Expert: Kenneth Joergensen - 3/7/2004

Question
I am in central SC, zone 8.  I have had good luck with the lillies and have little bulblettes which must have been propagated "natural", since I try to deadhead for strong plants next season.  My question: If I gather these little bulblettes, how deep do I plant them?  They are about the size of a large pea.  Any other propagating suggestions?  Would potting them be best or right into the garden?  When?  Also, I have purchased and wintered over bulbs and occasionally they have self sprouted 2-3" before I get around to planting them in the garden.  When I do plant them should I cover/bury the bulb & greens with soil, or let the green sprouts show?  How deep?   Thanks, Mary

Answer
The small bulblets (offsets) can be planted shallowly in the garden or in pots. Just cover with a 1/2" of soil. Mulch the bed. Initially a single leaf will appear. This will last about one year. The following year, this single leaf (cotyledon) will be replaced by a thin, winding stem which may flower. The 3rd or 4th year they will usually flower. Initially one flower, but more flowers will follow in later years.

Some lilies flower soon after creating offsets, e.g. within 1-2 seasons. Others take 3-4 seasons to flower. Most asiatic lilies create these offsets very easily, e.g. every year you may find 6-8 offsets per lily. In just a few years you may have a whole bed of flowering lilies.

If you decide to pot them up, make sure to check on the pot from time to time to make sure the soil has not dried. protect from heavy freezes (mild freezes are ok). Watch out if they are placed in darkness, because all of a sudden they may stretch and become thin and spindly. An unheated, lighted porch, or a greenhouse is ideal. My preference would actually be a nursery bed (where the young lilies do not get crowded by large perennials in summer). A raised vegetable bed or a section of the yard dedicated to raising small bulblets is ideal. Plant them just under the surface of the soil (1/2 - 1" of soil covering them).

When planting lily bulbs which has pre-sprouted, still plant them 6-8" deep. Dig a hole about 12" deep and loosen the soil and mix in plenty of organic matter (compost, or potting soil). Then make a small mound a few inches high. Place the bulb on this mount and gently spread the roots around the mound. Shake in a bit of "soil moist" (watering chrystals) if you have them. Cover with more amended soil (native soil mixed with compost) and water well to thoroughly settle the soil around the roots. If the sprout gets covered with soil in the process, then this is fine. If a piece ends up sticking up, you can leave it out.

Here is a link to an article explaining how to propagate lilies from scales (e.g. how to remove a few scales from a lily bulb and prompt it to produce small bulblets indoors under controlled enviroments). It is very easy and everyone can do it.

Article:
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/18505/105602

Kenneth