How to grow lilies?

There are many kinds of bulb flowers, such as lily, amaryllis, tulips and hyacinth . Lily is not only popular as a fresh cut flower , but also suitable for home potted plants. If properly managed, you can enjoy its flowers every year. It is both beautiful and economical. Let’s learn about the methods and techniques for growing lilies.

1. Variety selection

There are many varieties of lily bulbs , including Asiatic lily, Oriental lily, LO lily, OT lily, etc. They differ in plant height, number of flower buds and fragrance concentration. It is recommended for novice growers to choose OT lilies. When purchasing, don't be greedy for cheapness to avoid buying inferior or counterfeit products.

2. Bulb processing

After receiving the lily bulbs, check their surface, remove damaged and rotten parts, trim the dry roots, and then soak them in a carbendazim solution for 30 minutes. After drying, they can be planted.

3. Flowerpot selection

It is not advisable to use a flowerpot that is too large when planting lilies . Generally speaking, a flowerpot with a diameter of about 20 cm is suitable for planting 3 lily bulbs, which will not be too crowded and can ensure fullness when flowering.

4. Soil selection

When planting bulbous flowers, you should choose loose, breathable and nutrient-rich soil. It is recommended to mix general nutrient soil and granular soil in a ratio of 3:1. Add soil and organic fertilizer to the bottom of the flowerpot as base fertilizer, then cover it with a layer of soil, put in the treated bulbs, and cover it with soil again. The height of the soil should be about 3 times the height of the bulbs.

5. Watering

Watering management of lily bulbs is crucial, as too much water will cause the bulbs to rot. Water thoroughly after planting, and then water again when the soil in the pot is half dry. Water thoroughly each time.

6. Maintain the environment

Newly planted lily potted plants should be placed in a cool and ventilated place for 1-2 weeks, and then moved to a sunny place after budding or 1-2 weeks later, preferably direct light, to ensure sufficient light and promote flowering.

7. Nutrient management

Lily bulbs are less susceptible to diseases and pests during the planting process, so nutrient and water management are key. In addition to the organic fertilizer base used during planting, compound fertilizer with balanced nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium can be used later. About half a month after germination, apply fertilizer once on the surface of the potting soil. Be careful to apply thin fertilizer frequently. When the plant starts to grow flower buds, apply more phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, such as potassium dihydrogen phosphate or Huaduoduo No. 2, dilute them at a ratio of 1:1200, and spray them on the leaves and irrigate the roots to promote more flowers and brighter colors.

8. Pruning

After the lily flowers wither, cut off the remaining flowers in time to avoid seed formation and consumption of nutrients. Keep the stems and leaves; they can still photosynthesize. Usually in November or December of the same year, the stems of lily bulbs will wither. During the period from cutting off the remaining flowers to the withering of the stems, the bulbs will gradually recover their vitality, and after dormancy in winter, they will grow and bloom again in the spring of the following year.

In short, lily bulbs need sufficient sunlight to promote photosynthesis and nutrient absorption, thereby increasing the growth rate and photosynthetic capacity of the plant.