Category Archives: Lily Bulbs

Late Lily Division

Posted on by

This question was asked by
– Christina – 

Good morning.

I was meant to divide my pot grown oriental lilies in late autumn but I was unwell and the weather has been very wet where I live so couldn’t do it recently. I am wondering if I can still lift and divide them in December or early January or is this too late? They have been growing in the same pot for a number of years and they really do need separated. I also had to leave them uncovered through these last few weeks due to my illness and they have been getting rained on and wondered if this would affect them.at all as I know they don’t really like being overly wet in winter. Hopefully you can help as don’t want them.to be left much longer and for them to go to waste.

Kind regards.

split lily bulbs

Thank you for your message. I hope you’re feeling better now!

You can still lift and divide your pot-grown oriental lilies in early January, even if it’s later than usual. At this stage, they will be dormant, which actually makes it a good time to separate the bulbs carefully without causing too much stress. Just take care when handling them so as not to damage the roots or bulbs.

Regarding the wet weather and exposure to rain: while oriental lilies prefer well-drained soil and don’t like sitting in waterlogged conditions, a few weeks of rain while dormant isn’t usually a major problem. Just make sure when you lift them to let them dry off slightly and remove any bulbs that show signs of rot before replanting or dividing.

Once divided, you can repot them into fresh, well-draining compost and give them a sheltered spot until growth resumes in spring. This should help them recover and thrive for the coming season.

I hope that helps!
The Hart Family

Lily ‘Lady Alice’

Posted on by

This question was asked by 
– Dave M – 

Is this an asiatic lily?

No, Lily ‘Lady Alice’ is not an Asiatic Lily. It’s classified as a hybrid of Lilium henryi, a species lily, and is often referred to as a Turk’s Cap Lily. While some sources might mention it being part of the OT hybrid lilies (Oriental-Trumpet), it’s not specifically an Asiatic lily. 

Lilium Lady Alice

Soil requirements

Posted on by

This question was asked by
– Barbara K – 

I have alkaline clay soil, what would be suitable to order and plant?

Hi there,
If you have alkaline clay soil, you’ll want to choose summer-flowering bulbs that are tolerant of less acidic, heavier soil. While some bulbs prefer slightly acidic conditions, there are plenty of summer bulbs that thrive in alkaline clay soil. Here are some great options for your garden:

Suitable Summer Flowering Bulbs for Alkaline Clay Soil:

  • Lilies (Lilium) – Many lilies, especially Asiatic and Oriental hybrids, will do well in alkaline soil. They need well-drained but moist soil, and they’ll grow beautifully in clay with added organic matter to improve drainage.

  • Gladiolus – These thrive in a variety of soil types, including alkaline and clay. Their bright, spiky blooms are perfect for adding drama and height to borders.

  • Alliums – Alliums (such as Giant Allium and Purple Sensation) are perfect for alkaline soils and will add striking, globe-shaped flower heads to your garden.

  • Dahlias – Dahlias are very adaptable and can grow well in clay soil if it’s enriched with organic matter. They thrive in alkaline conditions and will produce vibrant, large blooms throughout summer.

  • Canna Lilies – These tropical beauties love a rich, moist soil and will thrive in your alkaline clay soil with a bit of organic matter to improve drainage.

  • Crocosmia – Known for their bright orange or red flowers, Crocosmia (also called Montbretia) thrives in alkaline soils and will add a pop of colour to your garden.

  • Begonias – Tuberous begonias prefer slightly acidic to neutral soil but can grow well in alkaline soils with added organic matter. They are perfect for pots or hanging baskets.

  • Eucomis (Pineapple Lily) – These unique, tropical-looking plants are perfectly suited to alkaline soils and add a fun, vertical element to your garden.

Oriental Trumpet Lily Conca D’Or will be happy in any well-drained soil.

Tips for Improving Your Clay Soil:

  • Amend with organic matter like well-rotted manure, compost, or leaf mould to improve soil structure and drainage.

  • Consider adding grit or sand to increase the drainage for bulbs that need it.

  • Mulch around plants to help maintain moisture levels and keep the roots cool.

Tree Lily bulbs

Posted on by

This question was asked by
– Lesley –

Hi! I would like some advice on late-flowering bulbs that. Well over 2 metres. I would like to extend the flowering season.

Hi Lesley,

If you order your Tree Lilies now, they will be delivered mid May. You could store them in the fridge for a couple of weeks and then plant them. They will then flower later into the season, about 10-12 weeks from planting.
Tree-like Lilies

Tree-like Lilies

Planting Lilly bulbs in containers

Posted on by

This question was asked by
– Jake

Hello,

Yesterday I bought 5x Viva-La-Vida Lilly bulbs at the Gardeners World Live exhibition. Please can you advise on the following?

