Milk stars are bulbous plants that bloom from spring to fall. But if you plant the plant in your garden, you should not only consider the site conditions but also its toxicity. Although milk stars are easy to care for and undemanding, sensitivity is advisable when cultivating them.
What is a milk star and how do you care for it?
Milk star (Ornithogalum) is an onion plant that is easy to care for and undemanding, but poisonous to people and pets. The plant has grass-like leaves and white, star-shaped flowers arranged in racemose inflorescences. The flowering period extends from February to September and it can be grown outdoors and as a houseplant in temperate climates.
Origin
Milky stars belong to the genus Ornithogalum. Some species of onion plants with underground survival organs occur in Europe. Their distribution area extends into northern Africa. Milky stars are also found in the tropical regions of Africa and Asia. The species, which belong to the asparagus family, grow in meadows, on embankments and on moist soil in forests.
Interesting facts:
- Milk stars are known as gardener's fright
- Use in Bach flower medicine as a soul balm
- Ornithogalum means bird's milk
Bloom
Milk stars develop racemose inflorescences that are composed of at least two individual flowers. Each flower has membranous bracts at the base. The individual flowers are radially symmetrical and structured in threes. They have six flower bracts that are designed the same way. They shine in pure white and have a yellowish to green stripe on their underside. One species develops orange flowers.
The flowers open in direct sunlight. They are reminiscent of twinkling stars in the night sky, which gave the plants their German name. The flowering period for houseplants begins in February and extends into September. Outdoor plants bloom later. If you dig the bulbs out of the ground in the fall and put them in a pot, the plant will receive another stimulus for a growth spurt. The plants develop new flowers just in time for Christmas.
leaves
As monocots, milk stars develop grass-like leaves. They grow at the base and are elongated. There are species with smooth leaf edges and those in which the edges of the leaves are hairy. The leaves of all species appear fleshy. Some of the leaves have a silvery stripe.
Growth
Milky stars are geophytes that grow as perennial herbaceous plants. They develop bulbs that serve as survival organs. In autumn, the plants draw nutrients from the above-ground parts of the plant and store them in the bulb. The plants spend mild winters in the ground. They use the stored energy to germinate in the spring. Most milk stars reach heights of between 25 and 30 centimeters. Some species grow up to 40 centimeters or in some cases up to a meter high.
Usage
Milk stars can be planted outdoors or cultivated in pots. They are suitable for planting under light trees. When next to other onion plants, milk stars provide colorful accents in the spring bed. Hardy species look good in partially shaded rock gardens. The varieties of Ornithogalum thyrsoides are suitable as cut flowers.
The milk star is convincing here:
- in summer discounts
- on bed edges and lawn edges
- under woody arrangements
Is Milkstar poisonous?
All plant parts of milk stars contain cardenolides. The concentration is highest in the onions. These chemical compounds are among the steroids that have effects on the heart. Milk stars carry the chemically active substances in the organism in the form of glycosides. Consumption leads to stomach and intestinal problems, nausea and vomiting. Headaches may occur. High doses can lead to cardiac arrhythmias. The milky juice can cause irritation if it comes into contact with the skin. There is a high risk of poisoning in cats and dogs.read more
What soil does the plant need?
A loose substrate offers permeable conditions from which milk stars benefit. They prefer fresh soil because the onion plants react sensitively to conditions that are too wet. A high proportion of nitrogen ensures strong growth and high vitality. Standard soil that is tailored to the requirements of hyacinths is suitable for cultivating the plants. Mix the substrate with sand to improve the soil structure for the milk star. The onion plants tolerate calcareous conditions in the substrate, but they prefer an environment with little lime.
Suitable substrate:
- sandy, clayey and gravelly
- Mixture of potting soil with sand and pumice gravel
- Clay granules as an alternative to sand
- Cactus soil
Which location is suitable?
Milk stars prefer a warm location that can also be in the sun. They thrive ideally in partially shaded places. Temperatures between 15 and 20 degrees Celsius provide the onion plants with optimal growth conditions. Higher temperatures are not a problem for the herbaceous plants.
If you cultivate milk stars in a pot, a bright and warm place on the windowsill is ideal. You can also place the plant in the winter garden or grow it in a greenhouse. If you cultivate the milk stars as houseplants, direct sunlight should be avoided. During the summer months you can place the bucket in a sheltered and warm place outdoors.
What is the best time to plant?
If you want to plant frost-sensitive species, you should wait until spring. Late frosts can damage the bulbs. Repotting should also take place in spring. Hardy species can be planted out in autumn. If you want to sow seeds, you don't have to depend on the seasons as much. Sowing is possible in autumn or spring.
The correct planting distance
The minimum distance to the next planting partner should not be less than 15 centimeters. A planting distance of 20 centimeters is ideal. In cramped conditions there is a risk that the milk stars will not sprout. When planting the bulbs, pay attention to the depth of the soil. Milk star tubers should be inserted ten centimeters deep into the substrate.
Propagate milk star
Every two to three years you can divide clumps that have grown too densely and multiply them in this way. Dig up the bulbs completely after the flowers have wilted. With a sharp knife you can cut the bulbs into several small pieces and replant them.
Propagation using self-collected seeds is possible. The development of seeds requires successful fertilization by insects. Once the plant has finished flowering, remove the seeds from the flowers. Scatter the seeds on a moist and nutrient-poor substrate. Bird sand, pumice gravel or potting soil are ideal. Make sure that the seeds are not covered by the substrate.
The light germinators need a bright and warm location with temperatures of at least 20 degrees Celsius. Keep the substrate evenly moist by spraying. Germination begins after about two weeks.
