Mid-Atlantic Gardening: Haves, wants for spring swap II, 1 by Gitagal

Gitagal wrote:
Sally,

I keep mine on the East side of the house, but it still gets intense, unobstructed sun until about 3PM. It can go dry for periods of time, but I sprinkle it when I water the 2 clay window boxes of annuals next t it.

The "onion" is also in an 18", very heavy clay planter box. This plant came to me in an exchange from California many years ago now, and I remember how the sender stressed that it needs to have VERY good drainage. I guess it is like any other bulb--stores water in the bulb and can go long times w/o watering.

In the winter, I put the planter on my Laundry Room windowsill and--basically--forget it. Once in a blue moon I pour a cup of water on it. The only thing that happens to it is that the tips of the "leaves" dry out .

I think if you could keep it in a sunny room and water it regularly (like a Houseplant), it would grow and procreate much faster.

I also have a "Climbing Onion", but I only have ONE, so I cannot share. I have done so, selflessly, and now am down to one. The "onion" is huge, and I believe when all the fronds on it die back (late summer) it will split off and I will have two.
The "Climbing Onion" grows these long, trailing fronds that look somewhat like an Asparagus fern, but they are soft and supple. I got this one also from someone in a trade. Unfortunately, it puts out all this amazing frond-growth in the middle of winter on my windowsill. If you could keep it in your house and provide it a trellis, it would twind up and around it.

The first year I had it, I simply let it hang down from the top of this plant stand that I have. Have to go hunt for this picture. Hold on.....

Hope I am not monopolizing you all, but this "onion" is just as interesting.

Here is the plant hanging down way back when I first got it.
I suppose it does NOT have to 'climb"--it can hang also and look pretty.

Gita