Fine Gardening magazine growing tips

Reading my latest edition of my used to be favourite magazine. A nice article on Orienpets, lots of lovely pics. I said "YES" to myself when they said "Silk Road is indistinguishable from Northern Carillon".

But then, at the end of the article is a little section of growing tips.

-"Soak bulbs in a weak (5 percent) bleach solution." Uh huh, we do that with 10%. "This will kill any viruses that the bulb might be carrying." Scuse me, I don't buy that. Experts, your input please. - Input from JamesCo "Viruses, by their nature, inhabit the plant cells themselves. They swap the nucleus' DNA for RNA of the virus to proliferate." Thanks JamesCO, better wording than I could do.

- "Steep bulbs prior to planting for at least an hour in a water-soluable fertilizer bath." This also goes against a lot of information that I've read. How can the bulb use fertilizer now? You can kill some bulbs by fertilizing when they aren't yet growing.

- "Put an aspirin tablet in the bottom of each lily hole at planting time." No idea about this one. Input please.

- "Plant lily bulbs on their sides" (so they don't collect water and rot) ha ha Think they'll stay that way, or does it matter? No, of course they right themselves up.

Article was written by Woodruff Imberman

Sorry that non-subscribers can't read the rest of the thread. The small fee we pay for a bit more knowledge.




This message was edited Jun 29, 2006 10:13 AM

This message was edited Aug 6, 2006 2:24 PM

Well, I've heard about "on the side" and I can see where it might be beneficial in areas that get a lot of rain. I know it is standard advice given about crown imperials.

Inanda is a big supporter of soak the bulbs in a 10% solution of bleach and water to thwart excess passengers such as destructive beetles and after an experience I had with some bulbs this year, I believe I'll be doing that from now on. As to killing the virus, I doubt it but I'm not an expert. I think we need an expert to answer that question.

I don't buy into the fertilizer advice, but again, I really don't know. It just goes against everything I've ever been told or read. The asprin? I know some people will put one in with cut flowers to extend the bloom. Haven't a clue what it is suppose to do at the bottom of that hole.

The asperin keeps it from getting headaches, duh.

Viruses, by their nature, inhabit the plant cells themselves. They swap the nucleus' DNA for RNA of the virus to proliferate. Greif... Who write these articles these days?

It may be the hyped connection between aspirin and rooting hormone. But what, the bulb is loaded with it anyhow...
Frits have to be re-tipped each year and do benefit from it. Lilies? They don't have hollow centers and the practice sounds silly to me...
Boogie Woogie, eh Echoes?
K. James

Yes , Boogie Woogie, from last year. Haven't seen it yet this year. I still have a lot of blooms to wait for.

Beaker, I just saw some of Inanda's lilies tonight. Hers are a bit ahead of mine.

I don't recognise the name of the fellow that wrote this article, but that wouldn't necessarily mean he wasn't well known. Maybe just not well informed. Another question I would have for the editors would be where does this information come from, and has anyone checked it out. It's one thing to give advice, but........hey if you wear an elastic band around your wrist every morning until noon, you won't have dandruff. snicker.

If lily bulbs can pull themseves deeper into the soil, I bet they will turn upright too.

They do.

Perhaps the magazine could use a polite litte note pointing out the inaccuracies?

Who is the best writer amongst us. That is such rubbish. Someone needs to write to the editor. maybe a ton of seperate letters would be better. Address please, Echoes.

Veri - how I wish soaking in bleach would kill them. As James says, cells carry the infection. We soak bulbs in bleach to kill any mites, fungus, anything living that might be carried into your garden soil.

Aspirin. What c---. Bulbs are loaded with all the sugar and nutrients they need. The writer must have been reading something about using willow when rooting woody cuttings in water. that does work well.

Epsom salts, why not mention that.

5% bleach. Well, suppose that does depend on the strength of the bleach you use. Household bleach, you certainly need 10%.

Fertilizer bath???? Excuse me. He obviously doesn't grow lilies. Don't you try that dear readers.

Imperial fritillaria - yes always plant on their side, lilium - of course not.

I do plant begonia bulbs on their side if I'm not sure which way is up _in the days when I planted begonias. Also ranuncula. If you have a lily with very loose scales and you are in PNW perhaps and only perhaps you MIGHT tilt the bulb a bit off centre but honestly, I don't think so. Strangely enough, went hunting for a no show bulb the other day and found it just under the soil, growing not too happily upsidedown. Can only think of a squirrel or a cat maybe.

Think of the things the writer DIDNT mention, like how to protect bulbs from voles/squirrels, other baddies. When and how to fertilize. How about no manure to touch the bulb. That means DO NOT plant bulbs into soil amended with manure, unless very very old manure. How about the most important thing of all. Whats that you say. DRAINAGE. Lilies MUST have good drainage.

