Content
Indian onions are grown in apartments and in private plots. The flower has decorative properties, and the juice from its shoots is an effective external remedy.
Description
Indian onion is a perennial indoor flower, a representative of the Asparagus family. The name is associated with the similarity of the burning sap of the flower with Indian spices. The plant is also known as poultry, ornithogalum, Chinese, Mongolian and sea onions.
In nature, the flower is common in the subtropics and temperate zones of the Mediterranean, Asia, Africa, America.
The plant reaches a height of 30-80 cm. The bulb is ovoid, 8-9 cm in size, covered with dense scales up to 5 cm in size. Leaves are basal, linear. There is a whitish vein in the middle of the leaf plate.
The flowers are yellowish or white, odorless, collected in corymbose or racemose inflorescences. After flowering, the fruit is formed in the form of a box with seeds.
Indian onions are grown in greenhouses, residential and public buildings. The flower does not need special care, but it grows more intensively in good sunlight. In summer, the plant can be transplanted into open ground.
In folk medicine, the plant is used externally. It is added to ointments, water and alcohol tinctures.
The plant has disinfecting properties, reduces inflammation and relieves pain. Funds based on it help with fractures, hematomas, radiculitis, osteochondrosis, varicose veins, accelerate tissue regeneration, relieve itching.
Photo of Indian onion:
It is best to consult your doctor before using Indian onions. Individual intolerance to the sap of the plant is often observed. When working with a flower, you need to protect the skin from the effects of its juice. When interacting with poisonous parts of the plant, rinse the contact points with water.
Reproduction methods
Indian onions are propagated by children or seeds. Small bulbs appear on an adult plant. They develop rapidly and separate from the main bulb. The babies release their own roots and take root in the soil.
Young bulbs are carefully detached from the mother plant. They are planted in the ground or stored in a dry place. Children are placed in a container, peat is poured and good ventilation is provided. Under these conditions, the bulb remains viable for 2 years. The planting material tolerates transportation well.
To obtain planting material, the inflorescences are manually pollinated. If the flower is in the open field, then pollination is done by insects. The seeds are harvested in the fall and stored until spring. To accelerate germination, the seeds are kept in the refrigerator for 4-5 months.
In the spring, fertile soil is prepared and seeds are planted to a depth of 1.5 cm. A layer of earth is poured on top and the plantings are abundantly watered.
The germination period of a flower from seeds is up to 8 months. The containers are stored in a warm, ventilated place, the soil is regularly moistened. When the seedlings have 3-4 leaves, they are seated in separate containers.
After the formation of the bulb, the plant begins to develop intensively. The bulb is not buried; it is partially left above the soil surface.
Growing at home
Indian onions are adapted to indoor conditions. Flower care is simple and involves a minimum of operations.The plant needs moderate watering, reacts well to feeding, withstands transplanting.
Soil preparation
A substrate is prepared for planting. To do this, mix river sand, leaf and sod land in a ratio of 2: 1: 1. Instead of sod soil, it is allowed to use humus.
The plant is transplanted into a clay or ceramic pot. Such containers are quite heavy and do not tip over under a powerful plant. The walls of the pots allow air to pass through well, and excess moisture evaporates faster.
In addition to the holes in the pot itself, a drainage layer must be provided. Expanded clay or brick fragments are used as drainage. They are placed on the bottom of the container.
Care scheme
When grown at home, Indian onions need regular watering. Moisture is added after the top soil layer has dried. In July, after the leaves fall, the watering intensity is reduced. Plants tolerate drought for a period of 2-3 months.
The flower prefers bright lighting. At home, the flower is determined by the south, west or east window.
The flower tolerates heat better than cold snaps. Indoor conditions are comfortable for the plant. It is important not to allow the temperature to drop below +12 ° C. The plant is not left in a draft or cold windowsill.
If the air in the apartment is dry, the shoots of the flower turn yellow. The plant is sprayed with warm water from a spray bottle. The air humidity must be increased in summer, as well as in winter in a heated room.
Spraying is performed in the early morning. If the drops remain on the leaves, then the plant will burn when exposed to sunlight.
The root system needs access to oxygen. The soil in the pot is loosened regularly. It is best to do loosening after watering. Dust is removed from the leaves of the flower to improve the process of photosynthesis.
Since the plant bulb is actively developing, it needs a constant supply of nutrients. The soil does not contain all micro- and macroelements, so their lack is compensated for by top dressing.
Types of fertilizers for growing Indian onions at home:
- complex fertilizer for indoor plants;
- infusion of wood water containing 1 tbsp. l. substances per 1 liter of water;
- mullein solution in a ratio of 1:15;
- a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
Top dressing is carried out from March to August. During this period, the plant grows green mass and releases inflorescences. The solutions are applied once a month by watering in the morning or evening. It is best to alternate the use of organic matter with mineral supplements.
Transfer
Every 2 years, you need to change the soil and container in which the Indian onion grows. Over time, the plant increases the root system and the aerial part, so it is transplanted into a larger pot.
A drainage layer of expanded clay is placed at the bottom of the container, then prepared soil is poured. For transplantation, they take soil of a similar composition, as in the reproduction of a flower.
The bulb is half buried in the soil, the rest should rise above the ground. The plant is watered abundantly.
Outdoor cultivation
In warm climates, if the air temperature does not drop below +12 ° C, Indian onions are planted in an open area.
The flower is grown in a garden bed, illuminated by the sun. The plant feels good in partial shade under shrubs or trees, it is planted in neutral soil, humus or compost is added. During the season, the flower is watered moderately.
In the open field, more babies appear on the bulb for reproduction. Abundant and long-lasting flowering is also observed.
In the fall, the flower is dug up and stored in room conditions. In winter, it is grown as a houseplant, periodically watered and protected from the effects of cold air.
The plant can be provided with a dormant period. Then it is stored in a dark place, periodically the soil is sprayed. After transplanting into the ground in the spring, care for the flower is resumed. The flower is watered abundantly, which stimulates its awakening.
Photo of Indian onion growing in the open air:
Conclusion
Indian onion is an unpretentious plant with beneficial properties. Shoots and bulbs are only suitable for external use, their juice is poisonous. When growing, special attention is paid to watering and feeding. The flower is grown at home; in warm climates, planting in the ground is allowed.
