Viewing post #199107 by bearsearch

pardalinum said:Probably both. I have many lilies that never put up an extra stem from the bulb (excludes stem bulblets). Culture could also be involved. It is one more way for the plant to propagate itself.

I once read somewhere that lilies are the plant propagators' dream plant. Let's count the ways:

1. Bulb division (the subject here). The bulb divides into multiple "noses", each nose capable of putting up a stem. I try to separate these when I come across them, but sometimes they are not ready so get planted as is.

2. Stem bulbils. Some species and cultivars grow little bulbils in the leaf axils, snuggled up against the stem. True tiger lilies (L. lancifolium) are well known for this.

3. Stem bulblets. These are the bulblets that form just below the soil in the stem roots of the lily.

4. Scale bulblet propagation. What you should do when you pay really big bucks for a lily. Consider it insurance.

5. Seeds, for the species.

6. Am I missing any?

I recently read an article where leaves of asiatic lilies were removed from right at the stem and placed in damp sand in bright indirect light and formed bulbils at the ends in the sand. If I can find the article again I'll put a link to it here. I found it.

http://www.growingthehomegarde...