Like many, I took advantage of B&B's summer sale and bought a few bulbs. Steve recommended that I line a pot with aluminum foil ((reflective side out) and pot my bulbs. Then transplant in fall. They provided beautiful flowers in late summer and just yesterday I planted them in the permanent inground homes. I was absolutely delighted with the the root systems in these plants.
In your experience, do potted, then transplanted do better than if the bulbs are planted directly inground?
PS: I think Steve's advice came by way of Ticker, but if not, pls correct me.
This message was edited Nov 11, 2009 8:43 PM
Potted then transplanted vs. planted directly inground
I'd say the root systems were superior, for me, when grown in pots but I've never dug up a lily just to check the roots so it's difficult to compare.
The soil in a good well drained potting mix, that doesn't get too wet will usually have a good root system. My soil is somewhat heavier than what I pot in, so what I dig although it has a nice root system, is not as good as a lily in a good potting mix with plenty of room for the roots to go and again, not over-watered. I am always adjusting my lily in a pot mix too.
I believe that llilyfan gave a talk at the Iowa Round Up in May on this subject and Steve brought the idea home and put it to good use ;)
I think either transplant well. I often plant some of my potted lilies in the fall and would say they perform equal to any other lily that wasn't potted. But I suppose soil and circumstances can make a difference there too.
thanks both. It could have been lilyfan, I almost put her name instead of Ticker's. Heck, everybody in this forum will get the credit, lol. That's why I'm making educated lily decisions-everybody's tips.
I just finished placing my Faraway order.
So many nice, nice selections there, aren't there. It really makes you look forward to spring too.
I love Faraway Flowers bulbs more than any other company I've ever dealt with and from her reviews I guess others feel the same way about Ramona/Mainiac.
http://davesgarden.com/products/gwd/c/5851/
I would think anyone could make a case for either side. There are so many variables involved.
What I am trying to understand now is, why is the tin foil dull side out? I would think one would want to reflect the outside warmer temps out as much as possible.
It was Ililyfan, thanks mags for giving proper credit. But I am glad your lilies did so well, Nery.
One caution on pot planting - and it's a mistake I have made so I speak from experience - is do not be tempted to overwater, especially if the soil is heavy/water retaining. Overly moist soil can lead to rotting or overly small bulbs.
Leftwood, good point - I am not sure what the rationale for that is.....Sue?? Or did we/I convey it wrong?
I was skimpy w/ water. I know somebody explained about the foil but I don't remember. Lilyfan, come on over!
I found the thread where this was discussed. lining pots w/ reflective side out is supposed to keep bulbs cooler. I tried it and they did well. I am enjoying fall but part of me can't wait for Spring to compare how much better (if at all) the potted then transplanted vs. the planted directly inground perform.
Scroll to almost halfway then it goes on
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/983568/
That would be Post #6587454
Thanks Vossner
I realize this vendor isnt news to anyone here on Lily forum but I just recieved Asiatics from American Meados 1/2 price sale and Buggy Crazy who I am crowing about.
Its my first Buggy Crazy order, Pirl has praise for her so I gave it a try and WOW wasnt dissapointed.
This picture is from the Amer Mead. on the left and Buggy Crazy on the right with a kitchen knife for comparison.
The largest pictured Buggy Craz bulb isnt the largets in the bag of 28 mixed Asiatics.
Thanks everyone who mentioned her,what a treat
Opening a bag of lilies from Buggy Crazy is like having Christmas early. Such a great treat.
So glad you like them so much, Jo Ann!
i absolutly agree
I bought some bulbs late this last summer that said they had been pre-cooled. Planted them in a pot and hoped they would bloom before fall. They didn't, so I brought them indoors in a pot. They still don't look like any buds are forming. Do you think I can plant them outside this late or should I just grow them in the pot all winter?
susan
Is there any growth at all? Which type of lilies did you buy?
Yes, that will determine . . .
Even here winter freezes will kill new lily growth, so if it has sprouted, I'd leave it inside until spring.
I haven't been on here in a long, long time, and almost skipped this thread!
Let me say that I always put the shiny (reflective) side to the outside. I do want to reflect as much of the heat as possible. This has worked extremely well for me for several years now and I will most likely continue to 'line my pots'. Prior to this experiment I just couldn't keep up with the watering needed and my work and travel schedules. My idea came from the space blankets and the reflective house wraps.
I had a few (3) asiatic bulbs in a very large pot for 3 full seasons and this fall I took them out of the pot. . . they had incredible stem roots and the bulbs had increase exponentially! I took out at least 50 walnut sized bulbs and about 8 bulbs large enough to sell at our fall bulb sale! These had been planted in good potting soil and that pot had been set inside another larger pot and the space filled with mulch as a moderator of temp extremes. This monster was hauled into the garage late fall and hauled back out in late March each year. I think the ideal drainage of a pot and the nutrients helped the bulbs to increase so much. I don't normally have those kinds of results with lilies planted in smaller pots although they generally all have had excellent stem root systems.
I have new bulbs ,potted and in the garage until spring.
I want them in larger containers with coleus and begonias
The pre-cooled lilies I planted in a pot where Oriental Deep Impact. The stems are about 16" tall and they look healthy. I guess I just keep growing them inside and see how they look by Spring. Temps are suppose to drop again here over the next few days.
susan
The care for these potted bulbs seems to run the gammut of everything.
Fingers crossed for mine in pots and a box of crumpled newspapers.
Sounds good, Jo Ann. Is the pot near a wall of the house? That's what I try for but it doesn't always work out that way but it's still better than being by the exterior garage door.
Its by the kitchen wall. The oposit side is by the out doors.
Too cold
Excellent!