Scaling Lily Bulbs
Bagging the Scales
A small plastic bag is filled with moist, but not soaking wet, propagation medium. I usually use 100% vermiculite, but Seed Starting Mixtures are excellent for this purpose also. If you squeeze a handful hard no more than a few drops should come out. Too dry and the process stops, too wet and the scales will rot. Put the scales into the bag and shake carefully.
Close the bag and place it in a warm place for 2-3 months, such as on top of the water heater or in a dark corner of a closet. Check on the bag every 3-4 weeks and mist the medium if it is drying out. Eventually small miniature bulblets will form at the edge of the scales by the stem issue.
Bulblets forming
Initially, the bulblets are very delicate and incapable of growing on their own yet. Attached they feed on the nutrients of the plumb scale. In a short while, roots will start to grow from the bulblets and they will also start to take in nutrients on their own. After a while the bag becomes one big jungle of scales, bulblets and roots. When the bulblets enlarge to pea-sized they can gently be separated from the scales and planted in pots. The scales can then be returned to the bag to develop more bulblets.
Transplanting
While in the bag, some of the bulblets may develop a single seed leaf (cotyledon). When you notice these, the bulblet should be removed from the bag if large enough and planted in pots.
You can also plant the entire scale, with bulblets and leaves, in the pot if you prefer. At a later stage you will need to separate the bulblets and transfer them into individual pots.
Vernalization
Some types of lilies, like Asiatics for example, will happily leaf out while others, like Orientals, must be induced to promote green leaves. This can be done by exposing the larger bulblets to cold temperatures for 3-4 weeks, a process called Vernalization.
When bulblets are pea-sized and have roots, put the plastic bag in the refrigerator for about one month (longer is no problem). Freezing is not recommended. When you are ready, remove the bag and plant the bulblets in pots at room temperature. The bulblets should respond by sending up a seed leaf (cotyledon).
Asiatic and Trumpet lilies generally do not require vernalization whereas Oriental lilies do. Some lilies are especially difficult
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