A Detailed Guide to Four Common Lily Propagation Methods

Many lily enthusiasts have considered propagating new lilies themselves, but the results are often less than satisfactory. Generally, lilies can be cultivated by seed sowing, bulb division, offset division, and scale cuttings. Here is an introduction to these four propagation methods and the points to note.

Lily

1. Scale cuttings:Widely used for propagating all kinds of lilies. In autumn or spring, dry mature, 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 root and produce leaves within 2 to 4 months, and small bulblets will form at 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 develop from the wounded part of the scales. From scale rooting and sprouting to the plant flowering generally takes 3 to 4 years.

2. Bulb division:This is a common method for propagating lilies. The specific method is to plant the bulbs appropriately deep and remove the flower buds, encouraging many bulblets to grow at the stem nodes buried in the soil; or after the flowers fade, cut the stem into small sections, bury them in moist sand with the leaves exposed, and after about 1 month bulblets will grow from the leaf axils; the bulblets are then cultivated for 1 to 3 years before being used as planting bulbs.

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

4. Seed sowing:Suitable for Lilium regale (regal lily), Lilium longiflorum (Easter lily), and some hybrid varieties. The specific method is to wait until the capsules mature, take out the flat seeds, and sow them immediately; they can also be dried in the shade and stored until autumn or the following spring for sowing.

The Four Main Propagation Methods for Lilies

Lilies are one of the main materials for cut flowers. Because lilies have excellent symbolic meanings and a unique fragrance, they are also very popular. So how should lilies be propagated? Here is an introduction to four relatively common lily propagation methods. Friends who like lilies can learn from them.

Lily

1. Scale cuttings:Widely used for propagating all kinds of lilies. In autumn or spring, dry mature, 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 root and produce leaves within 2 to 4 months, and small bulblets will form at 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 develop from the wounded part of the scales. From scale rooting and sprouting to the plant flowering generally takes 3 to 4 years.

2. Bulb division:This is a common method for propagating lilies. The specific method is to plant the bulbs appropriately deep and remove the flower buds, encouraging many bulblets to grow at the stem nodes buried in the soil; or after the flowers fade, cut the stem into small sections, bury them in moist sand with the leaves exposed, and after about 1 month bulblets will grow from the leaf axils; the bulblets are then cultivated for 1 to 3 years before being used as planting bulbs.

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

4. Seed sowing:Suitable for Lilium regale (regal lily), Lilium longiflorum (Easter lily), and some hybrid varieties. The specific method is to wait until the capsules mature, take out the flat seeds, and sow them immediately; they can also be dried in the shade and stored until autumn or the following spring for sowing.

Lily Cultivation and Planting Methods, How to Propagate Lilies

Lilies can be propagated by cuttings, bulb division, and tissue culture. As spring temperatures gradually rise, we can plant lilies. At this time, besides keeping the soil consistently moist, attention should also be paid 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 fragrance, carrying the beautiful meaning of family happiness and blessings, and have always been a commonly used flower for home decoration.

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

Attention should be paid to land preparation and fertilizing. Lilies have strong adaptability and prefer a mild climate with ample sunlight. Soil should be deep sandy loam with good drainage; clay soil is second best, and waterlogged, low-lying land is not suitable for planting.

When the time comes, drainage should be provided. Lilies need moist water for cultivation, which benefits the growth of stems and leaves. If the soil is too wet, waterlogged, or drains poorly, the lily bulbs will rot and die. For potted lilies, watering should gradually increase as the plant grows; during the flowering period, the water supply should be adequate; after flowering, water should be reduced; and after the above-ground parts wither, watering should stop.

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

At harvest time, select daughter bulbs with well-developed root systems, large size, tightly clasped scales, white color, correct shape, and no damage or pests and diseases as seed bulbs. Disinfect them with chemicals: soak the seeds in agricultural streptomycin for 30 minutes, spray with carbendazim diluted 800-1000 times and seal 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 soil 7-10 cm. Then pile seed fertilizer and soil-ash mix between the plants and spread rotted barnyard manure on the bed surface. Then cover with a layer of fallen leaves or rice straw to protect against freezing and retain moisture. 1—15,000 plants per mu, with a seed rate of 150-250 kg. Shaoyang and Lanzhou use scales, bulbils, or bulblets for propagation, requiring 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, expose the topsoil, and preserve soil moisture and warmth. Before emergence in spring, loosen the soil and hoe weeds to raise soil temperature and promote early sprouting; cover with grass to preserve moisture. Eliminate weeds and prevent heavy rain from washing the soil, and do not let the topsoil become compacted. In summer, prevent rot caused by high temperatures; when it turns cool, keep warm again, prevent frost damage, 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 2-3 more times to loosen the soil, remove weeds, and combine with earthing up to prevent the bulbs from being exposed.

b. Middle and late-stage management. First, clear ditches for drainage. Lilies fear waterlogging most, so ditches should be cleared and drained frequently, so that after the rain stops, the standing water in the soil dries up. Second, top pruning at the right time. When lilies sprout in spring, one strong sprout should be retained and the rest removed to avoid causing bulb splitting. Around Xiaoman, when the seedlings grow to 27-33 cm tall, promptly pinch off the tops to control above-ground growth and concentrate nutrients to promote underground bulb growth. For varieties with bulbils, if they are not intended for propagation by bulbils, promptly remove them around Mangzhong, combined with summer flower removal, to reduce nutrient consumption by the bulbs. The most suitable timing is: when the flower buds turn from upright to drooping, and the color changes from fully green to peach-red on the sun-facing side. The time is June. Third, after top pruning, control nitrogen fertilizer application. To promote rapid swelling of young bulbs. Around the summer solstice, promptly remove bulbils and clear ditches and furrows to reduce field temperature and humidity. Remove flowers and pinch tops.

c. Topdressing. The first application is stable application of winter fertilizer. In January, before the Beginning of Spring, when lily seedlings have not yet emerged, apply about 1000 kg of human feces and urine per mu combined with intertillage to promote root development and strengthen roots. The second application 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 and rotted cake fertilizer, and 10-15 kg of compound fertilizer per mu to promote strong seedlings. The third application is moderate application of scale-strengthening fertilizer. After Xiaoman, in early to mid-June, after flowering and top pruning, apply 15 kg of urea and 10 kg of potassium fertilizer per mu to promote scale swelling. At the same time, spray 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate on the leaves. Note that this topdressing must be completed 40-50 days before harvesting. After the winter vegetables intercropped 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 applying 30-40 loads of dilute human feces water and 10-15 kg of phosphate fertilizer per mu each time.