What to Do After Lilies Bloom
After lilies blossom in midsummer, many enthusiasts often damage the plants due to improper handling. Mastering scientific post-bloom management can not only extend the bulb's lifespan but also store energy for the next year's reblooming. By properly adjusting cultivation details, one can even challenge natural laws to achieve special blooming effects.
Four Elements of Post-Bloom Fine Management
Scientific Pruning for Nutrient Conservation
The best pruning time should be chosen after the morning dew has dried or when the temperature drops in the evening, avoiding the high-temperature period at noon. Retain 15-20 centimeters of the main stem as a nutrient reflux channel and cut off all flower stalks and 1/3 of the leaves. Use scissors sanitized with alcohol, making a 45-degree angle cut to prevent waterlogging and rot.
Precise Fertilization to Promote Revitalization
Immediately after pruning, supplement with a phosphorus-potassium compound fertilizer (N-P-K 5-10-10), spreading 50 grams per square meter and covering with a thin layer of soil. Spray 0.1% phosphorus acid potassium solution on the leaves every two weeks until late autumn. Avoid using high-nitrogen fertilizers to prevent excessive consumption of the bulb.
Smart Water Control to Prevent Root Rot
Use the "dry-wet" method, watering thoroughly when the top 3 centimeters of soil are dry. Build a temporary shelter during the rainy season to maintain the substrate's breathability. Place a layer of陶粒 (陶粒) at the bottom of the pot, combined with pine needle soil to enhance drainage and effectively prevent waterlogging and bulb rot.
Key Points for Overwintering Protection
Start controlling water two weeks before the frost, and when the local temperature drops to 8°C, start bulb sand storage or cover with 20 centimeters of soil. In the northern regions, it is recommended to use a double-layer insulation method: layer the bottom with 10 centimeters of pine needles and cover the top with a breathable agricultural film to maintain a ground temperature of 0-5°C.
Exploration of Bloom Time Adjustment Possibilities
In natural conditions, lilies bloom once a year (June to August), but with artificial intervention, it is possible to achieve two blooms: choose Asian lily varieties, immediately after the first bloom, store in a cold environment (5°C for 45 days), replant, and combine with supplemental lighting (16 hours of light daily) and increased temperature (25°C constant), and after 60 days, a second bud can appear. However, this method will consume more than 60% of the bulb's nutrients, so it is recommended to implement this method every 3 years.
Senior gardeners recommend the "Energy Storage and Revitalization Method": keep the entire plant intact until natural withering after blooming, combined with monthly application of kelp fertilizer to the roots, which can increase the bulb weight by 40%. High-quality bulbs that have been maintained for 3 years can achieve annual blooming in a greenhouse environment, with a single plant producing up to 15 flowers.