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Avatar for safari46
Nov 20, 2022 4:51 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: glenn szegedy
dracut mass (Zone 5b)
hi folks,
well it's been almost 2 years since i last asked for advice from this site, and it has proven invaluable. my lily seedlings (oriental, martagon and tenuifolia) are almost 2 years old and doing well. i have had them under lights the entire time. the few i tried outside and they did not do well. so, my question is the next step......i am planning on wintering them (i'm in zone 5) under lights, then planting them in a dedicated bed outside and hope for the best. any suggestions/recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
thank you for past, and hopefully future replies.
glenn
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Nov 20, 2022 4:57 AM CST
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Name: Joshua
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Zone 10a)
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Hi Glenn,

I'll move this to the Lilium forum for you. You should definitely get good advice there.
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Nov 20, 2022 7:58 AM CST
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Name: Tracey
Midwest (Zone 5a)
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To give my seedlings a rest period, I will place them in the refrigerator a couple months (8-12 weeks or so) and then put back under lights. I find this gives bulbs ability to bulk up a little before deciding to plant outdoors.
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Nov 20, 2022 3:56 PM CST
Name: Rick R.
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Inside under light is obviously a very different environment than outside. While leaves can adapt from inside to out, it is tough on them. Way easier is to grow new leaves in the new environment. This is true for pretty much all plants, not just lilies.

Building on this concept, one can understand that a tomato or zinnia has an easier time adapting, because they grow lots of new leaves during the process.

Nearly all lilies, including the ones we grow in the USA, exhibit a "dormant"* stage when they retreat back into the bulb to prepare themselves for next season's growth. Many types have seedlings with the ability to cope with extended seasons as you are providing, but none will reach their potential with this one-season all the time scenario. Most would never bloom.

Now keeping in mind both of these ideas, this is the perfect time to alleviate both problems. Allow them to experience a cold "dormant" period, so they can complete their natural growth cycle and start anew next spring. Plant the bulbs out the first week of May, weather permitting, and new growth will automatically be adapted to the new climate.

Regarding martagons, I do, and you might grow them outside in pots, but I wouldn't transplant them in the ground until at least most in the seed lot have whorled leaves.
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*Lilies don't go completely dormant like a tulip, for instance. Inside the bulb chemical reactions are taking place and important growth is actually occurring, although at a minute scale. Roots are growing, too, given the chance.
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Avatar for safari46
Nov 22, 2022 5:39 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: glenn szegedy
dracut mass (Zone 5b)
thank you for the replies. looks like a dormant period is in order. i'll place them in an unheated room (around 40 degrees) until spring and hope for the best.
take care
glenn
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