I have a sea onion (outside in summer, Zone 8, and inside if below 45) that was given to me in 1990 and I'm afraid it is going to die. I missed picking it up a couple of days ago when the temps were in the high 30's overnight. When I saw it there was a white discharge on it and the flesh was damaged. I thought I should wipe away the damaged flesh, as in photo. Should I cut away the onion so the roots can rejuvenate the plant? I would really hate to loose this plant!
http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/2313/
Here is an article about them. The author says his have survived temps in the 20s. Good luck!
I had Sea Onions (Ornithogalum caudatum) in California but Carrie has introduced another genus (Bowiea volubilis), the climbing sea onion. It would be important to know which we are talking about as Ornithogalum is hardy in Zone 8 but Bowiea is hardy in Zone 10 - 11. As YSFinHollywoodS's plant has no leaves, its hard to tell which it is. My sea onions (Ornithogalum caudatum) in California (zone 8) were planted in the garden. The winter temps often were in the 20's. The plant was in the ground AND the leaves wilted over the top of it in the winter adding a lot of insulation. My sea onions formed huge clumps. Bowiea volubilis seems to stay a single bulb (I have one in my greenhouse that is eating the upper story but still a single bulb after all these years).
So assuming its Bowiea volubilis, it might be toast. But, don't give up hope but don't peel it, wash it.... let it be. Don't put it in a really warm place either. Its got frostbite and if it has a chance for survival, less is better. The fact that's its still green is a good sign - a pile of brown mush would be a bad sign. I thought I lost mine a couple years ago when it got sunburned. But it managed to heal itself and is bigger and better than ever.
Patience! It will either grow or die but I'm betting on survival. Please don't do any cutting. Its in the lily family so if even one "peel" survives, it will survive.
Daisy
picture does not look like O caudatum to me, which I know and grow as pregnant onion. Looks like Bowiea.
It is Bowiea volubilis. Thanks for the article Carrie. I appreciate your responses very much!
I used to have a Bowiea volubilis (aka Climbing Onion) back in 2005 untill 2009.
At least that is what my pictures are from.
Around the same time, I also had the "Pregnant Onion'--and still do. Lots of "babies" always around.
The Climbing Onion always stayed as one big, round bulb, but it did make some Pups
That grew VERY slowly in larger onions. Only had two--and shared them both with
someone. The original "onion" eventually rotted away. Digging it up, I found that it
had been growing in a ceramic pot with NO drainage. My fault!
I kept mine outside in the summer in bright shade, but brought it into my
laundry room for the winter to sit by the tiny window there.
The pregnant Onions were kept there as well.
During summer, the Climbing Onion grew a mess of really long, soft, needle-like fronds
that hung down 4'-5' from the plant stand. Very soft and very green. From a distance, they looked very much like the fronds of an Asparagus fern.
When I brought it in fore the winter--the fronds, slowly, dried up. I believe that after this is when the "onion"increased in size...much like an Amaryllis bulb would.
Here are some pictures of the Bowiea volubilis I had.
Gita
I do remember someone calling my Ornithogalum caudatum a pregnant onion and me thinking great name for it.
I stand by my suggestions, though.
Daisy
