Detailed Explanation of Lily Propagation Techniques: Common Methods and Key Operation Points

Mainly propagated by scales, bulbs and bulbils.

I. Cultivating seed bulbs

(1) Scale propagation When lily leaves begin to turn yellow in autumn, select robust disease-free plants, dig up the bulbs, cut off the base to separate the scales, take the inner-layer scales, and from September to October on prepared beds, open furrows and plant them at a plant spacing of 3 cm and a row spacing of 17 cm, cover with 3 cm of soil, and cover with grass to preserve moisture. After planting, small bulbs grow from the cut surface, develop into new plants in the spring of the 2nd year, and in autumn are either transplanted for final planting or continuously cultivated for 3 years; the large ones are dug up for medicinal use, and the small ones are kept as seed.

(2) Bulblet propagation At harvest, select bulblets from disease-free plants, soak them in 2% formalin solution for 15 minutes to disinfect, take them out and let them dry slightly, then plant them in the field at a row spacing of 15 cm x 6 cm. After one year of growing, the harvested large bulbs are used as medicine, and the small bulbs continue to be kept as seed.

(3) Bulbil propagation After the bulbils mature in summer, harvest them, mix them with moist fine sand, and store them in a cool, ventilated place. In mid-to-late September, on a prepared seedling bed, open furrows at a row spacing of 15 cm and a depth of 3-7 cm, sow one bulbil every 5 cm in the furrow, cover with 3 cm of fine soil after sowing, then cover with grass to retain moisture. In the autumn of the second year they are 1-year-old bulbs; then cultivate them for another year according to the bulblet propagation method to obtain commercial lilies.

II. Final planting

In October, select seed bulbs whose scales are tightly clasped, white in color and regular in shape, undamaged, and free from pest and disease damage, soak them in 2% formalin solution for 15 minutes to disinfect, then at a row spacing of 25 cm and a depth of 10-13 cm, place 1 small bulb every 15 cm with the tip facing upward, rake the bed surface level, and cover with soil and grass to preserve moisture. Use about 200 kg of seed per mu.