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After lilies

owd potterowd potter Posts: 979
in Plants
My lilies have done their thing and are now fading. How should I treat them now?
Should I remove the flower heads and leave the stems and leaves to die back into the bulb for next year?
Should I leave the bulbs in the pots placed in some forgotten corner until next year or lift and store them? 
Owd.
Just another day at the plant...

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Yes - to all of that, although lifting and storing is a personal choice. I've never done it :)
    Some people do it to prevent them getting too wet, but I put them in the shelter of a house wall and have never had a problem, even with our hefty rainfall. If they have a suitable medium to grow in, it shouldn't be an issue.

    I often give mine a liquid feed too at that point - seaweed/tomato - just to give them an extra boost when they're in pots. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ZenjeffZenjeff Posts: 652
    Same here in the northeast plenty of rain ,left in pots feed them with tomato feed, when they first show in spring I feed them with fish blood and bone meal ,they come back every year never had any problems with rot .
  • owd potterowd potter Posts: 979
    Thanks @Fairygirl
    @Zenjeff spectacular display. Mine were over too quickly.
    Do you know if maybe there are other lily varieties to prolong the flowering period? 
    Just another day at the plant...
  • ZenjeffZenjeff Posts: 652
    Hi mine don’t all flower at the same time regal Lilly’s first then orientals then lotus,have a look at this supplier.https://www.hwhyde.co.uk/catalog/39?user_sort_by=prName_asc
  • louise.colleylouise.colley Posts: 102
    I had issues this year with lily beetles! Should I replace soil in my pots if so? I’ve left in pots for the last 3 years but this year the flowers were the worst I’ve had. Advices welcome 
  • Kate.harriKate.harri Posts: 44
    The Lily Beetle is a menace on anything Lily. I usually use Pravado. The Beetles are a bright red and can be picked off and squashed...do not drop them. It’s the larvae they leave behind that does the damage.

    https://gardening.which.co.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/115000181269-Lily-beetle





  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    All of my lilies have given a pretty poor show this year compared to normal.  The ones in pots (which I water regularly) fared better so I suspect those in the ground were affected by the drought conditions we had here for several months.  They all get attacked by lily beetle, for which I always keep an eye-out. I've seen reports that neem oil or home-made garlic sprays can keep them away so I'll be trying that next year (although I fully expect to still be picking them off and crushing them as usual!)
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • owd potterowd potter Posts: 979
    Much to be said for a healthy dose of neglect it seems. As suggested ^ these were deadheaded, fed, and consigned to a forgotten corner.
    They have responded well and seem to have multiplied?, I do not recall there being so many shoots last year.
    Can I split and repot them now?
     
    Just another day at the plant...
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