I am very new to lilies. Have oriental and asiatic, and I need to know what to do with the foliage and stalks, after they finish blooming. I haven't done anything to any, and I am wondering if I need to cut them back. Help!!
What to do with yellowing stalks and foliage?
I know it is ugly but I leave them till browned and dry. That is how the bulbs store their energy to bloom next year...
Edited to add, the best way to ignore them is plant with other plants that will hide the uglies...
This message was edited Aug 17, 2007 7:20 AM
Thanks
It could be a fungal disease called botrysis. You can use a copper spray or fungicide to treat it. If the leaves aren't green, there is no energy going to the bulb, as far as I understand.
Magnolialover, I don't think Defoecats were yellow. Mine yellow due to heat in late summer as they play out. Defoecat was just wondering about cutting back I think?
Oh, okay. Sorry, I misunderstood.
Yeah, leave as many leaves as possible until frost or late fall, then cut back.
magnolialover, I took that information in stride. They all bloomed beautifully, but I had left the stem and foliage, so I guess I did the right thing. Blind hogs stumble across acorns sometimes!!
Thanks
I always cut the seed pods off to give enrgy back to the bulb, instead of into seed. It makes a big difference in what you will get from that bulb the next year.
Oh, thanks for that information, something else I learned today.
I set a lot of seed on my lilies last year (as most of you know) and this year many came up a foot or two and stopped, a few others disappeared altogether. Honestly, I knew better and did it anyway. I just couln't stop daubing. So the lesson is, if you are not interested in collecting seed, remove all pods. Do it when the petals fall then the pods won't get started growing in the first place. Your bulbs will thank you!
Oh fooey-is it too late now? To cut off the pods?
I just got around to removing some of my unwanted pods a couple of days ago. That really doesn't answer your question but it can only do good and not bad to remove them now.
I rushed right out and cut off any I'd left. :-)