Will critter-eaten oriental lilies come back?

Watch Reply
More
Mark unread Print Skip to new
Nanlgord Eden Prairie, MN(Zone 4b) Jun 29, 2015

I planted 8 oriental lily bulbs last fall, and they were all coming up beautifully this May (I live in Minnesota), but somewhere towards the end of May they all were eaten down to the ground. We have scads of rabbits in our neighborhood, so I assume they are the culprits. Of the 8 plants, two had about 1-inch of stem left, which eventually turned brown, and neither they nor the others have re-grown since then (it's now the end of June). Should I assume that they are all gonners and plant new bulbs this fall? Or might they replenish themselves and return next year?

Post #10103092
Quote
WeeNel Ayrshire Scotland, United Kingdom Jun 29, 2015

How horrid, I hate when you plant things and the wildlife book dinner with their friwnds way before you even get to see the lovely flowers.

I would, IF I were you, lift the bulbs as they wont do anything more this year, fill a large pot wuth drainage at the bottom, (small stones, the white polly beans from packaging, just to help with bottom drainage, half fill the pots with GOOD quality bulb compost, Good guide for bulb planting is to plant the bulb 3 times deeper than the height of the bulbs.
Say the lily bulbs are 2 inches from root to growing tip (just the bulb, NOT the stem) you then plant the bulb 6 inches below the top of the soil.

Place to pot or pots, in a cooler area, sheltered from winter winds,frost etc, bring inside for winter if you have a garage etc, come spring, start to set the pots out for a few hours each day when the weather starts to warm up, eventually leave outside come April / May time, give a half doze of Tomato feed and full dosage every few weeks there after, ftop feeding when the flowers are past there beauty, dont cut off the foliage as the greenery is left to rot down while it gives feed to the bulb for the following year.
Re-pot when the pot looks full as the Lily plants are great for forming baby bulbs around the
the parent bulb, depending on the type of Lily you have, some of them form tiny little bulbs on the stems right tight into the axle between the stem and leaf, leave them on the stems till ready to drop off, collect them and plant then JUST under the sandy potting soil and grow on for 2 years, by year 3 you would expect flowering sized bulbs exactly like the parents.
make sure wherever you put the pots, it's rabbit free or make it so by using chicken wire to make a teepee with canes or maybe on a porch where the rabbits dont come near.

Good luck.and Kindest Regards. weeNel

Post #10103298
Quote

Post a Reply to this Thread

Please or sign up to post.
Back to Forum Homepage

More Beginner Gardening Threads

Go to all Beginner Gardening threads
BACK TO TOP