Learn How To Keep Lilies (and Other Plants) Healthy In Containers And In The Garden

A Summary of General Care Guidelines

When growing Lilies (and other plants), whether in the ground or in containers, follow these simple guidelines and general principles!!

 

Keep pots and tools sanitary

Sanitary conditions are very important when working with lilies, bulbs, and any other plant. Disease spreads from plant to plant when tools are used to work a diseased plant and then a healthy one without being properly cleaned.  Even if you believe that a plant is NOT diseased, it is always a good practice to sanitize tools whenever using them on a new plant.  When re-potting your plants, clean and sanitize each container before reusing it.  Sanitize tools and containers with a 10% solution of non-fragrant household bleach and 90% water.  Dip tools for a few seconds before reusing and soak pots or containers for a minimum of five minutes then rinse with clean water. 

Isolate or destroy sick or diseased plants

Isolating sick plants helps to prevent disease from spreading to healthy plants in their vicinity.  If the plant is badly diseased it cannot be saved and will have to be destroyed.  This is particularly true in the case of root rot or blight.  Other diseases (such as black spot,  botrytis, powdery mildew) can be cured with repeated treatments of corrective fungicides...organic as well as chemical.

 

Proper Drainage is Critical!

Over watering, poor porosity in the potting mix, and/or excessive packing of the soil while and after planting will compress the oxygen out of the soil. Without sufficient oxygen, the roots die and dead roots = dead plants.

 

Re pot when it's time

Plants that remain in pots for too long, result in salt buildup and/or compacted soil. Both will injure or even kill the plant and its' root system.  The plant will let you know when it's time to repot.  Stunted growth, leaf discoloration, distorted and bloom discoloration, roots growing out of the drain holes are a few examples.  When repotting, always sanitize the container and use fresh potting mix!

 

Use Caution when Experimenting!

One of the leading causes of plant failure or damage while growing in containers is experimenting with new sprays or fertilizers.  "If it isn't broke, don't fix it".

A good example is treating all plants with the same type of fertilizer.  Bonsai trees can tolerate high nitrogen while blooming plants like a low nitrogen, high mineral content.  Also, be careful with liquid fertilizers mixed with water, then applied to the leaves.  It's always safer to use the granular formulations.

When trying new sprays or applying any chemicals with which you are unfamiliar, be sure and treat only a plant or two of each variety. 

Document what you do!  Write down as much information as you can in case something goes wrong or the plant responds correctly.  You can destroy your beloved plants with well-intentioned but ill-advised "care", giving them too much of a good thing...fertilizer, fungicide, disinfectant, etc.  Always read and follow label directions!

After applying these methods, your lilies and other plants will thrive for years!

Cooling Bulbs and Why

Most, if not all, bulb suppliers will harvest bulbs in the Fall and store them in coolers until March and April for sales.  This prevents them from sprouting too soon so people in the coldest regions can get their bulbs as the temps warm up for Spring planting.  You can do the same thing by storing your early ordered bulbs or your existing garden bulbs in the refrigerator for a later than normal bloom time. But be careful - refrigerators will dry them out fast.  Store them in a paper bag with damp (not wet) potting soil.  Do not use a plastic bag or your garden soil.  Store them in the vegetable bin and check the bulbs every seven days or so to make sure they haven't dried out.  

For best results:  pre-chill the bulbs for a minimum of six to eight weeks in a refrigerator at a temperature not below freezing and no higher than 40 degrees.  Most home refrigerators will cool between 40 degrees and 45 degrees, which is OK. If you use a refrigerator, be sure not to store any apples or other fruits alongside your bulbs. Ripening fruit naturally gives off ethylene gas which will kill the flower inside the bulbs.

Don't worry if you bought the bulbs early in the season and need to store them for several months before planting. Keep them chilling - even up to 16 weeks if necessary, until it is time to plant. Optimally, the bulbs should be put in the ground in December or early January, but can be delayed longer as long as they do not dry out in the cooling device or refrigerator. When it comes time to plant, water well, include the potting soil when you plant, and protect with a layer of mulch to retain moisture and protect from heat. When bulbs do not receive sufficient weeks of cold treatment, they bloom too close to the ground, on too-short stems. 

Meanwhile, back at the farm.....