Carolina lily scales have leaves.... and I need advice...

Back in August, y'all were kind enough to help me ID this beautiful "ditch" lily. http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/754387/
After that thread, I went back and dug up a couple more. I did leave plenty for the next season.

Prior to this I had only played with the common lilies.

Somewhere online, I got educated about the bulbs. These bulbs had a lot of scales. A few of which fell off. I took a gallon baggie and filled it with moistened peat moss. I left it laying out in the plant shelter for the past two months, fully expecting the scale to rot.

Today I am out there working toward getting ready for moving plants in for fall and find the bag. I noticed one of the scale was a good color. I opened the bag and dug in the peat and found four scale with plants starting. I didn't look for more and only tucked them back in the bag.

Now, I need more help! What the heck do I do with them now? Any advice on what the next step is? It will be appreciated... pod

I would go through the baggie carefully CAREFULLY and pot up. Then bury the pot for the winter WELL MARKED or grow on inside, your choice.

If growing inside, put pot in fridge in a big baggie when the leaves die down. If they don't die down, grow them on all winter and then plant out WELL MARKED in the spring.

Inanda aka Ginny, busily scaling all lilies before replanting.

Forgot to mention, now is the time to go back to the patch and collect some seed. If you don't wnt to spread around to other DGers or friends, send to the Lily Species group. LMK if you want the address.

inanda

Inanda ~ so sorry to say there are no seeds left. I get aggravated. Texas spends money planting wildflowers in the ditches. Then before the seeds set, they mow. This was not planted by them but apparently a volunteer that is rarely found in this area. Needless to say, they mowed the foliage down a few weeks ago...

I am taking it that they should be exposed to a cold temp for a period of time? I appreciate your knowledge and advice. I had thought I needed to pot them up but figured they would have to have grow lights and heat thru the winter and I am not really set up for that. Was planning to make arrangements with a local GH.

One quick question please? When you said you were scaling bulbs, the reading I have done indicates some scales should be left for bulb food storage ~ yes or no?

Thanks much, pod

Absolutely ~ if you expect that bulb to grow again but there's nothing wrong with taking a few of the outer scales.

I honestly don't know how many scale I planted. The bulbs were dry and these fell of with the least provocation. I will be curious to sort thru the ziploc and see how many have sprouted.

Inanda ~

SLPG -Species Lily Preservation Group - can be found at

http://www.lilies.org/slpg.html

An important society, affiliated with NALS, to make sure species lilies are protected.
inanda

Thanks for the link, I will save to the journal. Would this "wildflower" be considered a species lily?

Another dumb question please ~ I do so appreciate your knowledge and patience. I have read that a specific lily spreads a virus to other lilies. Is this the one? Not that I have any other special ones just plain old NOIDs...

Lancifolium is the one we call Lizzie Borden around here. It looks quite normal but do not plant anywhere within bug flying distance. The orange one you see all around. It carries the virus and can cause nearby lilium to show virus conditions.

inanda

Thank you ~ I will research that one further. pod

Today, I rummaged thru the sphagnum moss and found many plantlets. Only two scale that had a metallic aqua mold so discarded them. I also found only 4 or 5 that had not sprouted. I think they were buried too deep in the moss. I tucked them near the top of the moss and returned them to the plant shelter.

I planted the little lily plantlets in 3 one gallon pots and placed them in a "bright light" sheltered area. Will keep them moistened and await blooms... 8 ) Thanks to all for the advice and support.