Detailed Explanation of Lily Propagation Methods and Cultivation Techniques

I. Efficacy and Distribution

Lily is also known as mountain lily, medicinal lily, wild lily, trumpet tube, rock lily, etc. Lily is excellent as both food and medicine, with the bulb used for food or medicine, having effects such as moistening the lungs and stopping cough, clearing the heart and calming the spirit. It mainly treats symptoms such as lung-heat cough, blood-streaked phlegm, restlessness and insomnia, mental unease, nosebleeds, and amenorrhea. As a supplementary food, it can moisten the lungs and stop cough. It is cultivated throughout both north and south regions of the country.

II. Propagation Methods

It is mainly propagated by bulbs, scales, and bulbils, and can also be propagated by seeds. Among these, the small bulblet division method is the most commonly used, and the scale cutting method is also used quite often; the bulbil division and sowing methods are only applicable to a few species.

1. Small bulblet division method. Each autumn when the bulbs are dug up, several small bulblets of varying sizes are borne on the underground stem nodes. These small bulblets are removed and planted separately, and after another 1~2 years of cultivation they can flower. To make lilies produce more small bulblets, the following measures can be adopted:

(1) Plant the bulbs appropriately deep so that the underground portion of the stem is relatively lengthened, which is conducive to producing small bulblets;

(2) After flowering, leave 40 cm of the aboveground stem and cut off the upper stem and leaves, which can promote the formation of small bulblets at the underground stem nodes; (3) After flowering, press the stem down and shallowly bury it in the soil to promote the formation of small bulblets in the leaf axils; (4) After flowering, cut the stem with leaves into small sections, each with 3~4 leaves, and shallowly bury them in moist sandy soil; after a certain period, small bulblets can be produced in the leaf axils.

2. Scale cutting method. Select well-developed lilies, dig them up after flowering, dry them in the shade for several days, and when the bulbs have lost water and the surface is slightly shriveled, peel off the scales, insert them with the base facing downward into humus soil, water thoroughly after insertion, and thereafter maintain a certain soil moisture, but do not water too much, otherwise they are prone to rot.

III. Cultivation Techniques

Most lilies prefer light; in the north they should be planted in a place with ample sunlight, while in the south they can be planted in a slightly shaded place. Some species, such as Lilium speciosum and Lilium candidum, prefer a semi-shaded environment; some species, such as Lilium auratum and Lilium fargesii, should avoid direct sunlight during the seedling stage. Therefore, planting and placement locations should be treated differently. For potted soil, it is advisable to use a culture soil mixed with 1/3 each of humus soil (or peat soil), sandy soil, and garden soil, and place 3~5 hoof pieces at the bottom of the pot as base fertilizer. The planting time varies by variety; for most varieties, about two months after flowering is suitable, generally from early September to early October. The covering soil thickness is generally from early September to early October. The covering soil thickness is generally about 2~3 times the diameter of the bulb. From spring sprouting and emergence to the beginning of flowering, apply a diluted decomposed cake fertilizer solution once every 10~15 days to promote abundant flowers and lush leaves and plump bulbs. During the flowering period, 1~2 additional applications of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer can be made. After flowering, the spent flowers should be cut off promptly to reduce nutrient consumption. Watering should keep the pot soil slightly moist. If the pot soil is too wet and ventilation is poor, the bulbs are prone to rot. Lilies should not be continuously cropped, and the pot soil must be replaced once every year. In addition, attention should also be paid to frequently turning the pot to prevent the plant shape from growing lopsided and affecting the ornamental effect. The flowering period is about May to July, the flowering period is short, and the fruit ripening period is August and September. Generally, after the plants wither and turn yellow in summer and autumn, the bulbs can be dug up, dried slightly, stored in sand, and planted the following year.