Bah! Neighbor dog broke down a stem of one of my lilies - an LA 'Suncrest.' It is not blooming yet, just leaves and about 6" tall. I'm assuming it's a goner, but is there anyway I can root and save this offshoot? I have it in water in a windowsill right now and so far it hasn't wilted. Healthy stem, about as thick as my forefinger - so I'm wondering if it might have enough energy to survive a little while.
Is there hope??
Broken Lily
This has happened to many of my lilies and other bulbs, if the bulb is big it will come back next year, stunted. If the bulb was small it could die. Lily stems do not root so it won't be able to grow from a stem.
Thanks for the answer buggy! I was afraid of that...
Darn dogs
Just yesterday we had some friends over, and one of them was asking how we kept the dog so well behaved in the garden, whereupon the dog chased a bird right through the back border and took out a prized Buggycrazy lily. It seems to be broken, but underground, well enough below the surface that I'm still holding on to a thread of hope that it's okay, though I bet it isn't. Have staked it. Still shell shocked. Still not speaking to the dog...
Invisible Fence needed.
Even that won't necessarily stop an excited doggie. :)
I have found that if there are even just a few threads holding a broken stem together it can be repaired. I have successfully done this many times over the years. Wednesday's storm took out a big clump of salsify which in turn took out this Asiatic lily. It was snapped leaving just a bit of sinewy threads on one side of the stem. I put small wood splints on each side to prevent flexing, then secured with this stretchy tape. An additional wire support should keep the stem upright. In the meantime, after propping the salsify up several times, I gave up on that and am leaving it flat out on the ground. It seems quite happy there.
Photo shows my first aid application to the broken lily stem.
Standing ovation!
Looking good,,,,,,,,,
This is great to know.
Thanks.
Time will tell if the repair works on this one. Will keep y'all updated.
Lol! Well I guess I'm in good company with sorrow for my lily...we wait so dang long for them, we want to see them bloom!!
Do let us know what happens with the lily first aid, pardalinum. Mine is still perky in a glass of water on kitchen windowsill...pretty leaves to look at I suppose. :(
I have broken off 5 or 6 stems so far this spring. I tossed all but one. It is in a jar on the kitchen sill. This was about two weeks ago when the buds were tight together on the stem. They are all much bigger and separated now. I am beginning to think they might open in the next couple of weeks! I have recut the stem once and will do again in a few days.