A Detailed Guide to the Four Main Propagation Methods for Lilies

Lilies are one of the main materials for cut flowers. Because lilies carry excellent symbolic meanings and have a unique fragrance, they are also deeply loved by people. So how should lilies be propagated? Here, the editor will introduce four relatively common lily propagation methods for you. Friends who love lilies can learn from them.

Lily

I. Scale cuttings:Widely used for propagating various lilies. In autumn or spring, dry mature and robust lily bulbs in the shade for several days, then peel off the scales and insert them obliquely into coarse sand or granular peat, with the tips slightly exposed above the surface. Generally, when cuttings are taken in spring, most will take root and produce leaves after 2 to 4 months, and small bulbs will grow from the base of the scales, at which point they can be transplanted. If cuttings are taken in autumn, maintain the temperature at around 20°C, and after more than 1 month, rooted bulblets will form from the wound of the scales. From the scales taking root and sprouting to the plant flowering generally takes 3 to 4 years.

II. Bulb division:This is a commonly used method for propagating lilies. The specific method is to use appropriate deep planting and removal of flower buds to encourage many bulblets to grow at the stem nodes buried in the soil, or after the flowers fade, cut the stem into short sections and bury them in moist sand with the leaves exposed; after about 1 month, bulblets will grow from the leaf axils; the bulblets are cultivated for 1 to 3 years before being used as planting bulbs.

III. Bulbil division:Suitable for species such as Lilium lancifolium (tiger lily) and Lilium concolor var. pulchellum that easily produce bulbils in the leaf axils. The method is to collect the bulbils after the flowers fade and before the bulbils begin to fall off, and store them in sand; they can also be sown directly in a seedbed. Under normal fertilization and management conditions, they can bloom after 2 to 3 years of cultivation.

IV. Seed sowing:Suitable for Lilium regale (regal lily), Lilium longiflorum (Easter lily) and some hybrid species. The specific method is to wait until the capsules mature, take out the flat seeds, and sow them immediately, or dry them in the shade and store them until autumn or the following spring for sowing.

Lily cultivation and planting methods, how lilies are propagated

Lilies can be propagated by cuttings, bulb division and tissue culture. As spring temperatures gradually rise, we can plant lilies. At this time, in addition to paying attention to maintaining moisture for the long term, we also need to pay attention to weeding and fertilizing. The temperature for lily growth and flowering is 16-24°C; below 5°C or above 30°C, growth will stop.

Lilies have gorgeous flower colors and a fresh scent, and carry the beautiful symbolism of family happiness and blessings. They have always been a commonly used flower for decorating homes.

The suitable growth temperature for lilies is 15 to 25°C. Below 10°C, growth is slow; above 30°C, growth is poor. During growth, a daytime temperature of 21 to 23°C and a nighttime temperature of 15 to 17°C are best. Bulbs for forcing cultivation must undergo low-temperature storage at 7 to 10°C for 4 to 6 weeks. This growth habit of lilies determines how they are cared for.

Pay attention to land preparation and fertilization. Lilies have strong adaptability and prefer a mild climate with plenty of sunlight. The soil should preferably be deep, well-drained sandy loam; clay soil is second best; waterlogged land is not suitable for planting.

When necessary, drain it. Lilies need moist water for cultivation, which is beneficial to the growth of stems and leaves. If the soil is too wet, waterlogged or poorly drained, it will cause the lily bulbs to rot and die. For potted lilies, watering should gradually increase as the plant grows. During the flowering period, the water supply should be sufficient; after flowering, water should be reduced; after the aboveground part withers, watering should stop.

The main diseases and pests of lilies are black spot, gray mold and rust, which can be controlled by spraying 500 times diluted 25% carbendazim wettable powder. Pests include white grubs and aphids, which can be killed by spraying 1000 times diluted 50% dichlorvos emulsifiable concentrate. That is all for how to cultivate lilies. I hope it is helpful to you.

At harvest time, select daughter bulbs with well-developed root systems, large size, tightly closed scales, white color, proper shape, no damage, and no pests or diseases as seeds. Disinfect them with chemicals: soak the seeds in agricultural streptomycin for 30 minutes, spray with 800-1000 times diluted carbendazim and cover for 30 minutes, or soak in 2% formalin for 15 minutes, then dry and plant. The most suitable planting season for lilies is the 9th to 10th lunar month. Planting at this time can make full use of the effective temperatures before winter, promote the growth of the main roots, and help them emerge early in spring.

When planting, open shallow holes (13CM) for planting, generally with row spacing of 25—30-40 cm and plant spacing of 17—20 cm. Cover with 7-10 cm of soil. Then pile seed fertilizer and soil-ash mixture between the plants, and spread decomposed barnyard manure on the bed surface. Then cover with a layer of fallen leaves or rice straw to prevent freezing and preserve moisture. 1—15,000 plants per mu, with a seed quantity of 150-250 kg. In Shaoyang and Lanzhou, propagation using scales, bulbils or bulblets takes 2 years (Hunan) or 3 years (Lanzhou). After being cultivated into planting bulbs, they are transplanted, and harvested after 2 years of growth.

a. Early-stage management. In winter, choose sunny days for intertillage, sun the surface soil, and preserve soil moisture and temperature. Before emergence in spring, loosen the soil and hoe weeds to raise soil temperature, promote early sprouting, and cover with grass to preserve moisture. Eliminate weeds and prevent heavy rain from washing the soil, and do not let the surface soil become compacted. In summer, prevent rot caused by high temperatures; when it turns cool, keep warm again, prevent frost, and apply seedling-promoting fertilizer to promote lily growth. Generally, from planting to emergence, intertill 2-3 times. In the middle stage of growth, loosen the soil another 2-3 times to loosen the soil, clear weeds, and combine with earthing up to prevent the bulbs from being exposed.

