproduction

Propagate by daughter bulbs and seeds. Sow in autumn or early spring in a closed, unheated room in the same soil as used for growing. After the shoots grow up, they are thinned out and transplanted into boxes, where they are kept for a year (in temperate climates). In warmer climates, you can plant immediately in the ground on flower beds or in pots. For reproduction, children are used, which are separated from the main bulb. They bloom faster than plants obtained from seeds.

Diseases

The appearance of spots on the leaves can be caused by various fungi. It is enough to remove the affected leaves. Mosaic is the result of viral diseases that are often spread with aphid bites. The result is twisting of leaves, deformation and discoloration of both leaves and flowers. The disease can only be prevented by treating it with anti-aphid drugs, but if the plant is affected, it can only be discarded.

Acquisition

Fresh seeds and bulbs are purchased at bulbous plant stores or gardening centers. Check for blackness and mildew.

Cut flowers last a long time Tall types of bird weed can be used for cutting, as they retain freshness for a long time (from 2 to 4 weeks). This mainly applies to the thyrsus-shaped Ornithogalum. It is best to cut the flowers when the lowest first buds in the inflorescence open. In addition to naturally colored Ornithogalum, you can also achieve unusual shades. A different color of flowers can be obtained by adding the desired paint to the water poured in the vase in which the cut flowers stand.

Cut flowers last a long time

Tall types of bird weed can be used for cutting, as they retain freshness for a long time (from 2 to 4 weeks). This mainly applies to the thyrsus-shaped Ornithogalum. It is best to cut the flowers when the lowest first buds in the inflorescence open. In addition to naturally colored Ornithogalum, you can also achieve unusual shades. A different color of flowers can be obtained by adding the desired paint to the water poured in the vase in which the cut flowers stand.