Lily in a pot

allyBB · May 2017

Hi,

I bought a lily bulb last year, as I remember it should be oriental lily, it bloomed very nicely, it died in the Winter.

It started to glow earlier this year about 6-7cm, unfortunely it was eaten by the birds while I was away. I left the bulb in the pot and kept watering, it glows again. It has shot 4 stems, the tallest one is now 35cm long but just not flowering, none of them flowering. I wonder why?

Also, I bought some other bulbs, some of the roots are quite long, can I cut them shorter?

Do I need to soak them before planting?

Thanks!

Last edited: 08 May 2017 17:28:39

Fairygirl · May 2017

They don't flower at this time of year unless they've been forced, or are undercover. Usually around July for them. They need a good bit of food to do well, so make sure you repot them as they grow. After flowering, or when dormant, is the best time, but you should remove some old soil/compost each sping and replace it with new stuff if they're staying in pots.

Birds won't have eaten them either - it will have been slugs/snails. They're very fond of the lush, new growth in spring.

What are the other bulbs, and why do you want to shorten the roots?

allyBB · May 2017

I remember last year this lily bloomed around Middle of May, ok, I will wait and see.

I didn't put the pot in the garden, I didn't see what ate it just all gone leaving a hole in the pot when I came back

The other also lily bulbs, because the roots are quite long don't sit well in the pot when I put more than one bulb there. Some peole say better not to touch the roots, some say yes, just not sure...

Fairygirl · May 2017

Are they indoors all the time? Oriental lilies are hardy in the UK. If you bought it last year and it was flowering in May, it's probably because it will have been grown undercover - many plants are.

If the bulb itself had been taken, I'm not sure what would have taken it if it's inside. It's more likely that it's been overwaterd and then rotted.

I'm slightly confused as to why you have lots of roots on the plants and they aren't actually planted. If they're already growing, you need to plant them or they'll just dry out - they won't grow otherwise. You can plant more closely in pots anyway. I wouldn't cut the roots, just put less compost in the pots to start with, and fill in round and above them. They 'll find their way down into the compost once they're watered in.

allyBB · May 2017

Yes, I put the pot most of the time indoor but near the window to have sunshine.

I believe the bulb still in the pot, just it started to glow about 6-7cm long, the little stem and leaves were eaten by unknown animal... That's why later it shot another stems again from the bulb.

I bought the other bulbs from the shop, it has some roots already but they are dry in the pack.

Thanks for your advance, I will quickly plant them

Lily in a pot

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