Spider Lily

[SarahFair]

Ok I have really messed up my spider lilys.
I planted them mid summer after I bought them on sale at a outlet. They were in tiny pots that had the roots growing out the sides and holes. They had long stems that were already starting to bend over.
When I put them in the ground I did not straighten out the root system so it was still coiled. I read this can lead to a plants tipping over. Another Problem I have is the stems are very long. I do not think I planted them deep enough into the ground.
The amount of sunlight they get is only morning and very early afternoon. Needless to say they did not bloom this year.

I was wondering since the weather is starting to cool if I would be able to move them and fix their roots. What should I do with the extra long stems pant them deeper or can I cut back the plant?
I would like to move them to another location where they would recieve mid afternoon to evening sunlight.


Any information or pictures you can provide is helpful!
Thanks

 

[Greensage45]

Hi SarahFair,

I have never heard this before in regards to the roots. I do know that most bulbs will regenerate new roots every growth period, so any roots that were bundled or even cut/broken will not create a problem. Bulbs such as the lily bulb are constantly generating new roots and those roots are for that year's growth; once winter arrives the roots degenerate as the energy within them retracts back into the bulb itself. This is much the same with the leaf material as well.

The stem you speak of is the spent bloom spike. This is not a vital function of the bulb after it has spent the bloom. The energy in this stem will retract back into the bulb; first by flopping over or just simply yellowing and drying off. Most times by the time it reaches the soil-line a slight tug will dislodge the stem. I do not recommend cutting it unless it has begun to yellow. The bulb needs all that it can get, even from itself.

You just need a full season since this is a new planting. Be sure and administer some bone meal into the soil for nutrient. This will benefit next years blooming and subsequent generation of future bulb offshoots.

Once the new growth begins to show you will see it grow as even as if it had always been there even if you placed the bulb at a slight angle. The plant knows which way is right-side-up, don't worry! :rose

I look forward to seeing pictures next year,

Ron

 

[SarahFair]

Thanks Ron!
I think I planted the bulbs to shallow this summer. I am relocating them today while it is cool and we are suppose to get showers later.

Thanks for your help!

 

[SarahFair]

Well I ended up digging up my Spider Lilies late August through mid septemer.. I cant remember ..and throwing them into a homer bucket in the garage. I have forgotton about them until now.

Will they still be ok to plant this year? How dow i know if the bulb is still alive?

 

[Broke Down Ranch]

Well I ended up digging up my Spider Lilies late August through mid septemer.. I cant remember ..and throwing them into a homer bucket in the garage. I have forgotton about them until now.

Will they still be ok to plant this year? How dow i know if the bulb is still alive?

Dang, I hate when I do something like that!

Stick 'em in the ground, water, then see if anything green comes out in about a month or so. Can't hurt to try....

 

[lesa]

If they still feel firm, my guess is that they are fine. If they are kind of hollow feeling- you probably missed your chance. But, I'm with Broke- put them in the ground and see what happens.... Good luck!

 

[SarahFair]

Should I trim off all the dead leaves?
If so how far down?

 

[vfem]

I wouldn't cut off the dead... if it crumbles away to the touch should be fine to remove. I think they feed off the dead limbs and any saved energy and water in there to come back from in the spring. Like with my tulips, I don't remove the dead leaves until the crumb away, the bulbs need that little bit of energy to go into dormancy until next year. I'm assuming its the same here. It'll probably give them a better fighting chance.

 

[SarahFair]

I pulled them out of the bucket yesterday.. They are pretty squishy and had a blue fuzz (mold?) on the roots.

Im thinking they are goners..

 

[ducks4you]

Aren't you GLAD that they aren't chickens that you forgot about?!?!?