Milk star in the pot
Milk stars are suitable for cultivation in buckets. The houseplants can be cared for in pots all year round so that the plants do not go into hibernation. When cultivating this way, please note that milk stars lose their vigor over time. Winter rest also serves for regeneration.
Potted plants need to be repotted regularly. This is the case when the soil's nutrients have been used up or the plant has developed daughter tubers. This measure takes place immediately after the rest period in spring. For potted plants that do not go into hibernation, repotting is done before flowering.
How to repot milk stars:
- Dig up the onions and remove all soil from them
- Separate or pinch off the onions with a sharp knife
- Place bulbs in fresh soil and cover lightly
Pouring milk star
You should not water the bulbs immediately after planting or repotting. Wait until the plant has sprouted before watering it for the first time. As soon as the first green shoots emerge from the soil, you can start watering. Once the plants have grown, they require moderate water during the growth phase.
Make sure that the substrate is evenly moist but not too wet. The water from spring and summer precipitation is usually sufficient to cover water needs. You should only water the onion plants additionally during long dry periods. Soak the soil extensively with water rather than adding small amounts of water multiple times. In autumn you can slowly reduce the watering.
Water potted plants when the substrate has dried to the surface. Make sure that no water remains in the coaster. Waterlogging causes the roots to rot. Houseplants need water even in winter. Onions that you overwinter in the cellar do not need to be watered.
Fertilize milk star properly
Milk stars have moderate nutritional requirements. They need nitrogen and enjoy fertilization outdoors, which is repeated every 14 days to four weeks. You can use this period as a guide, but you should pay attention to the soil condition when it comes to the frequency of fertilization. Nitrogen-based fertilizers are suitable as a source of nutrients when heavily diluted with water. A nitrogen concentration of 0.1 percent is ideal. Use fertilizer sparingly. In winter you do not need to fertilize the stored bulbs and potted plants.
Cut milk star correctly
In autumn you can cut back the leaves. As soon as the plant has completely died, you should remove the plant parts so that they do not rot on the bed. Cut the plant material close to the ground using sharp pruning shears. Alternatively, you can remove the yellow leaves from the base of the leaf with a gentle pull. With this method, the leaves should be completely wilted, otherwise you may damage the bulb.
Many species are suitable as cut plants. Cut the flower stems just before the flowers open and place the cut flowers in a vase.
How do I transplant correctly?
Milky stars grown in pots should be transplanted every spring. This measure improves the nutrient content of the soil and saves you from applying additional fertilizer throughout the year. Outdoor plants only need to be transplanted or thinned out if the stands become too dense.
Withered
When milk stars wither, the leaves slowly begin to wilt. The plant draws the excess energy from the above-ground parts of the plant and stores it in the bulb. Therefore, you should not cut back the plants immediately after flowering. There is a risk that the plants will not be able to store enough nutrients. They will lack these energy reserves next spring and will not be able to sprout.read more
Wintering
Most milk stars do not survive the frosty temperatures of the winter months in Central Europe unscathed. They are adapted to mild winter temperatures. Dig the bulbs out of the ground in autumn and store the bulbs in a dry and cool place in the basement. Temperatures of ten degrees Celsius are ideal. Dry conditions are necessary so that no rotting processes occur. If the air is too dry, you should carefully spray the bulbs with water to avoid drying out.
The dead plant parts can be cut off and composted. There are winter-hardy species that can also be left in the bed in winter. Make sure that the soil does not become waterlogged in winter. Moisture causes the bulbs to rot in the soil and no longer sprout the next spring.read more
Diseases
Milk stars are insensitive to diseases and pests. In the summer months, aphid infestations can occasionally occur. Removing the pests with a sharp jet of water has proven to be an effective control measure. Only incorrect care measures can affect its vitality. The most common problem is root rot, which occurs due to waterlogging.
Yellow leaves
In autumn, the leaves of the milk stars wilt, causing them to turn yellow. There is no need to worry at this time of year, because this process indicates the beginning of the dormant period. If the onion plants in the open field already have yellow leaves, root rot is a possible cause. Check the bulbs to rule out damage from waterlogging. Be careful with houseplants that suddenly turn yellow leaves. Here you should make sure that no water remains in the coaster.
Milk star doesn't bloom
Older milk stars become lazy after a few years in the field. They develop fewer flowers because the planting distance is reduced in wild-growing stocks. The plants need at least 20 centimeters from the next plant so that they can develop unhindered. Dig up the bulbs and place the bulbs further apart in the soil. Remove secondary bulbs as they further weaken the main bulb. As part of this care measure, you can remove dried leaves.
Tip
Milky stars bloom in their natural range from autumn to spring. In species cultivated outdoors, the flowering phase is postponed. It makes more sense to cultivate the milk star as a houseplant. In winter, a plant lamp (€39.00 on Amazon) is recommended to promote natural flowering times.
Varieties
- Ornithogalum montanum: Frost-hardy milk star with a large abundance of flowers. Growth height up to 20 centimeters.
- Ornithogalum umbellatum: Green leaves with white longitudinal stripes. Flowers white with green stripes. Flowering time between April and May.
- Ornithogalum nutans: White-silvery star flower. Flowering time between May and June. Single flowers with long stalks. Reminiscent of a miniature lily. Grows up to 40 centimeters high. Frostproof
- Ornithogalum arabicum: Flowers up to five centimeters large. Ovaries blue-violet. Recommended as a houseplant.
- Ornithogalum dubium: Blooms between June and August with orange flowers. Recommended as a houseplant.
- Ornithogalum saundersiae: flower stalks up to 100 centimeters long. Suitable for spring bouquets.