Silk Road - won't get into that.

Could go on and on BUT I'll go get that mag tomorrow. And some good letterhead.

inanda

While most of these so-called tips aren't harmful, I think the one about the fertilizer could be. I agree with Moby.

I bet they have a web site with a "contact us" page.

Please count me in (dmail me) for a nice mass writing of Moby's "polite litte note(s)." :

"Dear sirs; Please fire the below mentioned twit for the following reasons..."

Maybe the guy is a Jerry Baker fan and he really meant to say "soak the lily bulbs in beer, then plant it with an aspirin" (for the hangover).

See how easy that was, JamesCO? That was a perfectly polite beginning and didn't even include any blue language! LOL

The writer must have went right to the beer and skipped the aspirin....

Well now you guys have me laughing. That's much better. Maybe I'll go back and add to the first post for the members who can't read the rest.

Ginny, I was pretty sure what you'd say, just wanted to hear you say it.

www.finegardening.com is the website. Toll free number is 1-800-888-8286

The Taunton Press
635 Main St, Box 5506
Newtown, CT 06470 is he address they give for Human Rescources, so I guess the letter could also be sent there.


Contributor
"Woodruff Imberman knows a good lily when he sees one. He is a board member of the Species Lily Preservation Group of the North American Lily Society, an international lily judge, and an award-winning amateur lily hybridizer. Woodruff lives in Winneka, Illinois, right around the corner from the Chicago Botanic garden, where he assists the horticulturists with their lily collection.

Sounds llike he would know what he is talking about, doesn't it. No offence to board members or self appointed Society officials, but being on a board doesn't always give you credentials, in my book.

and so on.......

Duh. Oh well, I know him. Only I call him Woody, we all do. All at NALS> I wonder why. Am very sure that he will be totally razzed for this at NALS convention coming up next month.

So, am sure there will be letters to the Editor but no point in correcting HIM. Nothing works with him.

Ginny

New Grower, I read the article and I have a question concerning zones. It mentioned zone 7 as being as far south as you can grow garden lilies. I live in zone 8 and have ordered 10 or 12 of them for fall delivery. Am I wasting my money?

What amazes me is how many people read these articles in these magazines, and accept it as the truth (kind of like what is in the media for public consumption these days). It proves once again that one should always question what is "expert advice". Honestly, if it doesn't make sense, it probably isn't correct.
We can learn an ample amount from these publications, but also assesssing the "expert" and their "experience" level is equally important. Critical thinking isn't just for jobs anymore :0)
I am curious though ...Silk Road vs. Northern Carillon? I have Silk Road and was browsing through the Lily Nook website last night and was pondering buying that one. They do look so similar, in photographs. Does one have better traits?
Loved that lily photo Echoes! Thanks for sharing!

I really don't want to spend the money, but I think I need to read that article. The guys sounds like he would know what he is doing. Before I call someone a twit with those (alleged) credentials, I need to make sure for myself that he is a twit.

Inanda, know any flies that will be on the wall at NALS this year?

Flintrock, why not take a chance. You won't know till you try. I'm don't know which, but I'm sure some lilies would be better choices for your climate than others.

Magnolia, thanks. I'm glad you like the picture. Are you new to Dave's Garden? If so, welcome. As for the two lilies in question, I have heard that the originals are exactly the same. I have been told that a DNA test was done. Northern Carillon was the first one. So if you have one, don't bother getting the other.

beaker, did someone call him a twit? Ooh, don't think it was me.

LOL. I think I did.

buzz, buzz.... I'm going. The 'twit' was part of the writing example, above. :)

Well, twit sounds like a good description to me. I readily adopted it.

All right then. Now I won't have to say it, but I may come up with one of my own. You have to get the mag. They also have pictures of the contributors at the front.

Great, we will have a spy at NALS.

Pics huh? Don't know how much info I may be privy to but now I can keep my ears AND eyes open. Muwahaahaaa.......

Echoes-I've been around a while, just not as a paid member. The forums and photos got to be too intriguing, so I had to join :0) Thank you for the welcome.
How can 2 identicle lilies each be respected as a named individual lily? Who copied who? I thought they looked amazingly similar! But sometimes photos don't capture the differences/individual characteristics.

Flint-
I am in zone 8 and have had some luck this year with Orienpets. I had only one Oriental Lily bloom for me last year and we will see if others bloom this year. However, the Orienpets have done well. I don't think it will be a waste of money as you just don't know about some things until you try. I would make sure that you plant them in a location where they are shielded from the late afternoon sun. Asiatic & Trumpet Lilies do very well in Zone 8. So if the others don't work you might want to try some of them.

