How to Care for Scilla (Silver Squill) Houseplants

Scilla is one of the plants that you would want to keep in your home. Aside from the fact that it is very beautiful, it is also quite easy to take care of. These plants make great houseplants for they have a colorful structure and are definitely an eye catcher. 

The scilla has a scientific name of Ledebouria socialis. It is sometimes called silver squill or wood hyacinth. These plants can grow up to 3 to 8 inches tall and 3 to 6 inches wide. The flower that it bears on the other hand can grow 1.5 cm wide and normally has around 6 petals and its height can reach up to 15 to 40 cm. 

The scilla plants are native to woodlands, subalpine meadows, and seashores throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East and are naturalized in Australia, New Zealand and North America. They belong to the Asparagaceae family of the Plantae kingdom. 

The scilla plants although they are commonly grown as a houseplant they can be also used to cover the ground. They are drought tolerant which makes them the perfect houseplant to those who are very forgetful in watering their plants, and to let you know how easy it is to take care of them, here are some of their care guides. 

1. For Sunlight

Scillas like direct sunlight, and a lot of it. We give our Scillas plants 3-4 hours a day of direct sunlight, and have found this to be the sweet spot. 

2. Water

In the summer when they are getting the most light, we water them once the soil is dry half an inch down. In the cooler month we water them significantly less. In the cooler months try to water them enough so the soil does not turn completely dry. 

3. Temperature

In the Summer Months keep them at room temperature, that is no issue. But in the cooler months they are one of the few houseplants that can tolerate some cold air. We have seen them happy between 50-59F.

4. Soil

This plant will be fine in a soil that has good drainage for they cannot grow well in waterlogged soils or soils that are too wet. These soils are preferably humus-rich and sandy. It is best planted in a pot that has drainage holes so that when they are watered they can also be drained well of water. 

5. Fertilizer

These plants can be fed once a month with a liquid fertilizer and recommended that this is done during its growing season. 

6. Propagating

The scilla plants are easy to propagate; they can be propagated using the plant's seed or when they are mature enough they produce bulbs which you can then plant and let grow. 

7. Repotting

Once you see that the plant is already crowded in its pot, the best time to repot these plants is when you know that the plants have faded then you can unpot the plant which you can then gently remove the bulb to either propagate or repot. 

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