Lilies: sprouting scales advice appreciated...., 0 by kdjoergensen

kdjoergensen wrote:
Vicki, you need you cut the bulb all the way down by the basal plate. The meristem tissue (reproductive tissue) is located there.

Take a look at the picture below. The scales are cut all the way through the basal plate. One of them even has some roots on them. The white portion at the bottom is the meristem tissue (basal plate).

You can insert a short sturdy knife between a scale and the bulb and press straight down through the basal plate (a piece of missing basal plate is ok for the bulb). You can also go "from the other end). Use the knife and cut from the basal plate and up (like you are peeling an apple with a knife) but cut through the basal plate and then pull the scale(s) which happen to be attached to the piece off.

I like to dip the scales in a 10% bleach solution (9 parts water to 1 part chlorax bleach) to disinfect it before use.

P.S. If I buy lilies, I like to buy an extra bulb of the one I want to scale, and cut this one up for scaling. First I remove all the outer scales so only very healthy, undamaged scales are available. If the bulb is very dehydrated, I like to soak it in a tup of water for 30 minutes before scaling. On some occations, I have even planted the bulb for a few months to get them plump and nice. When I scale the bulb, I them cut the entire bulb up in individual scales. I make a few different bags in case one should fail.