Hope this helps...

Isn't "The Lily Garden" in Vancouver, Washington in the middle of z8?

I called him a twit; as he and I have that much in common! I wonder all of the time about what I say- what is helpful and what is officious... But I am careful about wording unsolid information: "I have heard that... Someone tells me that... I can't confirm it, but...."

Echoes, I am familiar (deeply embedded) in a non-profit organization, and there is no question that board members are often clueless. No, almost always. There has to be a better way to structure things, as 99% of them don't even know what the non-profits site looks like!!! You know something is wrong when the workers/volunteers don't recognize all of the the strangers at annual meetings. Yet these folks make policies and agendas. Oh well.

I'm afraid this is why I have not subscribed to any garden magazines. I do look at the pictures while in the long line at the grocers, but after reading too many articles like this one, I am afraid that I don't make enough money to purchase the one good article for every ten not-so. I'm by no means an expert and the stuff comes across as either elementary, over repeated, or wrong.

Isn't DG the best thing since non-lead paint?
K. James

I have ordered asiatic, trumphet, and orienpet and the bed is planned for morning sun and afternoon shade.

Thank you all for being so helpful. I am new as a paid subscriber. Very nice to have that question answered.

Flintrock, glad you found the help you needed. Don't hesitate to start a thread if you have a question. More people will see it then.

K. as in your chosen words "I have heard that... Someone tells me that... I can't confirm it, but....", I seem to use those often myself. Yes, DG is a great source of info, but has its failings too at times. A lot of people have opinions before they have the facts, but I guess it's like that everywhere, human nature being what it is.

Magnolialover, you'll just have to think on that one for a bit, maybe do a little research of your own. Don't think we should go any further down that road on here. Probably shouldn't have mentioned it, but it was in the article.

Fabulous lily time in my yard, every morning a few new ones opening.

Hey guys,

Just had to bump this because The Chicago Tribune on Sept. 10th published an article by our friend "Special to the Tribune". Oh yes, repetition of the same rubbish re viruses. And asprin.
Some chat about this going on...and on...and on... on the list lilyphotos. Why there I wonder. Hope I've squashed it now.
inanda

Edited to change to lily photos. What was I thinking about.

This message was edited Sep 18, 2006 8:34 PM

PS. There were indeed some flies on walls at NALS. Our 'friend' is indeed a strange bird.
inanda

Well it showed up on the yahoo list group today...

Where is this chat with the lily photos?

For those with inquiring minds ~ http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/home/chi-0609100154sep10,1,113655.story?coll=chi-leisurehome-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true

Moby, there's a Yahoo chat group I belong to that exchanges a lot of photos. I seldom get over there because I spend so much time on DG. Also, it's a little slow if you are on dial up.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lily_photos/

The guy that runs the web site is also putting together a great new site based on the lily register that I think may also someday replace the Yahoo forum. I don't think it will ever replace Dave's.

http://www.lilyregister.com/

I just can't seem to get in the swing of things on the Yahoo group ~ after the ease of DG, Yahoo's format drives me nuts. I forget to go there now that I've opted out of the 40 daily emails.

Moby,

Why not go to digest or nomail. That is what I do most of the time with my yahoo groups. As the iris groups are archived on hort.net you can look at the pix there during the winter when you can't garden outside.
inanda

I set myself up an envelope in my hotmail account and have all the lilium emails directed there. I erase them (without opening) in pages and just leave the ones with photos behind. If and when I have time, I look at the photos. It seems to be a lot quicker than downloading photos to my mailbox and we're on dial-up too. It is quicker and easier to glance through and just find the interesting topics if you go to the lilium site on yahoo. No, it sure is not, and will never replace Dave's.

beaker, I don't think the same guy runs the lily register as runs the lilium site/list. I haven't read in a while, but the way I understood, there may be an attempt in the future to have a new lilium forum with a different format, started by the registry guy (Gerry Danen) or yet another person. I just want easy access to the lily registry and pics, without paying anything. Not asking for much?

Gerry has the new site. The original site that had all the lily register info was Mike something or other. I know Gerry has the new site, because I submitted some photos for the "new" register and a few suggestions for links and he emailed me back thanking me for my input.

I can't stand the Yahoo forums. You'd think they could make them better. I'd probably visit more often if it wasn't such a pain to use.

One of the things that I came to realize this past summer is how many unregistered lilies are out there. I guess this was the first year that I had real problems identifying a plant because there were plants that had the same name such a Regatta and then Oklahoma. I can definitely see why some people have an interest in patenting names.

No, I don't enjoy Yahoo either. I belong on a few lists, but if you don't really need the info on them, I wonder "why bother?". Sorry, I think I misundertood what you were saying. Mike Homick was the other fellow's name.