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New here - asking about my 'pregnant onion' plants

16 years ago

I dared to step foot in this forum because houseplants FEAR me . When I Walk through a plant section in a store - if you listen hard - you can hear teeny tiny little voices crying out in terror - "Don't buy me !" LOL Now you know about my "black thumb" . I do have a plant that I love - it thrives on Neglect. ( my kinda plant ) My Pregnant onions. I have never seen these in WI ... so a couple very nice internet friends sent me some . Some from CA & some from NY. I had them in the house for 2 years now ... I set them outside this summer and they multiplied faster than rabbits ! Uh-ohhh ...I don't have any room in the house for all of them !!! Will they survive in the basement in low light ? I can't part with them . Any and ALL suggestions would be much appreciated .

Thank you so much !

Kathy ~ the green thumb wanna be..

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Comments (6)

lucy
16 years ago
No low light for them or you'll end up with none.
birdsnblooms
16 years ago
Toom, how many PO's do you have? Are you growing several pots? One thing you can do regarding space is, pot all PO's in one big not huge pot..Then either hang or set plant on its own shelf as a centerpiece, (as long as it gets light) I prefer a fuller, compact look to skimpy.

Toom, don't fear plants..If you'd like to grow various tropicals, start w/something simple, and there's many to choose from. This way, instead of hearing plants in store pleading with you not to take them home, they'll instead say, take me, take me..LOL.
If you've good sun light, start w/cactus/succulents..They're easy to care for..and only ask for light and little water. But don't scare away from something as wonderful as growing plants..Toni
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Hi there Hajir: Sorry for the continuous postings! According to my computer, I was unable to submit and none of my answers posted. I was about to cut and paste under a new posting when I saw, after over an hour that they all went through??????? If you mean the skin over the bulb where the leaf comes up, then yes, that sometimes happens. The bulbs can peel just like regular onions. Though usually when the baby bulbs have formed and are ready to fall out. The leaves themselves can grow more than one leaf on a bulb. Sometimes it looks thin and round. As it grows longer, the leaves unfold to become two separate leaves. Is that what it looks like? On some bulbs, the leaves look round, though on other bulbs the leaves look flat. When young, some always look like thin grass for awhile. Did you feel the bulbs to make sure they are still firm? Since you just watered, keep a close watch to be sure they don't start rotting (bulbs getting soft). If you think they are, take the bulbs from the pot and let them dry put for a day. Then re-plant in fresh dry, Very well draining soil. Wait a few days before watering. If the new soil is moist, wait until it dries out before watering again. If the bulbs are still nice and firm, then just keep a watch on them. Better to under water than over water. Pregnant onions can go for a bit while dry because they store water in the bulb. Some others may have more to add that may be helpful. Good Luck!
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I have been growing this plant for years. I first saw this plant in a computer store. The lady gave me 3 babies from it, and told me how to start them. She said use a small plastic container that has a lid. Place the babies between two paper towels, place the babies in the container, and wet the paper towels, and cover with the lid. Check the babies every couple days, and add water to the paper towels, don't drown them with water, just make sure the paper towels stay moist. I can't remember how long it takes, but the babies will start to get little sprouts at one end, let them get pretty good sprouts, then pot them in a pot with good drainage holes with good potting soil, I use Miracle Grow Potting Soil. My plants have always been in a very sunny location. When we moved from Illinois to Florida, I gave all my plants away, I kept a couple babies from my onion plant so I could start another plant, the picture is from the babies that I kept, it really needs to be put in a larger pot" need to get that done"This plant sets on the back patio with my other plants gets the hot afternoon sun for about 5-6 hours. I turn it every day, it has two flower shots coming out right now. These plants are poisonous. I cut off a bad stem that was breaking off, I turned the plant and felt some sticky stuff on my neck which caused a burning on my neck and turned my neck red, lasted for several minutes. The flower that comes out from the shoot is the most poison part of this plant. Be careful if you have small children or pets, because both the long stem that hangs down and the flowers on the shoot can make them sick. I always watch the flower, once I see that it is almost finished blooming and before the little petals start dropping off, I cut the flower off, I don't want out little dog to accidentally eat one. I hope I was of some help to someone. If someone would like to grow this plant, I would be happy to send you some babies. Have a great day. Judy gj459@yahoo.com
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toomuchglass
Original Author
16 years ago
That's a great idea Toni - I Have a whole bunch of little pots with about 25 of the starters in them at every stage & size. For winter - it would work alot better to consolidate them. This house has terrible natural lighting .... but where ther's a will - there's a way ! Thanks again for the advice :)
micke
16 years ago
If you have a problem with lighting, think about hanging baskets, that way you can hang them right in front of a window, I love hanging baskets for the simple fact that they take up no floor space (and I need all the help I can get in that area) Or even a tall plant stand that they all can sit on, yet take up no space horizontally.
toomuchglass
Original Author
16 years ago
Boy --- the great suggestions here got me thinking ...
I have my " honey - do " list all planned now ! I want a long shelf,that spans the 3 windows in the dining room ....
( about 8' long ) ...AND hanging hooks . We have old double hung windows . IF the shelf is right in the middle - I can use plants instead of mini-blinds ! I'm so glad I dared to enter this forum ! LOL You gals really got my brain a clickin' !!! High 5-ing everyone !!
Mentha
16 years ago
P/O's love to be pot bound, so I'll agree one large pot would work for all your babies. If you still have too many you can always trade them or offer them for postage. I for one would love to get some fair (1-2 in) sized babies. My great grand aunt had one she kept on her service porch for many years and never did anything with it, but water it maybe once a month. She also have MOT that was well over 4 ft tall! Never could grow anything but those two and an old epiphyllum.

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