Hello I purchased two tiny pots of Ornithogalum plants (color bright orange)... the were quite healthy over the summer period. Kept indoors where there was indirect sunlight most of the day and direct sunlight atleast 3 hrs. By the end of the summer the plants began to dry up (not the earth) I continued to water them but they still became (dry) a Hay-like color. Upon attempting to cut them today, each plant effortlessly lifted from the earth. No roots came along with them. Is this a sign that they are dead or do I assume this is a dormant stage. Do I continue to water the pot during this stage. If its not too late, what can I do at this point in order to get the plants to bloom next summer season.... When are they expected to bloom, and what can I do the ensure this happens? Thanks in advance...
You might like to see these wonderful pics by Brian Johnson from Canada..... http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag...oscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/artfeb06/bj-ornitho.html
I have about half a dozen different Ornithogalum species in my collection. None of them bloom in the summer. At this time of year ~ which is late Summer in California ~ most bulbs are still entirely dormant and kept dry. We usually do not water until either a bloom or leaves start to appear. I suppose the exception would be Ornithogalum caudatum ~ the 'Pregnant Onion'. This species seems to easily adapt to a multitude of conditions, keeping foliage year-round and blooming at any time of year.