1. What size pot should I use?
2. How many bulbs per pot?
3. Soil/compost potting mix requirements for container growing?
4. Should they be planted now, or wait until a more appropriate time of the year?
5. Planting requirements such as bulb depth/ spacing/ etc.
6. Watering requirements.
7. Over wintering requirements.

Thank you.

Jake.

Plant your bulbs straight away and they will flower this year still, usually in 10 to 12 weeks. They will be just a little later this year but return to their usual flowering cycle next year.

Planting Advice for Lilies:

 

    • Simply plant with the growing tip pointing upwards and the roots below and cover the top of the bulb with 4-6” (10-15cm) of soil (see each variety for which soil type to use).

 

    • If planting in pots, plant 3 bulbs in a 10-14” (25-35cm) ‘patio type’ pot. You can plant more in a larger pot or less in a smaller pot. It really depends on the display you would like to achieve. You can also stagger the planting, using different lilies to achieve different heights.

 

    • Lilies can tolerate very cold conditions but they do not like to get wet so ensure the pot has adequate drainage holes. You can horticultural grit/sand to your soil to encourage good drainage.

 

    • Most lilies prefer to be planted in a location with at least half a day’s full sunshine, if it’s a bit too shady they will lean their stems towards the sun. Unless you have Martagon lilies, as these actually like their head in the sun but feet in the shade.

 

    • Lilies are generally happy in a good-quality, peat-free, multi-purpose compost.

 

 

Overwintering

 

    • When the Lily has finished flowering, cut any seed heads back and allow the foliage to die back naturally. Do not be tempted to cut the stem back until stems become hollow and brown.

 

    • Believe it or not, lilies like a cold-dormant phase and like to be left where they are during winter, just ensure there is adequate drainage so they can’t get waterlogged. Lilies are very hardy and can tolerate up to -20°c.

 

    • Many people have lilies for a cut flower garden, if you do wish to cut lilies for indoor arrangements, then ensure to leave 50cm of stem to allow for another season of flower the following year.

 

 

Care Guide

 

    • To prevent Lily Beetles from damaging your lilies, we recommend using the Lily Beetle Prevention Spray or you can make up your own with the Concentrate. This Spray (Grazers G4) will also stimulate growth of your lilies.

 

    • You can feed your lilies with a diluted Tomato Feed to stimulate and strengthen your lilies when you start to see signs of growth. Make up your tomato feed with half the recommended dilution (written on the instructions on the bottle) and feed once every 3 weeks.

The Hart Family

Lily feed

Posted on by

This question was asked by
– Mr William j V – 

I bought some Lilies from you and put in pots what should I feed them with as they come up?

Thanks

Hi there,

We would recommend using a diluted tomato feed to help your lilies on their way.

The Hart Family

How to store lily bulbs if I can’t plant them straight away

Posted on by

This question was asked by
– Georgina – 

My lily bulbs have arrived today. I can’t plant for few days. What do I do with them please? Do I take them out of the plastic bags?

Yes, you can remove your lily bulbs from their packaging and keep them somewhere cool and dark until you are ready to plant them. Even the fridge will be fine. I would advise planting them within the next week or so of receiving your bulbs as they are keen to get growing.

Storing Lily Bulbs

The Hart Family

How deep to plant lily bulbs with stem already on?

Posted on by

This question was asked by
– Joy –

I purchased 5 lily bulbs at Hampton Court. I need to plant them and am unsure how deep as they have 1.5″ stem. Do I still plant them with 4 to 6″ of soil above?

Thank you,
Joy

Hi there,

Please plant your lilies with 4-6inches of soil above the top of the bulb not including the stem that has already sprouted.

Lily Bulbs with growth

The Hart Family

Can I cut my lilies for indoor display?

Posted on by

This question was asked by
– Karen –

Hi, I have Roselily Aisha and Roselily Angela and they are nice and tall with plenty of buds on them. I had them last year having purchased them at Chelsea and they were stunning.
I would like to know can I cut them for display indoors and still expect the bulb to do anything again next year?
Also one of the pots is losing brownish leaves, is it too much water?

Many thanks

Hi there,

Yes the browning could be due to the environment around it, i.e too much water, too hot etc.

Yes, you can cut your lilies for indoor display. However, I would advise leaving as much stem on the bulb as possible so it feeds the bulb for the following year. I would say leave at least 50cm of stem to die back naturally. It may not flower as well the following year though.

More information on lily care can be found here.

Anouska

Roselily Anouska

The Hart Family