Star flower is partially hardy
In their natural habitat, star flowers have not learned to brave freezing temperatures. If the thermometer in the winter garden falls below freezing point every year, the tuber cannot survive in the ground. Even in mild winter regions, the planting site should be piled thick with leaves and brushwood before the cold season so that the onion sprouts again in the next spring.
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Tips for an undamaged winter storage
So that the star flower repeats its magic bloom in the bed next summer, we recommend these measures for a healthy wintering:
- From July onwards, stop fertilizing and reduce the amount of irrigation water
- In autumn use the digging fork to pull the bulbs out of the ground
- Cut off the dead flower stalks
- Tap off the earth or wipe it with a brush, but do not wash it because of the risk of rot
Let the tubers air dry for a few more days. Only then are they put into a cool, dark room. The star flower bulbs are stored in a dry place on a wire rack or in sand at temperatures between 5 and 8 degrees Celsius. It is an advantage if you turn the tubers every now and then to check them for rot and pests at the same time.
Also put in the pot
Cultivated in pots and balcony boxes, star flowers are not protected from frost damage. If there is enough space available, the onions can be stored together with the container. Cut the dead stems down to the bottom. The plants overwinter frost-free and dark in the dry substrate.
Tips
Due to the low tolerance to frost, the planting time for star flower bulbs begins in April at the earliest. Place the tubers in the sunny, warm location 5 to 10 cm deep in the well-drained soil. Arranged in small tuffs at a distance of 5 cm, the graceful flowers impressively set the scene. Care is limited to regular watering, fertilizing and cleaning out withered flower heads.
