The Old Tiger Has Been Busy!

Looks like last season must have been a great year for the old tiger lily! She had babies all over the place! Does anyone know the best way to share the little seedlings that come from the bulblets that grow on the stem of the lily? That is what all these babies are from. Last year I sent some to a few people for postage but they didn't appreciate being moved at all and some didn't grow once they replanted them. If anyone knows the best way to share these I would be glad to share. Otherwise I am going to just hoe them. There are way too many!

Hi thripmaster!
I think the best time to send them would be in late summer when the bulblets come off the leaf axils. As for the ones that have already fallen off and are growing around the mother, it may be best to wait till fall and dig the little bulbs. Most lilies don't like being moved once they're in active growth. Good luck, Neal.

If I wait let these bulblets keep growing I am going to have an absolute forest of lilies! Maybe I'll thin some out and also save some to share. Can I just remove the bulblets from the mother plant in the late summer before they fall off the stem and share those Every year there are hundreds! These are very old and happy tigers that reproduce with wild abandon. BTW, I can't wait for my Joe Pyes you gave me to come up. I have been checking every day, but so far no sign. It is going to be 78 degrees next week so I bet they show their face soon. That is one of my favorite plants.

Sorry, don't know anything about lilies, but your beautiful tiger caught my eye. What if you put down flats with soil in them around the mommy in the fall before the babies fall off? Then they'd start growing in something you could move around? Or maybe there isn't enough room between the plants. A forest of those tigers sounds like it'd be absolutely lovely. Good luck!

I am thinking of trying to get some of the babies and put them in pots. I hope that if I get enough soil with the bulblet it won't know it got moved. Then I can share as small plants.

I think taking the bulblets directly off the stems works great, I've started them that way. Potting them up should work well to.

The Joe Pye here does'nt really get going till the warmth is here to stay, if I remember correctly, in May. In your zone I imagine they'll be up a month or so earlier.

My asiatics form bulblets that have one prominent light colored "root" coming off the bottom. I usually just pop them off after the flower is gone off the main stalk and nest them in a flat of well drained potting soil. I'm in Greensboro so I usually get a nice start on some late summer/fall growth. Last year I did manage to loose the whole flat because I forgot it was out and if froze solid. Once it thawed it was mush. Just remember to overwinter in a freeze-free area. I'll be watching for when you post the babies. My mom had a bunch of orange tiger lilies when we lived in Connecticut. It was my favorite planting, in front of them she had those orange "Chinese Lanterns". Good luck:)

I have old fashioned tiger lilies from my DH homeplace. I have tried moving them when they were only 3-4 inches tall. They didn't make the transplant, but I did have better luck when they are larger 10-12inches.
Teresa

bummer. Thrip, I think I was one of the lucky ones to get bulbs from you. I am to give up on these? I potted immediately after receiving from you. Don't see any lily-like leaves as of yet.

vossner...I think I sent you bulbs later in the season. Yours should grow fine when it warms up. I don't think I sent you baby plants. But, the good news is that I have about a zillion! If yours don't grow let me know and I'll send you some more this summer.

oh OK. I will keep watching, then. thanks

I got lots of bulblets from an Asiatic lily, I put them in a deep window type planter, you know the long ones on feet, about 8" deep and a similar width, 30" or so long. I planted them deep in a leafy compost mix with gritty free draining river soil and some moss peat mixed in. Left them 2 and 1/2 years in semi-shaded spot, planted in spring and they flowered that year less than 3 years on. I also had another lot of bulbets from those when I took them out of the planter, so filled it up again!

If you move these small bulbs and put in the ground they are likely to get dry and being small will die, the clue is nursery care until they are bigger. If you can send them in a moist medium and the recipient can plant them up and let them grow first it might be successful, but any drying will likely affect them.

This is the lily

Just Beautiful!! I'll remember that this summer when I start collecting the bulblets. Thanks for the advice.
Robin

Robin,
I would love to try some of those bulblets when you collect them this summer, if you're willing to send them in exchange for postage. It sounds like that would be better than sending the small plants, if i've understood what everyone has said....
Maggi xxxx

Hi Maggi: I would be happy to share with you. Please drop me a not to remind me and I'll send you a bunch!

Robin

Thanks Robin! Now I have to write myself a note to remind me to send you a note........
Maggi xxxx