- origin
- growth
- leaves
- blossom
- heyday
- fruit
- use
- Is squill poisonous?
- Which location is suitable?
- What soil does the plant need?
- multiply squills
- The right planting distance
- sowing
- Pour squills
- Fertilize squills properly
- Cut squills correctly
- How do I plant correctly?
- hardy
- pests
- fungus
- sorts
Squills, sometimes called squills, are decorative spring bloomers that, under the right conditions, are hardy and easy to care for. The location is of great importance so that the bulbous plants shine in all their glory. If the conditions are not right, the plants grow poorly.
The squill is at home all over Europe
Table of Contents
Show all- origin
- growth
- leaves
- blossom
- heyday
- fruit
- use
- Is squill poisonous?
- Which location is suitable?
- What soil does the plant need?
- multiply squills
- The right planting distance
- sowing
- Pour squills
- Fertilize squills properly
- Cut squills correctly
- How do I plant correctly?
- hardy
- pests
- fungus
- sorts
- Siberian Squill: Turkey, Caucasus, central Russia
- Mishchenko squill: Iran, Transcaucasia
- Cyclamen Squill: Turkey, Transcaucasia
- cardiac arrhythmias
- nausea and diarrhea
- irritated and burning mucous membranes in the mouth and throat
- Temperature between 23 and 26 degrees Celsius
- partially shaded window seat
- even humidity
- Alba: Two-petalled squill with pure white flowers in March. Reaches growth heights of up to ten centimetres.
- rosea: Two-petalled squill, flowers in March in soft pink with a light center. Up to ten centimeters high.
- spring beauty: Blue flowers with white markings, flowering time between March and April. Grows between 15 and 20 centimeters high.
origin
Squills belong to the genus Scilla within the asparagus family. The genus can be defined in the narrower or broader sense. Some botanists also place closely related species such as the Spanish bluebell (Hyacinthoides hispanica) or the Siberian squill (Othocallis siberica) in the genus Scilla. Therefore, depending on the source, there are between 30 and 90 species of squill. The reasons for these different views are the external similarity of the plants and their shared habitat requirements.
Its distribution area stretches across Europe to large parts of Asia. There are isolated habitats where squills grow on the African continent. The two-leaved squill (Scilla bifolia) is a popular ornamental plant for gardens and parks. The species originally comes from warmer regions such as France, Spain and Italy. There are other areas of the species in southern and central Germany, where the squill inhabits forests and meadows.
Other ornamental plants and their distribution:
growth
Squills grow as perennial and herbaceous plants. As so-called geophytes, Scilla species develop an underground bulb with which they survive the winter. Up to five shoots sprout from the tuber in spring. Squills grow between ten and fifty centimeters high. As soon as the seeds have matured, the parts of the plant above the ground die off. The plant stores the excess energy in the bulb so that it can sprout again next spring.
leaves
When spring temperatures soar into the double digits, squills show their leaves. These sit in a basal leaf rosette and appear shiny green.
blossom
Squills develop racemose inflorescences that stand at the end of an erect or rarely curved stalk. They are one to many-flowered. Some Scilla species bear nodding flowers. All flowers consist of six similar bracts, regardless of the species. They can stand alone or be fused together at the bottom. There are flat-spreading petals or curled back at the tip.
heyday
Many squills are spring bloomers, blooming between February and April. This group includes all species that are cultivated as ornamental plants such as the two-leaved squill. There are some species that bloom throughout the summer through September. Scilla species shine in a wide variety of shades of blue, some of which have purple nuances. Some varieties develop white petals.
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fruit
After successful fertilization, Scilla species develop capsule fruits. When the fruits are ripe, the stalks bend towards the ground and the soft capsule opens at the preformed lobes. A fruit contains between three and 30 seeds. They fall out of the capsule when the stems are moved in the wind.
use
Squills adorn partially shaded spring beds. They can be planted under deciduous trees, where they will multiply over the next few years with the help of the bulbs. They fit perfectly into natural wild gardens, but the squill also provides decorative accents on an open lawn. If not disturbed, the squill transforms the lawn into a sea of blue colors.
In group plantings with other bulbous plants, Scilla species create a harmonious impression. They thrive splendidly between snowdrops, winterlings or crocuses. In pots and balcony boxes (€109.00) the squill develops into a bright spring decoration. In combination with yellow or white flowering crocuses and small daffodils, a spring-like atmosphere is created.
Is squill poisonous?
