Aftercare of tree lilies
Jane Heaney
Posts: 5
in Plants
Can anyone tell me how to care for my tree lilies now that they have finished flowering? Unfortunately they arrived without any instructions. Also, I have them planted in large pots at the moment but wonder if they are suitable to plant in a sunny but sheltered border.
0
Posts
I have some tree lilies in large pots. They will be fine just like that, at least for a few years.
I normally feed occasionally with tomato feed when they are growing.
It will prevent the plant from wasting energy if you remove the seed heads from where the dead flowers are. But don't cut down the old stems while they are still green. You should let the foilage die down naturally. Always be vigilant for signs of the red lily beetle, or its sticky black lavae.
You can leave the pots outside, if you want to. If the pots are easy to move, then bringing them under cover during the Winter may prevent the pots from being damaged by frost. The lily bulbs can tolerate very low temperatures, though they don't like excessive wet during the Winter, so bringing under cover can reduce that. I've had some pots of lilies, which were too heavy to move, left outside all Winter.
You mentioned moving the bulbs into soil. Growing in soil does have some advantages for tree lilies. Although a 12 inch pot is large enough for the first couple of years, the plants will get too big for a pot of that size. So you'll need to upgrade to a pot of around 17 inches. Or you can put them in the soil. I have a clay soil, so lilies won't grow well in that, so have to use very big pots.
That's very helpful, thanks Gary.
When is the best time to put tree lillies in the garden from their pots? Do I put them straight in from the pot without separating them, or do I tease out the soil from the bulbs and re-plant? They have been in their pots for 2 years now and this year have been absolutely stunning.
what do i use to get rid of red beetle and black lavae
something to knock them on to, then your foot to squash them
My tree lillies are in pots and some of the leaves are turning brown even before the flowers,have opened and they are in compost. What could be the cause?
[email protected]
if its at the very bottom I wouldnt worry too much. Lillies do this naturally.
My tree lillies are in big pots and although there were originally only three in each pot they have multiplied considerably ! The result being that this year they were not as tall.
I need to split them but really need to know how and when.
thanks
my tree lilies are in planters around my decking they are getting a bit overcrowded when should I split the bulbs and move them. ( i live just outside Glasgow)
would appreciate some advice
Anne Marie
Hi Anne Marie I did some of mine a few weeks a go I left them in the same place for about 10 years from 9 bulbs I got 80-100 bulbs out I had great pleasure starting my friends off with them.
If your soil is not to wet do them anytime before they start to grow just plant them deep enough putting some well rotted compost in the bottom Phil
And my question now is
Hi I live near wigan and I went down my allotment yesterday I have tree lilies in the ground & in pots some are 8"-10" in hight due to the mild weather
Do I hope for the best that the weather dont turn bad & kill them off should I put pots in greenhouse & cover the one's in the ground with fleece or shall I just let nature take its course & if I loose my 2016 display take it that that's one of a gardeners challenges
Thank you
Phil o'shea