Garden

[wagirl]

I have been reading that lilies need 50% sand to 50% dirt to grow better---all mine are in containers with just potting soil then added garden dirt to fill them up. Should I re-pot the bulbs into this mixture? And when should I do this? 

[JustJazzmom]

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@wagirl wrote:

I have been reading that lilies need 50% sand to 50% dirt to grow better---all mine are in containers with just potting soil then added garden dirt to fill them up. Should I re-pot the bulbs into this mixture? And when should I do this? 

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There is no standard for ‘dirt’ or ‘topsoil’.

Only reason maybe for sand is so the soil drains well. 

You probably need soil that drains well so the bulbs do not rot in wet soil. 

When sand is in soil, water goes through it faster than in say clay soils. That is why people with sandy soils have to water their plants for a longer time frame than those with clay soils. 

As for your lilies, certain potting soils are heavy in consistency. I like products labeled ‘container mix’. I think those soils have things like peat moss and/or vermiculite which make the soil lighter in consistency. Read the labels on the potting soils.

[mousiegirl]

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@wagirl wrote:

I have been reading that lilies need 50% sand to 50% dirt to grow better---all mine are in containers with just potting soil then added garden dirt to fill them up. Should I re-pot the bulbs into this mixture? And when should I do this? 

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@wagirl  Your lilies have been doing so well, why change anything.  I plant everything in potting soil, then feed the appropriate fertilizer, and everything thrives.

[wagirl]

mousie--I talked to a local nursery man and he said the same thing----but he said if I do replace the dirt to doit after the stems and leaves are dead. So I may try it then, just to a few pots that didn't do so great. Yes they did very well this year--it has been pretty hot here in WA state for the last month and they love the heat!!!

[mousiegirl]

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@wagirl wrote:

mousie--I talked to a local nursery man and he said the same thing----but he said if I do replace the dirt to doit after the stems and leaves are dead. So I may try it then, just to a few pots that didn't do so great. Yes they did very well this year--it has been pretty hot here in WA state for the last month and they love the heat!!!

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@wagirl  Next year, we should really have a fantastic display.  You will be able to see if there is any difference at all in the soil, but I doubt it.

I recently bought a lot of seven gallon black nursery pots at amazon for my lilies.  They have been in one-two gallon pots for two years, but that didn't stop them from blooming wonderfully, so need to break out. I will be able to hide the pots somewhat as they will be behind other plants that will grow tall enough, but not as tall as the lilies.  I also ordered six new bulbs from B & D lilies to arrive in October.

During the last week, the rose lilies that I bought here from Roberta's have bloomed and are gorgeous, never have seen them before, so will post pictures soon.

[mousiegirl]

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@wagirl wrote:

mousie-----this is the rose lily from Robertas-----this is the second year blooming and is so much better than last year--wasn't too thrilled with it but it smells good and no staining from the thingies ( a tech term, for I don't know what those pollen things are called) Have a few more of them starting to blossom now too. 

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@wagirl  Yes, this is what mine look like, but I have others that I got here that are prettier, just gorgeous, will look up the name for you.. They are different shades of pink adn white, huge, and prolific even in the one gallon cans, but they are a short variety, only two-three feet.  I will post a picture sooin, wasn't able to last night some issue with "My Pictures.," so will try again later.

[mousiegirl]

@wagirl  This is the other collection I bought here that I just mentioned Roberta's 6-piece Oriental Roselily, which I thought I got at zulily.  I havn't figured out yet where I purchased the lilies in your picture.  The lilies in your picture came with pink, like yours, and white.

[sfnative]

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@wagirl wrote:

mousie--I talked to a local nursery man and he said the same thing----but he said if I do replace the dirt to doit after the stems and leaves are dead. So I may try it then, just to a few pots that didn't do so great. Yes they did very well this year--it has been pretty hot here in WA state for the last month and they love the heat!!!

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@wagirl

So glad you've had success, even in this horrible heat.  (I'm south of you in OR.)  My Roberta's lilies were a bust: 1 flower. Period.  The remainder of my front garden is blooming like heck.  I'm going to yank the lilies and toss them.  Will place peonies where lily plants are now for next year.

[mousiegirl]

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@sfnative wrote:

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@wagirl wrote:

mousie--I talked to a local nursery man and he said the same thing----but he said if I do replace the dirt to doit after the stems and leaves are dead. So I may try it then, just to a few pots that didn't do so great. Yes they did very well this year--it has been pretty hot here in WA state for the last month and they love the heat!!!

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@wagirl

So glad you've had success, even in this horrible heat.  (I'm south of you in OR.)  My Roberta's lilies were a bust: 1 flower. Period.  The remainder of my front garden is blooming like heck.  I'm going to yank the lilies and toss them.  Will place peonies where lily plants are now for next year.

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@sfnative  I am in N. Ca. and can only grow early and single peonies as it gets warm too soon for other peonies, so you may want to research this, if you didn't already know.