Admittedly: ornamental garlic is usually planted in the garden in beds, in borders and along path edges. But if you don't have your own garden, you don't necessarily have to remain abstinent. This plant can also be cultivated in a pot, for example on the balcony at home.
Can you grow ornamental garlic in a pot?
Ornamental leeks can be grown in a pot, especially small varieties such as dwarf, purple, garnet ball, star ball, blue and Naples leeks. Choose a sunny to partially shaded location and a pot at least 25 cm deep with well-drained, nutrient-rich soil. Overwinter the pot in a frost-free, cool place.
Varieties that are mainly suitable
Not all varieties of ornamental garlic are suitable for pot cultivation. The giant ornamental onion, for example, is rather unsuitable due to its growth height of up to 2 m. It does best outdoors. However, you can use all small-growing varieties for pot cultivation.
These include, among others, these:
- Dwarf ornamental onion: 20 to 30 cm high
- Purple ornamental onion: maximum height of 80 cm
- Garnet ball garlic: 50 cm high
- Star ball garlic: 60 cm high
- Blue leek: 40 cm high
- Naples leek: 40 cm high
Which location is suitable for this potted plant?
An ornamental onion in a pot wants lots of sunshine. Its location should therefore be sunny to partially shaded. East and west locations are well suited. A location on a south-facing balcony is less suitable. It should be ensured that the soil of this plant does not dry out.
But it's not just on the balcony that a suitable location for the ornamental onion in a pot or bucket can be found. Also suitable are:
- Terraces
- Roof terraces
- House entrances
- Stair landings (outdoor area)
Find and fill a suitable pot
Whether clay or plastic pots or even stone pots – choose the vessel that you like! Depending on the variety, it should be at least 25 cm deep and 20 cm wide.
Conventional potting soil is sufficient for filling (€10.00 at Amazon). It is important that the substrate is permeable and nutrient-rich. If it is too compact, loosen it up with a little sand. Alternatively, you can add a drainage layer of pebbles.
Overwinter the ornamental onion in the pot
If the ornamental garlic in the pot were left outside in winter, it would freeze. If you want to continue cultivating it, you should overwinter it. It is best to remove the above-ground parts of the plant in autumn and place the pot in a frost-free but cool place.
Tip
So that the ornamental onion blooms every year and remains he althy, it must be fertilized at 2-week intervals from April to July.
