Are you curious about how to grow lilies to bloom quickly and the correct method for hydroponics? Let's find out in the introduction provided by the editor.
Lilies are perennial bulbous plants of the Liliaceae family. Many people first encounter lilies in flower shops. In fact, there are many horticultural varieties of lilies suitable for potting or ground planting, and we can grow them in our gardens or on balconies. Lilies are also very easy to care for and can easily produce a beautiful array of flowers. If you also like lilies, today I will introduce two methods for planting lily bulbs, let's take a look~
When to plant lilies
Lilies are spring-blooming plants that prefer cool climates. The main method of planting lilies is to plant their bulbs, which have an optimal germination temperature of around 15 degrees Celsius. There are two periods in a year that are most suitable for planting lilies: one is from August to September in autumn, after planting, the lily bulbs will quickly sprout and grow leaves, but will not bloom, entering a dormant state after winter, and blooming in the second spring; the other is around March in spring, after planting, the leaves will grow directly and bloom.
Selecting bulbs
Lilies propagate through bulbs, and the quality of the bulbs directly determines the strength of the lily plants. Choosing healthy, strong bulbs will make subsequent care much easier.
Lily bulbs resemble "garlic". After selecting your preferred variety, try to choose bulbs that are larger in diameter and heavier, as these bulbs are of better quality.
After selecting the lily bulbs, we can proceed with planting. There are two methods, potting and ground planting, and I will introduce them one by one:
One, the method of potting lilies
Prepare some nutrient-rich soil and an appropriate pot. Basically, for 3-4 bulbs, you will need a pot with an opening of about 20 centimeters. The pot should be deep but not too large, as excessive watering can easily cause root rot.
After the bulbs arrive, first soak them in a fungicide solution for about 10 minutes to kill various bacteria on the surface. This step is very important. After soaking in fungicide, a medication film will form on the surface of the bulbs, protecting them for a long time and preventing bacterial infection.
How to cultivate lilies to bloom quickly
Fill the pot with nutrient-rich soil to 6-7 full, then place the lily bulbs in the pot with the pointed end facing up, making sure not to invert them. Then continue to fill the pot with soil until it is 9/10 full. The soil covering the bulbs should be of a certain thickness, keeping a distance of 7-10 cm between the soil surface and the top of the bulbs.
The nutrient-rich soil already contains fertilizer, but when planting, you can also sprinkle some slow-release fertilizer or organic fertilizer at the bottom of the pot as a base fertilizer. After planting, water the pot thoroughly and place it in a cool, well-ventilated area. As long as the temperature is around 15 degrees Celsius, it will germinate in about a week. After germination, place the pot in a sunny location, and with normal care, the lilies will grow into a large cluster.
Two, the method of ground planting lilies
Like potting, when ground planting lilies, you also need to soak the bulbs in a fungicide solution for 10 minutes to disinfect them.
Since lilies are very sun-loving plants and cannot be moved like potted plants, the planting location of lilies is particularly important. Make sure to plant the bulbs in a sunny area of the garden, as sufficient sunlight is needed for rapid growth. Also, avoid planting lilies in low-lying areas, as they can easily accumulate water and cause bulb rot during rainy seasons.
Lily bulbs prefer loose, fertile soil. If the soil in your garden is poor, such as loess or clay, you can mix some decomposed leaf mold, coarse river sand, and well-rotted organic fertilizer into the soil to improve its quality.