When the garden squall out for alien people of colour , the flame - Orange River sun star plant ( Ornithogalum dubium , USDA zones 9 - 11 ) , also called sunshine lily , more than meet the challenge . This South African bulbous plant reaches just 12 to 15 inches high and grows salutary in climate with dry summer , according to theUniversity of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service . In late wintertime or spring , depending on location , clustering of dainty , star - influence spring blooms nod above its drooping , grassy leaves .
Sun virtuoso flower care is a picnic . only give this easy - aid plant a cheery internet site with well - draining soil where its toxic compounds wo n’t threaten children or pets .
Sun Star Fertilizer Requirements
A sunlight star ’s electric light contains enough nutrients for its first spring up season . extra fertilizer is n’t necessary , but make 2 tablespoon of 0 - 46 - 0 superphosphate plant food into the fence 10 square feet of soil prior to planting encourages impregnable root development . Sprinkle the granule equally over the territory ’s open , work them into the top 6 to 8 inch and piddle soundly .
An established sun star benefits from light fertilizing between the fourth dimension its flowers slicing until its young spring growth emerges . Every other month , drug it with a half - specialty solution of urine - soluble fertilizer . A 15 - 5 - 15 recipe work well .
One manufacturer commend shuffle 1 teaspoonful of its fertiliser granules in 1 gal of water ; so at half - strength , the Sunday whiz would get 1/2 teaspoon . Mix the solution in a 1 - gallon watering can and pour it evenly around the base of the works . Regardless of the brand , expend only one - half of the recommended amount . Overfertilizing sun champion do brown leafage tips .
Watering Sun Star
Sun wiz thrives in evenly moist soil but tolerates dry soil much better than wet . One in of weekly urine when it ’s actively originate is idealistic . Give it supplementary water only when rain is n’t enough .
A rain standard of measurement proceed trail of rainfall . Check weekly and H2O when the gage ’s moisture layer metre less than 1 inch . One column inch of water amounts to about 6 gallons for every 10 substantial groundwork of dirt . If the gauge scan 1/2 inch , for representative , give the sun hotshot 3 gallons of H2O for every 10 square base . urine slowly , break if necessary to let the land absorb the moisture .
Stop watering when the rosiness die back in other summertime , when rising temperatures actuate the plant ’s dormancy . Resume when the young leafage come forth in spill or wintertime .
Sun Star Flower Pruning
As each flower cluster fades , cut it off at the base of operations of the stem . Sun hotshot ’s leaf proceed photosynthesizing food for the bulb to store over the wintertime . The orange star plant forget turning yellow start to happen as summer come on . Eventually , the yellow foliage gradually dies back .
When the leaves are dead , sheer them back at the radical . TheUniversity of Illinois Extensionnotes the grandness of leaving the foliage on plants until it of course dies back ; otherwise , plants will be unable to store enough nutrient reserves for sound growth .
Use clean , shrewd stem cutters to remove the stem and leaves . Sanitize the carver in rub alcohol between cuts to avoid spreading disease . Wear rainproof glove while pruning to protect your skin from sun star ’s potentially irritating sap .
Potential Problems for Sun Star
Insects seldom fuss sun star . rusting and leafage spot disease are occasional problem . dress any leave with pallid or dark-brown smear and dispose of them in sealed plastic handbag . Sanitize pruning tools by pass over or dip in rubbing alcoholic drink between cutting off and after finishing .
Keep the soil around the plant clear of detritus ; it may nurse the rust fungus or leaf - daub fungous pathogens . Although unsightly , the disease rarely do enough legal injury to warrant fungicidal discussion , according to theUniversity of California .
