LILIUM UP GRADED

[asimPK]

3 week old flower in late Feb

[Muhammad Arif Khan]

ASIM, God bless you.
I have not been able to follow you clearly, to clear my clogged mind please answer my each question separately.
1 Feb. blooms last much longer so if I want just one bloom in Feb. When should I sow the bulbs?
2 After blooming the plant should be left to dry out, if you do so you find other shoots emerging from the sides, Should they be allowed to grow or destroyed?
3 If allowed to grow and mature after miserable blooms of May when you un pot the original bulbs have rotted away. What should be done?
4 For storage up to one year you recommend temperature of 1C to -1C. It is not possible in home conditions.
5 You also mention storage at 18C – 20C, Is it if the bulbs are to be stored for shorter duration say up to 4 months?
6 You recommend that after storage the bulbs should be chilled at 4C for 40 days for Asiatic and 60 days for Oriental lilies and should they be planted immediately?
7 You say “Natural time of sprout of Lilium in Lahore is November and bloom time in April/May My experience is that Asiatic lilies left in pots Sprouted in January and bloomed end of May.
8 What do you mean when you say’prevent second shoot emerge by break the new one head.
Thanks Arif

[asimPK]

Answers.

I have not been able to follow you clearly, to clear my clogged mind please answer my each question separately.
1 Feb. blooms last much longer so if I want just one bloom in Feb. When should I sow the bulbs?
(in first week of Oct.)
2 After blooming the plant should be left to dry out, if you do so you find other shoots emerging from the sides, Should they be allowed to grow or destroyed?
(if you want healthy bulbs for next year do this practice immediately)
3 If allowed to grow and mature after miserable blooms of May when you un pot the original bulbs have rotted away. What should be done?
(at plant dry out stage)
4 For storage up to one year you recommend temperature of 1C to -1C. It is not possible in home conditions.
(of course)
5 You also mention storage at 18C – 20C, Is it if the bulbs are to be stored for shorter duration say up to 4 months?
(yes, keep bulbs in mild mist medium, not below 12C)
6 You recommend that after storage the bulbs should be chilled at 4C for 40 days for Asiatic and 60 days for Oriental lilies and should they be planted immediately?
(yes, same day)
7 You say “Natural time of sprout of Lilium in Lahore is November and bloom time in April/May My experience is that Asiatic lilies left in pots Sprouted in January and bloomed end of May.
(smallest bulbs will grow early and largest will late, also due to variation of natural chilling in limited size pots and pot medium thermal transfer efficiency and low mist also. note that natural chilling/artificial chilling days vary for each cultivate)
8 What do you mean when you say’prevent secaond shoot emerge by break the new one head.0
(force bulb to redevelop for next year under most favorable conditions by removal of second major shoot emerge only.)
Thanks Arif

[asimPK]

lilium more

[Muhammad Arif Khan]

Thank you Asim Will try to follow
Arif

[asimPK]

First bloom today after 40 days growth. 40 days chilling total 80 days.

[Muhammad Arif Khan]

So you can get flowers when ever you want but the best are those in Feb.

[asimPK]

Yes, Quality starts from Sep and and at peak in Fab. For best results need root development soil temperature at 15C, foliage development needs 10C to 18C and flowering need 20C to 25C. Here another bloom.

[asimPK]

Final bloom today morning. Tulips may same do if suitable cultivare taken. chilling time is long may >4 months but good for us as our summer time used during chilling.

[Muhammad Arif Khan]

Just one bud on every plant?