I take off growing lilies in container out of pure frustration . I had planted some gorgeous orangish - ruby lilies I ’d get from theMSHS Bulb Salein my garden border . Every clip the bulbs stems or leaves pop up , a rabbit was there to munch it down — for a couple of years , I never get word a bloom . Then , I caged the bulbs with chicken telegram and that worked , but it look like my lilies were in prison .
So , at the end of the 2019 season , I dug up my light bulb and cast off them in a container that stayed outside all wintertime , not carry them to survive . But they did , and they blossom beautifully during the summertime of 2020 in containers . At the end of the twelvemonth , I moved the medulla container into the service department for repositing . They have survive again !
What a Bulb Wants
I babble about medulla and containers on a recent episode ofGrow it , Minnesotawith Mike Heger , renowned Minnesota plantsman and author of the bookGrowing Perennials in Cold Climates . Bulbs are part of a plant life ’s stem structure . The light bulb stores food for thought for the next season and roots acquire into the grunge below the bulb .
lily ( Lilium ) are a immense genera of plant , and Mike described some of the unlike classifications of lily in the podcast . Most lily ( the exclusion isMartagon lily ) like a cheery locating and well - drained soil . They are n’t ill-tempered about plant food and are a fairly easy flora to grow . They do n’t have long tap roots and can be dug up in winter , though unlike Dahlia pinnata , canna lilies and other summer bulbs , lilies can hold up a Minnesota wintertime underground . If you are n’t get to by bunnies , they are promiscuous to grow and long - lived .
Growing in Containers
For best luck in containers , consider buy bulb of dwarf lilies . For the 2021 season , I buy two new miscellany , Lily Looks ™ Tiny Crystal , a undimmed whiteasiatic lilythat acquire only about a metrical unit tall and produces six or more flowers per stem , andLily Looks ™ Tiny Bee , a bright yellow diversity . recollect that some some lilies will originate 5 or 6 feet tall , so make up attention to the mature height of the lily you buy . It will be listed on the industrial plant tag .
I select terracotta containers for growing lilies because they blend in well with the repose of my plantings . Plastic , ceramic or composite container would play well , too . Whatever container you choose , fill it with a good commerical potting mixture . I add a bit of extraperliteto the commixture to increase drainage . fill up the container to about 6 column inch below the top of the container . invest your bulbs savourless side down ( often you ’ll see some roots growing off the bulb — those face down ) and pointy side up . Top them off with more potting grunge , water them well and localise them outside .
Caring for Lilies in Containers
You ’ll be storm how quickly the plant will develop , send up green stems and then big beautiful efflorescence . Water them regularly , but not overly . I gather the lily pots into the back of my veg andinsectary gardenuntil they start bloom . Then , I move the pots to wherever in the garden a little additional colour is require .
After blooming , be certain the lilies continue outside to gather sunshine and energy for next class ’s maturation . Feel destitute to cut back the spend blooms ( or cut blooms for bouquets and arrangements ) but leave the foliage on the industrial plant until autumn .
If you require to leave the bulbs in the same container for next year , move it into a somewhat protected location , such as an unheated service department . Another option is to found your light bulb in the garden in September . According to Mike , lily light bulb develop beautifully when planted in September in Minnesota . Of of course , you ’ll have to watch out for the bunny !
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