Expert: C.L. Fornari - 4/30/2009

Question
First I have to say that my thumb is greasy NOT green due to my love for cars and Hot Rods. But I was blessed with being able to transplant my Mothers Easter Lillie from her home to mine after her passing in 1999. I have retired and have a little more time to give to my yard work and added a little Miracle grow to my plants and the Lillie bloomed for the first time in 2 or 3 years. My question is, Can I get more flowers by transplanted what looks like buds or the seeds from the original flowers each year? Thank you for your help. I live in the New Orleans La. area and the Lilies are planted in my front yard which faces the northwest.

Answer
Barry,
If you transplanted the lilies in 1999 and they are going strong, you must have some green under that grease!  Yes, you can sow lily seeds in order to get more plants and more flowers. Some lilies make little bulbs on their stems, and some multiply from the main bulbs, and some produce seeds after the flowers fade.  Let any seeds remain on the stem until they start to yellow - they have to be ripe in order to grow. One way to be sure that they are ripe but not have them drop to the ground is to place a little lightweight cloth bag, or netting over the seeds so that if they fall they are caught in the netting/fabric.  Once they come easily off the stalk, or fall into the net, plant them right away, when they are yellow but not open.

You can either take those seeds and start them in a prepared seed bed, or put new potting soil in pots and sow them in pots. I think pots are good because the fresh potting soil won't have weed seeds.  Sow the seeds in moist but not swampy wet potting soil and just barely cover them with potting soil.  Keep the soil just moist but not wet while they germinate.  Transplant seedlings to other pots if there are more than one per pot, and grow them on in containers for a year before transplanting to the ground.

Here is a website that describes this: http://www.lilybulb.com/propseed.html

all the best,
C.L.