So far so good....winterizing tropical lily in zone 5

I had a particular pretty lily this year and did not wanted to lose it, as I always do.
The pot it came in fitted perfectly in a 7 gallon pail that I had around, this is the same type that you can get at your local harware store. In went the lily and I filled it with water from the tap. I also bought an airpump and an airstone for an aquarium. Next I bought a single shoplight and a corrisponding aquarium/plant light tube, 20 watts. The total cost so far is about $30, still cheeper than replacing the plant. So far the plant is surviving...not great but surviving, 4 months or so to go.
I'll post pictures of my set up as soon as I take some

Might I suggest a aquarium water heater,to keep the water as warm as possible!

I was thinking that I dont want to stimulate the growth of this plant too much.
In the pond it gets to about 6' across...I'm hoping to keep it semidormant this way
Please correct me if you think I'm doing this wrong

This message was edited Dec 19, 2005 8:03 AM

Well I've read that there are 3 ways to overwinter,tropical lillies.
One is to store in wet sand in a plastic container,in your basement,cut off all the leaves,wash off roots,and treat with a fungucide,the other is a container with the aquarium heater,just warm enough to prevent any damage to the crown or roots,and yes a third way,keep in a pond in a heated greenhouse.

Right now the temperature is around 65 F

I think mine are doing okay.

I have a few that are being stored "potted" in a bin of water in a dark cool place...very cool but above freezing. I am concerned that these may rot but my goal was for them to go dormant. When I looked at them on Dec 1..they looked okay.

My major plan....when I repotted or downsized the pots of the ones mentioned above...I tried to take a small lily plantlet from each type. These I repotted into small containers and they are overwintering in an old aquarium with 2 hooded lights to provide heat and light. I use a timer to run the lights about 12 hours each day. These seem to be doing great !! I am very pleased so far.

I had a couple of tubers that I have in damp peatmoss in a plastic bag in the frig.

Good luck with yours :)
charlotte

65* sounds very good.
I tried one couple years back in a wash tub in a heated greenhouse
at 50*,it was a small one not really established very good,got in a late fall trade,about february I noticed all the leaves yellowing,so I checked the roots and they were mushy and soft,I was too late to revive it.
So now I just have hardy ones,someday I will try again.

Now that the days are getting longer I would like to move it outside back in the pond.
The water is still pretty cold (40) ...at what temperature should I try?
Thanks

70 degrees water temp for tropicals !!

Will water under 70 degrees kill the plant or just keep it dormant?
Right now the temperature is upper 50

Not sure... I would feel better if the temp was at least 65-70. I'm sure I have read somewhere to not let your tropicals set in a pond with water below 55.

If you are anxious to get them outside....you might buy a nice black plastic tub or something that will absorb heat from the sun and put them in a protected place near the house. ?

Thank you...I'll keep you all posted on what I'll do

I have NOT had success with having tropicals going dormant for me ...if they do,,they stay dormant forever... LOL... You are getting close to being safe ..just a bit more.

charlotte