About Kenneth Joergensen Expertise Can answer questions about spring and summer bulbs: selection, soil preparation, planting, fertilizing, designing with bulbs. I can also give references where to buy the bulbs and how to store them. Besides the typical bulbs (tulips, daffodils, amaryllis, lilies etc) I can also answer questions about other geophytes, such as tuberous begonia, dahlias, etc. When to start indoors, light requirement, etc. My experience is in cool season areas, but I can answer questions about warm season areas if given time to research matter.
Experience Have worked with various bulbs (spring and summer bulbs). I am presently an allexpert advicer on the lawn message board also.
Question Hi- I planted Stargazer lilies last year and they bloomed pretty well, ( for the first year,that is).This year they are spindly and have big holes in the leaves.Can you identify the problem? We live in Massachusetts-I wonder if it's too warm for them.Thank you for whatever help you can give me.Josephine
Answer Stargazer lilies can grow in most of USA without problems and the climate in Massachusetts is not adverse to these.
Holes in leaves are likely slugs who loves lilies. You can purchase slug bait from garden centers. apply in very early spring as the lilies poke their head above ground, and then repeat about every 3-4 weeks as long as the lilies are small. As they grow taller you can stop applying snail bait. I still do it up until mid summer because it is amazing how high the snails can travel on the lilies and because we have other plants which also are attacked.
Lilies tend to get thin and spindly if allowed to grow in too dense shade. If shade is the problem, moving them to a a position with better sun should rectify in the problem.
The problem can also be one of care. Lilies are pretty easy to care for, but you need to know the basics.
Lilies which you want to come back should be fertilized 2-3 times during the growing period: in early spring as they poke their heads above ground, just before flowering and finally you can broadcast fertilizer over the ground in early fall.
After the lily has bloomed and the petals start to fall off, deadhead the flower. This is done by cutting the small stalk off which holds the flower to the main flower stem. Sometimes, small green puffy seed pods develop where the flower used to be. These should also be removed (cutoff) to preserve energy in the bulbs and avoid the lily spending energy on setting seeds.
Otherwise, leave the main flower stem alone. Many people mistakenly cut the flower stem back to the ground after flowering which removes the potential for the lily bulb to recharge for the following year. The lily needs the flower stem with it's green leaves to conduct photosynthesis, e.g. to recharge the bulb for next year's bloom.
A topdressing around the base of the plant every year with a good quality compost is also recommended.
e.g.
- fertilize 2-3 times per year
- deadhead spent flowers by removing the dead flowers + seed pods
- do not restrict foliage, but allow the lily to grow until it turns brown on it's own in fall
- if planted in too deep shade, move to a place with more sun.
- apply a good layer of compost around the base of the lily in spring and fall (if possible.. optional).
