I'm just starting to plant O.L.
I sure like the fact that they start blooming as my daylilies are beginning to wind down...
and WOWZER sooo fragrant! :)
Seems like they are doing quite well this year but some of mine have distorted blossoms.
Know why?
Also some of the newer planted O.L. are short. Do they get taller stems as they mature?
Any peticular fertilizer they like?
Do they multiply?
I do not know about the distorted blossoms however, I know that the smaller bulbs that are not fully mature will have shorter stems. In my garden in so cal. they do get the taller stems as they mature and they also multiply, evidenced by more short stems next year. The really new ones grow stems and leaves but no flowers. You just have to let them mature. I don't know if you have to lift them in your zone, or how well they do in the winter in your area. In my area, we leave them in the ground all year. I don't feed mine, so maybe someone else can advise on fertilizer.
Late frosts will produce distorted blooms. Most of the upper midwest had poor lily blooms last year due to frost. Bugs getting into the bud will also distort the bloom. That's the only two I've experienced that I know what happened. I would think there are other causes.
On the height question, yes they do get taller every year. I'm guessing they each have their own limit but I don't know for sure. My oldest Marco Polo Oriental is well over my head and it is 7 or 8, I think, years old now. It doesn't grow much now, just a bit every year. The first year they were only abt 2 ft tall. Check PF or google your cultivars to find out the mature height.
They do multiply but at a much slower rate than asiatics. I think I had my first baby O at the 3 or 4 year mark. Patience is the key. :)
Fertilizer - I forget what is recommended. Hopefully someone else will be able to jump in here and help you.
This is what I do. Composted manure over them on top of the snow, whenever I get around to it. In the spring fertilize when stems are a couple of inches high. Again when I see buds - baby buds. Then the last time after all blooming finished.
Seeing that you are in california, don't really know how to help you. Maybe someone from CA will be able to give you info,.inanda
Thanks for all the info folks and I live in Michigan Z5
inanda...Zone 2 hey? YIKES!! ;-)
Most lilies love a long cold winter sleep. We do tend to push the zones here a bit. Also, with global warming, we do get some surprises here. For instance I forgot to dig up a louisiana iris and it survived -no bloom though - this year. Also crocrosmia which are almost ready to bloom now. A friend just out of town has her crocrosmia blooming already.
inanda
And I thought Z5 was cold! LOL
They like a little acid in their soil too. Plant with a little peat moss.
Thanks for your comments.
Heres an updated picture with more blossoms.
And a close up of Casablanca
I don't have peat moss in any lily hole. Think it would cause wet (=rot) around the bulb. If you want to acidify the ground, then water with soe vinegar in the water. That would be better I think. That is what I do for anything needing acidity.
inanda
I use tons of peat moss and don't have problems with rotting. Of course, I mix it well with the garden soil.
Mine like to rot in the clay--peat moss would only multiply the problem by holding moisture.
We had a few later frosts and some of my buds & subsequent flowers were distorted as well. I also had a number of lilies that were quite short last year but much, much taller this year. Your stargazers are quite lovely!
I have amended clay soil, and I amend it with compost that includes decomposing oak leaves that have been mulched--they are quite acidic.
Bethany
I have heavy clay and the bulbs would normally rot during the rainy winter season, so I always plant with about 2 inches of pea gravel in the hole beneath the bulb. Have not had any rotting issues since then.
cottage rose,
my stargazers have never made a baby. this year they are 5 years old. i had another o.l. called pink icicles that started making lots of babies the 2nd year. unfortunately i had a vole attack on my lilies 2 winters ago and a lot of my older bulbs were eaten. i do remember one called little rascal had made a baby or two at just 2 years old. acapulco started making babies 2 years ago, that would have been @ 2 or 3 years old. i have started all these bulbs from 14/16/maybe 18cm. i figure it only takes them a year to catch up and they are usually less expensive. :-) so i can have more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
good luck. and enjoy.
debi z
when i plant my bulbs now i use a sharp pea gravel type stone for the voles, i plant them with triplephosphate. this fertilizer does not burn the new roots and it also puts all the energy where you want it, into establishing the roots. then i'll put on some bulb fertilizer as inanda does.
someone on another thread suggested bonemeal and red pepper to distract the little critters. i'll most likely be trying this too. :-)
