How to store lily bulbs at home during the winter before planting

Lilies

The lily has long been a popular gardening crop. Modern flowerbeds feature a variety of varieties, each with a different height, color, shape, and flower bud type. Which lilies require winter storage, and how should lily bulbs be stored during the winter?

Basic rules for storing lilies

When growing flowers, experienced gardeners use a variety of storage options. Some prefer the refrigerator, while others place the bulbs in boxes filled with peat or under snow. Everyone chooses the method that suits them best.

But when storing lilies, it is necessary to provide the necessary conditions:

The location should have moderate humidity; if the air is too dry, the lilies will begin to dry out, and if the humidity is too high, they will rot;
the air temperature should be moderate (at a high temperature they germinate early, at a low temperature they germinate late);
To prevent the crop from becoming moldy and diseased, it is necessary to ensure good ventilation.

Proper preparation

The key to high-quality preservation is proper preparation of planting material in the fall. After the plant has finished flowering, do not cut off the inflorescences and stems; allow them to dry naturally. The plant requires about 1.5 months of rest.

Note!

Many people leave the bulbs in the ground for the winter, but for better preservation during cold winters, it is better to dig them up for storage.

Dig up the bulbs when frost sets in. First, cut the stems, leaving about 5 cm above the ground. Then, use a pitchfork to create a circular opening to avoid damaging the roots. Then carefully remove the bulbs from the soil.

Methods of preservation

There are various ways to store lilies. They can be placed in paper or boxes, or they can be stored in more complex, but no less durable, ways.

If lilies sprout prematurely and transplanting to a permanent location is a long way off, the flowers should be planted in temporary pots. The potted plant should then be placed in a cool area.
Lilies are stored in plastic bags. Holes are punctured in the bags. A 15-cm layer of peat is added at the very bottom. The bulbs are placed on this layer. The plants are covered with soil again, and the bulbs are laid down again. After this, the bag is tied and placed in a cardboard box for storage.
Some people plant bulbs in peat pots. The pots are placed in a container and stored in a suitable location. Peat pots are very convenient because they can be planted alongside other crops in the spring. A few days before transplanting to their permanent location, the pots are brought into warmer conditions.

Acceptable storage location

The best storage location is considered to be a room with a constant temperature of 0 to 5 degrees Celsius and moderate humidity, away from fruits and vegetables. A balcony, loggia, shed, or garage are ideal choices for such a room.

Ventilation is essential for successful storage. Planting material is sorted by size and then placed in bags, alternating with a layer of peat or wrapped in paper.

Ventilated boxes serve as storage containers. Lilies are layered with moss, or sprinkled with wood shavings or sawdust from coniferous trees.

Peculiarities of storing lilies at home

There are many ways to store bulbs. One common method is to use a refrigerator. In this case, the bulbs are placed in bags in the refrigerator compartment, where the temperature is maintained between 0 and 5 degrees Celsius. This will prevent the bulbs from freezing and will also prevent them from sprouting prematurely.

Note!

Holes are made in the plastic bags and the bulbs are sprinkled with peat.

But this method has its drawbacks. Fruits and vegetables release ethylene during storage, which makes it difficult for lilies to breathe. Also, the refrigerator lacks adequate ventilation. Similar disadvantages apply when storing them in a cellar.

Leave the bulbs in the soil

Another original and interesting option for storing lilies is open ground. For success, several conditions must be met:

good drainage;
thermal insulation;
waterproof cover.

For such storage, a location is chosen where the most snow accumulates in winter and where it melts the last in spring. Most often, this is the area located on the north side of the house.

How to cover lilies for winter

After selecting the most suitable site, a trench is dug. It can be reinforced with boards, and a roof can be provided for protection. To prevent the roof from freezing to the ground, plastic sheeting is placed underneath.

The first layer of drainage is laid in the trench to protect it from standing water in the spring. The bulbs should be stored during the thaw. A layer of plastic bags filled with water is placed on top. This will ensure temperature stability. The state of the water makes it easy to determine whether the bulbs are frozen.

Reproduction during storage

During the winter, when the bulbs are in storage, they can be propagated. This procedure is performed using scales. They are carefully removed from the bulb and treated with potassium permanganate or any fungicide. Next, they are dried and placed in bags filled with peat. They are then stored like other bulbs.

