- Plant squill properly
- care tips
- Which location is suitable?
- When is flowering time?
- Cut squill properly
- pour squill
- Fertilize squill properly
- hibernate
- breed squill
- Is squill poisonous?
- How to care for a Peruvian squill
- Beautiful varieties
With a dainty 10 cm growth height, the squill unfolds an amazing presence in the spring garden. If the graceful flower runs out of breath at the end of April, other Scilla species are on hand for an early summer bloom. The following answers to frequently asked questions provide more information about the multi-faceted onion plant.
The squill is a popular spring bloomer
Table of Contents
Show all- Plant squill properly
- care tips
- Which location is suitable?
- When is flowering time?
- Cut squill properly
- pour squill
- Fertilize squill properly
- hibernate
- breed squill
- Is squill poisonous?
- How to care for a Peruvian squill
- Beautiful varieties
- Dig several holes with a depth of 5-10 cm at a distance of 10 cm
- Insert an onion into each with the tip pointing upwards
- Fill in the excavation enriched with compost and horn shavings (32.93€) and press down
- Sunny, partially shaded to light shade under deciduous trees
- Nutrient-rich, humus-rich soil, fresh and moist to moderately dry
- Gladly sandy-loamy, with good water drainage
- Siberian Squill (Scilla sibirica): February to March
- Two-leaf Squill (Scilla bifolia): March to April
- Bell Squill (Scilla campanulata): April to May
- Bluebells (Scilla non-scripta): May to June
- Rosea: Historical squill with soft pink flowers and robust winter hardiness; thrives in sunny to shady locations
- Alba: Siberian scilla with pure white bell flowers in March and April that harmonize beautifully with snowdrops
- Peruvian squill: Mediterranean szilla with blue flowers from May to June and a growth height of 30-40 cm; not hardy
- Spring Beauty: Gentian blue Scilla sibirica, stretching up to 15 cm skyward in April; robust and hardy plant
- Atrocoerulia: A rarity among the Szilla varieties with black-blue flowers from March to April on stems up to 20 cm high
Plant squill properly
As a typical onion flower, the planting of squills - in contrast to classic perennials - follows special guidelines. The autumn planting season has no sensible alternatives, while container plants can be planted in the ground almost all year round. However, the planting technique as such is extremely simple. How to do it right:
If voracious voles are cavorting in your garden, first put a vole basket in the ground and then plant the squills in it.
care tips
Experience has shown that when the flower thrives outdoors, Mother Nature takes over Scilla's water supply. Only if there is no rain should you water squill regularly. The supply of nutrients in the bed is limited to the one-time addition of compost, horn shavings, guano (€121.99) or bark humus. Pruning is also an important criterion for professional care. The first step is to cut off the withered inflorescences. As a result, give the plant enough time to draw in the remaining nutrients from the foliage. Cut off the yellowed leaves close to the ground. Please consider the slight poison content of Szilla for all maintenance work and wear gloves.
Which location is suitable?
It is primarily the two-leaf squills that radiate their floral charm in early spring. There are a wide range of suitable site conditions:
The flowering dwarfs are therefore perfect for naturalizing in the lawn or as part of a flower meadow. Wherever the soil is not extremely acidic or excessively alkaline, Szilla show what floral power they have.
When is flowering time?
The versatile Szilla genus presents us with these flowering times:
The Peruvian squill (Scilla peruviana), which - depending on the location and care - presents its flower clusters between November and February, provides a cheerful splash of color on the wintry windowsill.
Cut squill properly
Regardless of the flowering season, the proper pruning of squills follows the same pattern. The withered inflorescences are cut off promptly to just above the leaves. On the one hand, this measure prevents undesired self-seeding. On the other hand, the flower does not invest unnecessary energy in the growth of the capsule fruits. The green leaves remain on the plant until they have completely yellowed. During this time, the onion stores all the remaining nutrients in order to create a depot for the next flowering period.
pour squill
A two-part water balance has to be taken into account on Szilla. During flowering, water the flower moderately to avoid drought stress. If the flowering is coming to an end, gradually reduce the amount of water with the aim of a dry winter or summer.
Fertilize squill properly
In the bed, Scilla are happy to accept compost fertilization in connection with planting in autumn. Hardy squills also receive a layer of compost as a nutritious winter protection. A Szilla in a pot is repotted after its individual growth dormancy so that the flower receives sufficient nutrients from the fresh substrate. If you cultivate squills in balcony boxes, we recommend a liquid fertilizer every 14 days until the end of the flowering period.
hibernate
Most squills are completely hardy. Freshly planted in autumn, we still recommend a protective cover with leaves or compost in the first winter. The protective layer is removed by the beginning of February at the latest so as not to impede budding. The onion plant could freeze through in the pot and balcony box. Therefore, if it is freezing, wrap jute ribbons or bubble wrap around the container and place it on wood in front of the south wall of the house. The few Scilla species that are not frost-resistant, such as the Peruvian squill, overwinter at 10-20 degrees Celsius on the partially shaded windowsill.
breed squill
For the offspring of further Szilla, the flower provides the suitable plant material by producing spawning bulbs. If you dig up the bulb of a well-established plant, the small daughter bulbs can be seen at the base. Cut them off with a sharp, disinfected knife and plant them a maximum of 8-10 cm deep in the new location or in the flower box (€16.99).
Is squill poisonous?
Regardless of their different flowering times and growth characteristics, all Szilla species and cultivars are to be treated as poisonous plants. This is due to the saponins it contains, which can cause inflammation when it comes into contact with the skin. If the onions are eaten intentionally or unintentionally, unpleasant symptoms of poisoning are the result, such as nausea, vomiting and cardiac arrhythmia.
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How to care for a Peruvian squill
Since a Peruvian squill lacks any winter hardiness, we recommend cultivating in a pot as a winter-flowering houseplant. Use cactus soil or potting soil thinned with sand as a substrate, which is filled over a drainage made of potsherds. During flowering, water regularly without causing waterlogging. Do not cut off the leaves that are drawn in as a result until they have completely yellowed. This Scilla likes to rest throughout the summer and is watered a little every 3-4 weeks until September. If the plant sprout again in autumn, repot into fresh substrate. In this case, there is no need to add fertilizer. From October to February place the Szilla peruviana on the partially shaded windowsill at 12 to 20 degrees Celsius and enjoy the colorful flowers during the dark season.