I am fairly new to Oriental lilies but had a wonderful experience with Tom Pouce and Stargazer from Brent and Becky's bulbs in 2007. All bloomed that year and the next. Then in 2009, only 1 each appeared, and this year, none.
I did amend the soil and put in extra drainage (probably vole-bloc). Is it normal for these lilies to be short-lived in our fairly heavy clay soils or for North Georgia/ the South?
Advice appreciated. I will miss the lilies sooo much.
Thanks
Advice on Or. lilies not returning
The orientals don`t like lime in the soil and it`s important with a lot of sand in the soil. When a lily don`t pop up i use my hand to dig down to the bulb to see if it`s ok.
Thanks grapus, I will check. I still hope to hear from others re:the life span of these lilies in my area/ soil type.
An acid soil is essential for healthy oriental lilies. I don't think there is such a thing as a naturally acid clay, but you can amend a clay based soil to be acid. Good amendments are lots of compost, sand and ground sulphur.
Orientals don't produce the masses of stem bulblets that you may be use to with asiatic lilies. In fact, stem bulblets are usually not produced.
It might also be that something is eating the bulbs too...
Most times here when a bulb dies off it usually leaves some baby bulbs...
Thanks for the input. Actually, here in North Georgia, we do have naturally acidic clay soils. And we generally don't consider ourselves fortunate! So if that is not the problem, then maybe the voles got into our "fortress" - we used 1/4" hardware cloth buried 1-1 1/2 ft and 1 to 1 1/2 ft above ground. They are a real problem for us and I'm sure they would love a lily snack. Or banquet.
I had the same experience with Stargazer. In my experience, and from what I have read, Orientals are variable, and they are not as reliable as some other lilies. Casa Blanca is known as a lily that hangs around for years, but that is unusual. I once put in six different Orintals and got nothing. The company replaced it with an oriental, Sorbonne, that still blooms nicely years later. But your experience is not unusual. I think that's why orienpets - Oriental/Trumpet crosses - became so popular. Trumpets are tough survivers - cross them with Orientals and you get greater toughness.
But I agree with all the comments made. If you see little tiny bulblets, the voles made it through the gate. They took out a bunch of mine years ago, and the pathetic remains never again became the lovely stand that they had been.
Donna
Here's the problem with digging up the possible remains and planting more: it's an intensively planted border with an 8' fence (long story: think deer) at its back. It will be difficult to squeeze in there (the back) to do much work.
Thanks Donna. Maybe I will try the Orienpets AND Casa Blanca and see what happens. I just need a helicopter to hover me over the bed! LOL.
Another thing to consider Cedar is that Orientals are generally not good performers in the south. I gave up on them long ago but have great luck with virtually all other types of lilies. You get lots of rainfall and combined with your clay soil, sogginess may be an issue as no bulb (and especially lilies) likes wet feet. Another issue is your heat. Not sure what your experience has been but both the flowers and leaves scorch easily in hot sun and perhaps your bulbs have not had the chance to rejuvenate as they should. Orientals are late bloomers and tend to want to bloom when our southern weather is at its harshest.
I don't have great luck w/ orientals in the garden but they do alright in containers for me. They don't always comeback. I've noticed in pots that were planted w/ orientals that bloomed the first season and didn't come back ( I don't always empty them and replant) that in the soil filled container I will have baby seedlings pop up the following season (3rd year). Not that I was hoping for it but stuff was happening in the container whether or not I paid any attention:lol:
Steve and dmac, thanks for the southern flavor! I checked my DG journal and yes, they bloomed between June 30 and July 11 the two years that some returned. You are right: it is stinking hot here at that time. And our winters are generally sort of rainy and last year was especially so. I will look at Orientpets and Asiatics although I will miss Stargazer. It's not very expensive; maybe I'll just plant them somewhere easier to access and consider them annuals.