By spring, the separated scales become covered with small bulblets, no more than 1 cm in diameter. These are carefully separated and planted in a permanent location.

Note!

Some people place young bulbs in a mixture of peat and sand. This way, they'll grow a bit larger by the time they're planted.

Landing time

The most favorable period for planting lilies is considered to be the time when the plant has bloomed (late summer – mid-autumn). If you purchased lilies in the spring, you can plant the bulbs as soon as the snow melts and the soil thaws. Late-season lily varieties are best planted in the spring.

For large bulbs, the planting depth is 25 cm; for smaller bulbs, this depth is determined by their size. The bulb is planted at a depth three times its own depth. After planting, water with settled water and mulch with shredded bark. To protect young lily shoots, they can be covered with cut-up plastic bottles.

Agricultural practices

Growing lilies is a complex process that involves various agricultural techniques. Each has its own specific importance. When growing lilies, it's important to consider the variety, as each has its own characteristics. While many varieties can survive harsh winters, others will perish in the soil even with light frosts. Therefore, not all lilies can be dug up.

Do all lilies need to be dug up?

Many lilies are considered frost-hardy. But it's important to find out whether the plant you're growing is a hybrid.

It is essential to remove tubular, oriental, Asian and American varieties from the ground for winter storage.

If the lily is classified as an LA hybrid, it should be removed from the ground for the winter annually, regardless of climate conditions. A characteristic feature of this variety is the rapid formation of offspring; if left untreated, they will rob the parent plant of all its nutrients.

The following plant varieties should not be dug up for the winter:

Asian hybrid;
matragon;
Daurian lily;
Pennsylvania hybrid;
hybrid lily OA.

Tiger lilies can be left out over winter; they tolerate winter well. To be on the safe side, mulch the soil with sawdust and spruce branches. Spruce branches can also be used as a cover.

When and how to dig up lilies for the winter

Some varieties need to be buried for winter. But any flowers, regardless of frost resistance, should be dug up periodically to remove excess shoots, as well as transfers to a new location.

Different hybrid varieties have their own transplanting times:

Asiatic hybrids and varieties of LA class hybrids (Longiflorum-Asiatic) should be dug up from August 15 to 20;
American-type hybrids and OT (Oriental Tubular) class plants are not dug up every year, but this should be done from August 25 to September 1;
Eastern hybrids are removed from the ground only for replanting and periodic removal of offspring from September 1 to 5.

How to keep lilies safe

The question of preserving bulbs is complex and has no definitive answer. Whether to dig up or leave the plants in the ground over the winter depends on many factors, primarily the plant variety itself and the local weather conditions.

However, sometimes repotting and digging are necessary to preserve the flowers' decorative appearance and prevent the bulb from becoming overgrown and weak. This can happen if the parent bulb becomes overgrown with offspring. These offspring not only create a dense planting and make the flowers much smaller, but also deprive the parent plant of sufficient nutrients.

Methods of sheltering for the winter

To preserve lilies over the winter that are planned to remain in their current location, you'll need to provide a very secure shelter. There are many options.

In the fall (late September – early October), after cutting back the old stems, mulch with leaves or peat. Nothing else is needed, as a thick layer of snow provides the best cover.
To prevent bulbous shoots from sprouting too early and being damaged by late frosts, you can cover the lily beds with a layer of fallen leaves after the ground has frozen.
In the northwestern territories, the best cover after slight soil freezing is a 10-15 cm layer of spruce branches or dry leaves.

Storage errors

When storing lily bulbs at home during the winter, a person can make a number of mistakes, almost all of which are related to the conditions created.

high humidity levels will cause the bulbs to rot and become moldy;
at low humidity, the planting material becomes unsuitable for planting - it becomes empty and dries out;
too high a temperature will result in premature germination;
Low temperatures, on the contrary, will slow down the process of bud formation, which will lead to later flowering.

During storage, check the bulbs every three months for their condition. If mold is detected, wipe it with a damp cloth and then sprinkle it with a charcoal solution. If rotten areas are found, trim them off with a disinfectant solution and then treat them with brilliant green.

If the bulbs begin to dry out, it is recommended to wrap them in damp paper.

Lilies are a very beautiful plant that delights with their blooms throughout the summer. However, to ensure beautiful, vibrant blooms, it's important to follow all the proper growing and storage guidelines.