Millenium ornamental onion ( Allium ‘ Millenium ’ ) is a popular hybrid genus Allium acknowledge for its long blooming period and respectable foliation . Like other ornamental onions , Millenium is cold fearless and its bulbs can withstand freezing winter temperature . However , you ’ll need to take a few uncomplicated steps to help your Millenium alliums last the wintertime calendar month unhurt .
Overwintering Tips
Here are some primal tips for caring for Millenium ornamental onion over the winter :
Allow Foliage to Die Back
After the foliage finishes anthesis in summer it will start to yellow and go bad back naturally . Avoid cutting back the foliage which the flora needs to take over sunlight and send get-up-and-go back to the electric-light bulb for next year ’s bloom .
Move Container Grown Plants
If you have Millenium alliums found in container , move the peck to a protect area before temperatures deteriorate below freeze . An unwarmed service department , instrument shed , or basement are sound options .
Add Insulation
In part with very cold winters , bulbs plant in the soil can do good from an extra bed of insulation like pale yellow mulch or leaf pack over the dormant solution . Add 4 - 6 inches of mulch in former fall after the land has frozen .
Hold Off on Spring Cleanup
When springiness arrive , forbear from clean up up any remaining beat foliage right forth Let it course break down to provide continued trade protection for emerging incandescent lamp shoots .
Ideal Growing Conditions
Here are the optimum raise conditions for Millenium ornamental onions :
Fertilizer Needs
implement a balanced granular plant food or bulb food over the dirt in late fall after leafage has died back . This will furnish nutrient to support next year ’s blossom . Avoid gamy nitrogen fertilizers which can abridge flowering .
Dividing Overgrown Clumps
Mature Millenium allium clumps can be divide every 3 - 5 year in fall after foliage dies back . Gently dig up bulbs and pull apart offsets , replanting them immediately at the same depth 2 - 3 times the bulb width .
Pest and Disease Prevention
Cut Flowers
The 2″ round rose - imperial flower head make excellent cut flowers . Cut blossom when at least half the florets on the head have opened . Sear the stalk ending in stewing water first to prolong vase life .
Companion Plants
Good familiar plant for Millenium allium include :
Design Uses
Millenium allium offer versatility in the garden . Here are some ways to apply it :
Winter Care FAQs
Should I cut off back foliation before wintertime ?
No , forfend cutting back foliage in fall so the plants can absorb sun and send out energy back to the medulla . Allow leaves to conk back by nature .
Can I lead Millenium Allium in pots outside ?
Move container grow plant to a protect arena like an unheated garage before temperatures drop below freeze .
How much mulch should I add for winter protection ?
In very cold climates , add together 4 - 6 inch of straw , leafage , evergreen branches or other constitutional mulch over the torpid theme for insulation .
When can I cleanse up beat leaves in spring ?
retain off on cleanup until new growth emerges in fountain . rent the quondam leafage partitioning of course to go forward protecting plant .
Enjoy Winter Hardy Blooms
With proper fear , Millenium ornamental onions can hold up cold-blooded wintertime and pay back you with beautiful flower year after class . tolerate foliage to die back naturally , add mulch or move pots to a protect spot , and your alliums will sail through the off - season . Come spring , you ’ll be glad you dedicate them what they take to winter successfully !
Caring for Allium Bulbs
genus Allium plants produce big , round , playground ball - sized flowers in shades of purple . They do well in sunny , sheltered places where the jazz is n’t likely to blow them aside . In these conditions , they bloom in early summer and tend to last for about three hebdomad . Once the flowers have faded , you could deadhead the blooms . But do n’t remove the leaf . They need time to fall off course so that they can store energy for next year ’s growth in the bulbs . It might look like the leaves are n’t arranged very well , so it ’s best to put alliums in a bed with heyday that blossom afterwards and cover them .
How to Care for Alliums after Blooming
Allium C. W. Post bloom of youth charge is very easy . plainly keep the industrial plant moderately water until they wither to yellow and start to shrink . you may now cut the plants down to the primer and either leave them alone or dissever them up . Allium bulbs should be divide every three or four years . To do this , simply dig around the industrial plant with a trowel and lift the bulbs out . There should be a collection of bulbs , which you could part gently with your hands . Replant a few in the same pip , and plant the others right off in new locations . Caring for genus Allium bulbs that you do n’t want to divide is even easier . Just cut back the parting when they go out of style , and in the nightfall , put 2 to 3 inches ( 5 - 7 ) of mulch over the soil . 5 cm . ) of mulch . take out the mulch in the spring to make way for new growing .
