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Growing Lilium 1

© Bill Richardson

Welcome to part 1 of this series, which is about Lilium.

Propagation of Liliums is quite easy as long as you understand the simple principles of growing seed.

There are two types of Lilium seed:

• Epigeal (easy and quick)
• Hypogeal (hard and slow).

"EPIGEAL" With some of the easy species you will get flowers in less than eighteen months and seeds will send up a leaf immediately after planting. Some specialists planted epigeal Lilium seed in late winter as it gives them more growth time before the coming season

"HYPOGEAL" Slow germinating seeds require a warm period of about three months to make them germinate, (summer). Then, they need a cool rest time, again, approximately three months (winter), followed by another warm period to start leaf production (spring). The perfect time to plant for Hypogeal germinators is around mid summer.

You need the patience to be able to follow this through and provide the necessary requirements during this time. It will be at least eighteen months before the first leaf is produced and not even a sign of a flower.

VARIATIONS Seed from species will be true to type but hybrids will produce a multitude of variations. Seed from hybrids with mixed parentage such as : (Bold Knight x Tetra Nutmegger) x (4n x Avignon) will give a variation of colors from deep reds through to orange shades and also various flower types from upward- facing to outward-facing. Cross-pollinate these again to produce some more variations.

PLANTING and POTTING MIXES

Plant into seed boxes so that you can control the conditions and look after them properly.

You will need to regulate watering, feeding and pest control for success. There are also various ideas regarding potting mixes to use for Liliums.

Here are a few suggestions of mixes I have come upon, used by Lilium growers, that you can try. I have used some of them successfully.

To make a large quantity for lots of plantings, use this formula:

• 1 bag propagating sand
• 1 bale Peat Moss
• 1 large bag fine pine bark
• 2 bags charcoal (broken into small pieces)
• 2 small bags vermiculite
• Osmocote (or Blood and Bone)
• 1 bag Zeolite (available in Australia)

(I saw the healthiest box of seedlings produced with this mix).

or:

• 1/2 bag Potting mix
• 1 bag Propagating sand
• 2 small bags of vermiculite
• Blood and Bone

or:

• 1 part Propagating sand
• 1 part Peat Moss
• 1 part Loam
• Blood and Bone

or:

• 1 part Propagating sand
• 1 part Potting mix
• Blood and Bone.

Position or spread seeds on the mix in the container, firm down and cover over the seeds with an equal mixture of sand and Peat Moss to keep moisture over the seeds.