Shirlee - The first thing to consider when growing in pots is your soil mix, the next thing to consider is making sure you have enough drainage in your pots, and your pot bottoms make contact with the soil.

Good soil mix will allow for longer plant life, and the proper fertilizer will allow your plants to be at their peak when bloom season starts, allowing for good pod set.

Moving pots will allow you to hybridize with the later season blooming daylilies. {example} you could move a couple pots indoors where it is cool and set a pod and then return the pot outdoors after the pod is well established.

Pots will dry out faster so they need more attention than plants direct planted in the soil, this will require a longer lasting slow release fertilizer - I use Nutricote 18-6-8 with minors.



This is a 1-gallon seedling from last season still in the pot --


These are pots that have been added and the soil is to the top, some of the other daylilies will be removed and more soil add-- [important] don't let the crown sink too low in the soil or you will have a problem with blooms, and risk crown rot.


This daylily has droped about 3" , and will need soil added.


I will line-out around 200 daylilies and by spring reduce that number for making crosses


I put my better crosses in 1 gallons when space allows, it is easer to control their grow..
2013 kids


2012 hybridizing area..


2011 hybridizing area

Thanks for the info on adding soil to the pots when plants drop. I will keep that in mind.

Do you remove the plant and add soil to the bottom? If it has sunk I guess you would have to do it that way to avoid burying the crown too much...am I right?

Wow Lyle, what a wonderful pictorial for description. Loads of thanks for that.
In your potting mix, do you buy a special brand, or do you mix your own, and
if you do, what do you use? I think I would have to use shade cloth too if we
have summer temps like this past season.

I think using pots for plants, especially those to be lined out, would be a lot less
work and space.

Linda - It is a good idea to watch your fans and make sure they are not to low - I never add fertilizer or Milorganite to the bottom - that is just the way i do it...

Trudy - I remove the root ball from the pot check for any unwanted critters, and then, fill the bottom with fresh potting mix ..

Low soil line...This plant was divided earlier in the season ...I will check it again in the spring before using it to hybridize.


Tip the pot over and tap the bottom and the root ball will slide out, at this point you can check the roots for any type of damage..


I live in a mild winter are so i will add fertilizer at this time. you may need to measure how much soil to add before returning the root ball .


I have left the soil line a little low so i can add some soil over the fertilizer...Then i will add my top dressing Epsom salt and Milorganite.


This plant will now be ready to cross

BAJA CALIFORNIA X THE ONE AND ONLY

Shirlee - I make my own--

You can find it here...
http://cubits.org/desertdaylil...

Thanks Lyle ! Those pictures are helpful !

Anxious to see the results of that cross, Lyle. Of course, that will take
some time. Love both of those daylilies. I'm getting Baja Calif. in the
spring.

My goodness, you make your own potting soil. I now have a copy
of the recipe, and I'm going to try this. I assumed I had a potting soil
problem. Your plants always look so healthy. This must be why.

Thank you so much for your efforts and time to post all this info.

Lyle,
Thank you very much for all the information and the pictures, I really appreciate it.
Also the "recipe" for potting soil.
I looked for the fine pine bark but all they have here is the big size chunks of pine and they call it mulch...ha!
...I'm thinking...I'm thinking..... There might be another use for my food processor....

I love your pictorial teachings Lyle!

And your flowers are beautiful too!

Casshigh said:Michele, you have a very cute granddaughter and garden helper. I love those blue eyes, too. I am partial to blue eyes. The more I learn about you, the more impressed I am! We are blessed to have you here on ATP.

The power company in our area is chipping tons of tree branches to clear around the lines. I wish it was small enough to add to the ground to improve it.

Trudy!

Debra, I hate looking at the scales!! I wish we had a daylily weight loss support group lol.

Todays bloom....

STAR WOMAN - this bloom is a little lighter than the hybridizers photo but a nice clean bloom...


Possible cross
Star Woman x Sdlg

Love the darker purple! I am a midrib fan too.

I also like a good clear mid - rib the seedling comes from JENNIFER TRIMMER X LINDA BECK

Another cross that i have found to produce good sharp midrib is ..

VIOLET BECOMES YOU X LARRY'S OBSESSION.. this is now Betty's seedling, it would also look good with the above seedling, a good combination of parentage...

I forgot to mention - If i wanted a taller scape and keep the mid rib, i may go to something like Cameroon Night...

Love those purples.

Lyle, your photo of Cameroon Night makes my heart warm! This is why I enjoy daylilies so much---just the picture of a beautiful daylily sends me into a swoon. The only other one that can do that is David. It must be LOVE!

And Betty loves her seedling and can't wait to actually get her hands on it!
I love that other cross too, Lyle -- they look like they were made for each other!