How to divide oriental lilies w/out harming them?

I have 2 old pots of Stargazers & Casablancas--one pot quite large; the other med-large. I can't remember now if the 2 types are mixed together in there.

I'm now putting them into new garden soil. When I dig into the big pot, out come big clumps of bulbs covered with many smaller roots, also with larger roots coming out of the bottom of some. In the process of the digging, some got split in half. Others lost scales.

I'm afraid of damaging these sweeties, and don't know if by pulling apart the clusters, I will hurt them or not...or, if I can pull them apart and plant each as a separate new 'plant'. I also worry about damaging all those smaller roots in the process. Can anyone advise on the details of this division process:

What to be careful of while pulling them apart?
Should I go ahead & replant the ones which split?
Only plant those with roots hanging from bottom?
Worry or not about the smaller roots on top?

Also, is there any way to tell the difference between a Stargazer & a Casablanca by looking at the bulbs? [Probably not, but it would help me in repositioning them!]

I'm stopping this till I hear from you, and will appreciate any input ASAP.

Thanks so much,
Karen

Karen,
Lilies are forgiving. Just plant them and the will grow ;o) They can be pulled apart or left in the clump. The little bulbs will grow bigger and even the loose scales will grow. I'd put the split bulbs in the ground too & dont worry about damaging the roots. I don't think you'll have any problems. I've dug them out and left them on the ground for weeks... and they still grew when I put them back in the soil.

Some bulbs are different colors. Not sure if the Casblanca & Star gazer would look a little differently. They could... maybe one is whiter... or yellower?? I'm not sure. You might be able to tell but they could very well look the same.

Karen
Ultimately fall is the best time for planting and dividing lilies.

You can go ahead and separate them and plant each bulb. Don't worry about losing a few scales, it won't hurt/kill the bulb. In fact if there are any scales that don't look healthy or look mushy etc. they should be removed. If they are healthy scales you can actually grow a bulb from them.

Try not to break off the roots as you separate them, but don't panic if you break a few.

They may be a bit smaller/shorter this year due to this but they should grow and be just fine.

Karen,

if in doubt, take a pail of water to shake off most of the soil... so u can see where/what u are pulling apart. then replant. i normally do my repotting this time of the year.

i have no way of telling which bulb is which. when they bloom, i take some masking tape, write the name, attached the masking tape on the stem of the plant. so when i repot i know which is which. hope that help... ma vie

....soaking the clumps as MaVie says will make it a lot easier to separate the bulbs.......let them soak in the water for a couple of hours, and this will difinitely simplify your task.

"eyes"