I have some tiger lily bulbils that I need to store for 2-4 weeks (depends upon when our new house is done.) What is the best way to do this? Should I keep them in the basement (cool and dark), the fridge (cooler and darker)? Is a certain kind of container better than another (glass vs paper etc)?
My plan is to plant them when we move into our new house. I've done a bit of reading around the internet and the general consensus seems to be to plant them about an inch down and they may put out a leaf or two before hibernating over winter. I am thinking of adding mulch to the nursery bed as well. Does this seem like a good plan?
The parent plants are bulbs that my grandparents grew. My grandparents have both passed away and their house was sold this spring. My aunt helped me to dig up the bulbs this spring right after they sprouted. We planted them at my mom's house. I've been hovering over them for the past 3 months. I'm sure that my family thinks I'm a little nuts because I make a big deal whenever the lilies do something new ;) "Oh look, they've grown taller, have bulbils, are going to bloom, etc. etc." I'm just really excited at having plants that my grandparents loved at my new house!
Thanks so much to anyone who gives me advice on caring for my babies!
Storing and planting bulbils
Think I would keep them in the fridge, in a ziplock bag with sand or perlite or vermiculite, whatever you have. With luck, something white(ish) like sandbox sand (dry) so that the bulbils will stand out, when you take them to plant out.
Another idea is to plant them now, in a pot. Then when your garden is ready, just sink the pot BELOW GROUND LEVEL for the winter, with a marker stick. Lip of the pot needs to be below ground level so that cold is not conducted by the plastic showing above ground. in the spring when they start growing, you can tap out the pot and plant in your nursery area.
inanda