Caring for the Scilla, a bulbous flower ideal for patios and terraces

Scilla are bulbous plants

Our Scylla They are generally small plants, with few leaves but with very brightly colored flowers. They are the typical ones that you can plant in pots and use them to decorate the tables on the terrace or patio.

If we talk about its maintenance it is so easy that you may not believe it , but let me tell you that I am convinced that you will be surprised.

Origin and characteristics of the Scilla

Scilla are bulbous

Image – Flickr / carmona rodriguez.cc

Scilla, or squill, are herbaceous, perennial and bulbous plants native to Eurasia and Africa with a height of about 30 centimeters. Its leaves are grouped forming a basal rosette, and are green. The inflorescences or groups of flowers are terminal racemes, which means that after the petals wither, the flower stalk dies.

The flowers are small, about one centimeter, lilac, blue or white.. The fruit is a capsule with a triangular shape that contains the seeds.

Main species

The genus is made up of about 90 species, the following being the most popular:

Scilla lily-blue

Scilla lily-blue is a lovely plant

Image – Wikimedia Commons / Jean-Louis VENET

Known as stellate hyacinth or Pyrenean squill, it is a bulbous native to southwestern Europe. Its bulb is yellow, and the flowers are grouped in bluish clusters.

Peruvian scilla

View of the Scilla peruviana

Image – Flickr / cultivar413

Known as Portuguese shearing, crown flower, Portuguese hyacinth, Peruvian hyacinth, Cuban lily or Sevillian mosquera, it is a plant native to the Mediterranean, found in North Africa, Spain and Italy. The bulb is white with brown spots, and its flowers are blue.

Peruvian scilla

Related article:

Pineapple flower, a very easy plant to care for

What are the care they require?

If you dare to have a copy, we recommend providing the following care:

Location

They are plants that generally grow in mountain forests, in the shade of others larger than them. So if we take this into account, it is important that they be placed abroadin a corner protected from direct sun.

Earth

  • the garden: the land has to be fertile and with good drainage. In the case that it is very compact, make a hole of about 50cm x 50cm, and fill it with universal substrate mixed with perlite in equal parts. You can even plant your specimen in a large pot, about 20cm in diameter, and insert it into the hole.
  • Flower pot: you can fill it with universal substrate without problems, although it is highly advisable to put a first layer of clay or volcanic clay so that the water that is left when watering comes out more quickly.

Irrigation

The frequency of irrigation will vary greatly throughout the year. Thus, in summer it will be necessary to water much more often than in winter, since the soil loses its moisture faster. But to prevent the roots from rotting it is necessary to water when it touches, that is, an average of about 3 times a week during the hottest season, and an average of 1-2 a week the rest.

Use whenever possible rainwater or without too much lime.

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It is highly, highly recommended to fertilize the Scilla with a fertilizer for flowering plants (for sale here!) throughout the flowering season.

Of course, follow the instructions specified on the product packaging to the letter, otherwise the roots could burn and you would lose the plant.

Multiplication

View of the Scilla autumnalis

Image – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Scilla multiply by seeds or by the separation of bulbs in spring following this step by step:

Seeds

To get an interesting number of copies It is advisable to sow the seeds in seedling trays with substrate for seedlings (on sale here!), placing a maximum of 2 units in each socket and covering them with a very thin layer of substrate.

Then you just have to water and place the seedbed outside, in semi-shade. Keep the substrate moist (but not watery) and you will see that they will germinate in about 10 days.

Bulbs

Bulbous plants during flowering and shortly thereafter usually produce new bulbs that sprout from the large bulbs. When these ‘little ones’ reach a size of at least 1-2cm, can be separated and planted in individual potsburying them a little (no more than 4cm if they are 2cm high) and placing them outside, in semi-shade.

When it is their turn to sprout, which in the case of the Scilla is in spring, they will .

Planting or transplanting time

In spring. If you live in a mild climate, where there may be frosts but they are rather weak (down to -5ºC), if you prefer, you can plant the bulbs in mid-autumn.

Rusticity

Scilla withstand frosts of up to -7ºC.

What uses are they given?

Scilla flowers are blue

Image – Flickr / jacinta lluch valero

They are only ornamental. They are relatively small plants, which combine very well with other bulbous plants of similar size and which, in addition, are not difficult to care for.

As if that were not enough, they resist the cold and some frosts, so that their cultivation outdoors in many regions with a temperate climate is very interesting.

Enjoy it .

Caring for the Scilla, a bulbous flower ideal for patios and terraces

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