Forum home› Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

ground or container?

B3B3 Posts: 27,505
in Plants
I bought some ornithogalum saundersiae (excuse spelling - it's a hard one!) in a pound shop - for a pound.
The bulbs have sprouted and I haven't a clue what to do with them.  
Would they be better in the ground or in a container.  It seems that they grow awful big!


They haven't been outside yet.
In London. Keen but lazy.

Posts

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    This may help you, seems it’s the ground. I don’t know how they overwinter in this country.

    Plant giant chincherinchee bulbs in well-drained normal to sandy soil that gets full to partial sun. For the best display, arrange bulbs in groupings of 20 or more, spacing them 3 to 5 inches apart.

    2

    Soak the plants thoroughly with water once a week during the summer growing season whenever rainfall is less than 1 inch a week. Decrease watering after flowers and leaves begin to die. Cease watering while the plant is dormant in winter.

    3

    Fertilize with a 10-10-10 granular fertilizer once in early spring after the initial growing season, following the manufacturer’s application instructions.

    Things You Will Need

    • Hose
    • 10-10-10 granular fertilizer

    Warning

    • Giant chincherinchee bulbs are extremely poisonous. Keep them away from children and pets.
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    edited June 2019
    I don't intend to eat it - so that's oK😉
    I have two bulbs and a late developer -not 20
    It sounds like they don't need too much water.
    They look soft, fleshy and toothsome for slugs
    Any information I managed to get seemed to be from hotter climates too.
    I think I might keep them in a container. I'll let them out now as danger of frost has passed.
    I can't see them surviving outside through the winter though
    Thanks @Lyn
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 7,093
    Have you watched this week's GW, @B3? The bulb man on there explained what to do with one of these  :) I only noticed because the idea of a plant called chimchiminy chimchimcheree stuck in my hind brain
    Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon

    “It's still magic even if you know how it's done.” 
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Thanks @raisingirl. I'll watch it😊
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    @raisingirl. I've watched it and now I know what to do. I would've kept the bulb in the shed over winter if I hadn't seen it. It was just by chance I kept it in the house before planting! Thanks so much😊
    In London. Keen but lazy.
Sign In or Register to comment.