Hi Everyone - This year has to be the year that I divide up some of my Oriental/Asiatic Lilies. They are way too crowded in their current bed. When is the best time to do this? Do I immediately transfer them to the places that I want them to grow or do I have to let them dry out or anything first? I also want to share them with my niece who resides in another state. Any suggestions on how long they can be kept out of the ground?
Any and all tips accepted gratefully. Thanks ya'll.
Ruby
New to dividing Lilies
Hi Ruby,
I like to dig and separate them in fall as the leaves are turning brown. Be careful because often lilies sprout a few inches from where the bulb actually is- I've often sliced right through a bulb, very frustrating! Lily bulbs shouldn't be allowed to dry out (or left too wet either), so I prefer to replant them immediately. While they are out of the ground I store them in very slightly moist peat moss in a cool place. If you can't get them in the ground quickly, they can be stored in the fridg, until spring if necessary, but make sure no fruit is kept in there with them (ethylene gas released from fruits can stimulate premature sprouting), and check the bulbs from time to time to make sure they're not too moist (they can rot). You could also just pot up the bulbs and leave them sitting outside and plant them whenever its convenient. In your zone the pots would be fine left out all winter. I've done that without problems. I have a pot of LA hybrids that I suspected may be virused, so I sat them under a peach tree in the orchard area well away from the rest of my other lilies. They've been in the pot since spring of last year (when I moved to this house) and I'd actually forgotten all about them. A couple of days ago I noticed they're blooming their hearts out, and haven't even been watered! And no signs of virus :-)
Best of luck,
Neal
Thank you Neal. I wasn't aware that drying out would harm them or being too wet also. We will most likely replant the ones that we are going to keep the same day that we dig them. I wanted to share some with my niece out of state and wasn't sure how to handle them until getting them to her. I will let her decide whether she want to plant them in the fall or in the spring and that will determine what I do with them after digging.
Again, very informative and I thank you for your answer.
Ruby