Squills are poisonous in all parts of the plant. They contain saponins and glycosides, which have a negative effect on heart activity. The concentration is particularly high in onions and seeds. The transparent sap may irritate those with sensitive skin.
Possible symptoms:
Which location is suitable?
Scilla species prefer a partially shaded location. They thrive in sunny locations when the soil is moist enough. A location under sparse shrubs and trees is ideal.
What soil does the plant need?
Squills grow on nutrient-rich and humus-rich soil that offers fresh to moist conditions. The roots do not tolerate waterlogging, so the substrate should ensure high permeability. If the substrate is loose and moist, squills can adapt to different living areas. In the event of a drought, the early bloomers quickly stop growing. They grow in normal garden soil. Sandy-loamy soils are ideal.
multiply squills
Squills can be propagated by dividing the bulbs. This measure takes place after the flowering period, when the above-ground parts of the plant have died. Early flowering ornamental plants are divided in June. Dig the onion out of the ground and separate the small sprouts from the main bulb. The bulbs are stored in a dark and dry place until autumn. They can then be planted outdoors or grown in a pot.
pot culture
Place the tubers in a permeable and nutrient-rich substrate that is kept constantly moist. For the next ten to twelve weeks, the planter needs to be placed in a dark place to allow enough roots to develop. When the first leaves appear, the young plant can be accustomed to the light. Squills are grown in pots as an annual and then planted outdoors so that they can develop their full potential. If fresh onions have developed, they can be cultivated again in the pot.
outdoor planting
From August to mid-October, the onions can be placed directly in the bed. Dig small planting holes four inches deep and place the tubers in the hole with the tip up. Fill this up with soil and gently press down on the substrate. The substrate is moistened and covered with a layer of mulch.
The right planting distance
Squills unfold their full effect in small groups. They are placed at a distance of ten centimeters from each other. You can plant the bulbs in rows and combine them with other early bloomers so that the bed shines in different colors over and over again. Ideal plant partners are cowslips or larkspur.
sowing
Pure wild species can easily be propagated from seeds. To do this, cut off the stalks with closed capsule fruits and store them in a dry place. Once the pods have burst open, you can collect the seeds. Use a mixture of peat and sand, perlite or expanded clay.(19.73€) Alternatively, you can use coco coir. Scatter the seeds thinly on the substrate and cover the grains with some sand.
Conditions for germination:
Pour squills
The soil should be moist during the growth phase. Usually no watering is necessary in spring. With high temperatures and a lack of precipitation, bulbous plants should be watered occasionally. Potted plants need more attention so that the substrate does not dry out. If you put the pot outside in spring, spring rainfall will ensure adequate watering.
Fertilize squills properly
An additional nutrient supply is not necessary on a balanced subsoil with loam and sand. If you mix some compost under the substrate shortly before sprouting in spring, it will not harm the plant.
Cut squills correctly
Cutting measures are not necessary. After the flowering period, the wilting leaves should not be cut off, otherwise the plant cannot store enough nutrients in the bulb. As soon as the above-ground parts of the plant have died, they can be cut off close to the ground. If you don't grab the scissors, soil organisms will break down the material and provide a natural supply of nutrients.
How do I plant correctly?
Squills are transplanted as part of the division. By releasing the bulbs, you rejuvenate the plants at the same time. Divide potted plants in the fall and transplant the bulbs back into a container that is kept dark over the winter. The main bulb is planted in open ground.
hardy
Scilla species prove to be fully hardy. They do not need winter protection. In months with little snow and very cold temperatures, you can spread a layer of fir twigs, bark mulch, leaves or straw on the bed. The material has an insulating effect and ensures that the earth does not freeze. In the spring, the mulch layer is removed just before the shoots sprout.
pests
Occasionally, squills are attacked by leaflets. The nematodes nest in the leaf veins and leave behind glassy spots that later turn brown. Moist conditions favor the spread of the nematodes. If the plant is slightly affected, cut off the affected leaves. In the case of a severe pest infestation, you should remove the entire plant.
fungus
If the site is too wet, the bulbs will begin to rot. The soil often becomes waterlogged in winter, so that the plants no longer sprout in the following spring. Under these conditions, fungal spores can spread, further accelerating the rotting processes. Preventive measures such as loosening the soil with sand are the most effective measures. If the bulbs have rotted, they should be removed and the substrate replaced.
tips
The blue flowers look particularly beautiful between yellow star, wood anemone or winter iris. All you have to do is let the plant take care of itself. With a little patience, you can enjoy a bright carpet of flowers that is becoming more and more beautiful.