Des Paulsons ,'Leonie' (NZ)

Very nice Anthony! Looks like 'Lady Alice' with dark heart.

I would like to show you this photo:

One guy took this photo in nature in mountains of Montenegro. Natural hybrid probably between albanicum and candidum.
Edit: since it is NW of Montenegro it could be bosniacum x candidum.

Whatever it is, it's a beauty. I keep trying to grow the Liriotypus section species and would love to do some crosses like that some day.

I would like Nankeen lily.

Hi folks. I need a little bit of help. Advice. I saw many of you use styrofoam boxes for sowing seeds so I would like to know if this depth is ok (10 cm) or I need bigger box.

Hi Luka,

If you mean direct sowing, then I use polystyrene boxes for that. I think mine are about 15cm/6" height in total, but the inner depth would be a bit less. The shallowest one I have here probably has less than 10cm of media in it (after it has settled) and is probably an ex-fruit box, given it has slots in the sides and base for airflow:



The neighbouring box is only slightly larger, but more solid and the seedlings in it have done quite well. I used a screwdriver to punch a series of drainage holes in rows along the base.



All the seedlings you can see (excluding the one with a stem and the couple around it) were sown last winter. I expect to lose some over the next 12 months and will transplant the survivors in autumn 2022.

Lily season down under is finished?

Yes, all mine have finished flowering now and the first Asiatic seed pods are just starting to crack open today. Plenty of Aurelian pods developing, too.

@Australis, @Lucius93
I saw many of you use styrofoam boxes for sowing seeds so I would like to know if this depth is ok (10 cm) or I need bigger box.
Is there any reason to use boxes made of polysterene? (instead of wooden flats or other materials, like plastic plug trays fairly large celled). If it is just for the sake of recycling free disposables I would strongly adhere to such reason! ( worldwide waste generating world). However I suspect that there might be other benefits too...
Arturo

In my case it's because they're usually free and easy to get (as you say, re-using items that would otherwise just be thrown out), as opposed to finding the right size and shape plastic tubs.

One downside is that they do slowly deteriorate from solar UV.

I did experiment with a soil temperature probe and found that they were more stable than pots (the surface of which can get quite hot in direct sun). I don't keep my seedling tubs in direct sun, though.

I did experiment with a soil temperature probe and found that they were more stable than pots (the surface of which can get quite hot in direct sun). I don't keep my seedling tubs in direct sun, though.

Of course you're in a much warmer climate than mine. I watch your various posts and you are about a month ahead of me. Also with the UV index being such a major issue in the southern hemisphere there's much more radiation to consider ( including that which causes UV deterioration of the styrofoam). However the temperature insulating properties are good plus to consider. As it would generate a much more stable temperature for the substrate/medium, the benefit for the seedlings become obvious. If UV deterioration is the only down, here I would wrap it with left over greenhouse lining that still has the UV filter but is no longer suited for its original purpose because it has lost transparency. If were closer I would gladly provide you with some for free ...I'm now devising ways of how can I best use this leftover / used material after its designed life expectancy . Now I'm using it underground as impermeable lining for my very dry sandy soil garden beds ,following the xeriscape gardeners' ideas tested in NMexico or Arizona ( US )where there is a very strict water rationing for irrigation or leisure purposes ( swimming pools).
Since lilies also demand good moisture whilst we become water restricted, then I'm going to add it to my future lily beds

Arturo

Australis said:
I did experiment with a soil temperature probe and found that they were more stable than pots (the surface of which can get quite hot in direct sun). I don't keep my seedling tubs in direct sun, though.

This is main reason for me.

Looking good:

They are looking good.

Have 2 more:




10 overall and 30+ small ones (from scales). All doing great. We finally have nice sunny weather.

Very far away from spring here. It's nice to see the green growth in your area.

They always emerge at the end of January and bloom mid May.
Edit: We have nice sunny days but morning and night temperature is still low. 4-5 degree C max.

And the basal leaves weathered that cold spell quite well. They look so happy!