b. Middle and late-stage management. First, clear ditches and drain water. Lilies fear waterlogging most, so ditches should be cleared and water drained frequently, so that soil waterlogging dries after the rain stops. Second, top appropriately in time. When lilies sprout in spring, one strong sprout should be retained and the rest removed to avoid splitting the bulbs. Around Xiaoman, when the seedlings grow to 27-33 cm tall, remove the tips in time to control aboveground growth and concentrate nutrients to promote underground bulb growth. For varieties with bulbils, if you do not plan to use the bulbils for propagation, remove them in time around Mangzhong, combined with summer flower removal, to reduce nutrient consumption of the bulbs. The most suitable timing is: when the flower buds turn from upright to drooping, and the color changes from all green to pinkish red on the side facing the sun. The time is June. Third, after topping, control nitrogen fertilizer application. To promote rapid enlargement of young bulbs. Around Xiazhi, remove bulbils and clear ditches and furrows in time to reduce field temperature and humidity. Remove flowers and top.

c. Topdressing. The 1st time is stable application of winter fertilizer. In January, before Lichun, when lily seedlings have not yet emerged, apply about 1000 kg of human manure and urine per mu combined with intertillage to promote root development and strengthen roots. The 2nd time is heavy application of seedling-strengthening fertilizer. In early April, when lily seedlings are 10-20CM tall, apply 500 kg of human and livestock manure water, 150-250 kg of fermented decomposed cake fertilizer, and 10-15 kg of compound fertilizer per mu to promote strong seedlings. The 3rd time is appropriate application of scale-strengthening fertilizer. After Xiaoman, in early to mid-June, after flowering and topping, apply 15 kg of urea and 10 kg of potassium fertilizer per mu to promote scale enlargement. At the same time, spray 0.2% monopotassium phosphate on the leaves. Note that this topdressing must be completed 40-50 days before harvesting. After the winter vegetables interplanted in autumn are harvested, apply manure once combined with loosening the soil; after emergence in spring, apply manure 1-2 times according to seedling condition to promote early sprouting and strong seedlings. Generally, apply 30-40 loads of dilute human manure water and 10-15 kg of phosphate fertilizer per mu each time.

The Four Propagation Methods for Lilies and Their Care Techniques

Lilies are mainly used for ornamental purposes. Lily bulbs are rich in starch, and some can even be eaten as vegetables. In China, edible lilies have a long history, and traditional Chinese medicine believes that lilies are slightly cold and neutral in nature, with the effects of moistening the lungs, clearing heat, and calming the mind. Both the flowers and scaly stems can be used as medicine. They are a flower that serves as both medicine and food. So, would everyone like to know what lily planting techniques there are? Do you want to grow lilies well? Today, the editor will introduce them to you in detail. Let's follow the editor and learn together.

Lily propagation methods

Lily propagation methods include sowing, dividing small bulbs, scale cuttings and bulbil division, 4 methods in total, and you can choose any one according to your needs.

Seed propagationSowing belongs to sexual reproduction and is mainly used in breeding. The method is:

Collect seeds in autumn and store them until sowing in the following spring. They germinate about 20 to 30 days after sowing. During the seedling stage, appropriate shading is needed. By autumn, the underground part has formed small bulbs, and they can be dug out and planted separately. Depending on the species, some seed-grown seedlings bloom in 3 years, while others need many years of cultivation before they bloom. Therefore, this method is not suitable for home use.

Small bulb division method

If you need to propagate 1 plant or a few plants, this method can be used. Usually, some small bulbs grow around the outer edge of the stem plate of the old bulb. When harvesting lilies in September to October, these small bulbs can be separated and stored in indoor sand to overwinter. The following spring, plant them in pots. When cultivated to September to October of the third year, they can grow into large bulbs and be cultivated into large plants. This method has a small propagation quantity and is only suitable for home pot propagation.

Scale cutting method

This method can be used for medium-scale propagation. In autumn, dig out the bulbs, break off the plump and thick scales from the old bulb one by one. The base of each scale should carry a small part of the stem plate. Dry them slightly in the shade, then insert them into a flower pot or shallow wooden box filled with river sand (or vermiculite), with 2/3 of the scale inserted into the substrate, maintaining a certain humidity in the substrate. At around 20 degrees, after about 1.5 months, roots will grow from the wound of the scales. In winter, humidity should be maintained at around 18 degrees, and the river sand should not be too wet. When cultivated to the following spring, the scales can grow small bulbs. Separate them, plant them in pots, and manage them carefully. After about 3 years of cultivation, they can bloom.

Bulbil division method

Bulbil division propagation is only suitable for a few species. Lilies such as Lilium lancifolium (tiger lily) and Lilium leichtlinii var. maximowiczii mostly use this method.

The method is: take the small bulbs formed in the leaf axils of the aboveground stem (also called "bulbils", when the bulbils have fully grown in summer but have not yet fallen off) and cultivate them. From growing into large bulbs to blooming usually takes 2 to 4 years. To encourage more small bulbils for propagation, after the plant blooms, press down the aboveground stem and shallowly bury it in soil; or divide the aboveground stem into small sections each with 3 to 4 leaves, shallowly bury the stem nodes in moist sand, and then small bulbils can grow in the leaf axils.

After lilies bloom, many people throw away the bulbs. In fact, they still have regenerative ability. As long as you cut off the remaining leaves, dig out the bulbs from the pot and bury them in another sand pile, keep them moist regularly and do not expose them to the sun, they can still be planted once again the following year, and it is hoped that they will bloom a second time.

The above is what I have learned about lilies today. I hope flower lovers will find this article helpful after reading it. To learn more about bulbous flowers, please continue to follow our Succulent Garden. We will provide you with more related content as soon as possible!