Tree lillies - what to do?

I found it a task trying to dig mine up so ive left them and like madahhlia i dint have a great show like freddys so im not too bothered if they dont show back up next time

 

Crikey! The tops of my bulbs are at least 20cm deep - will the slugs go that far down?

 

Well if they are too long it could be inpractical, you might break them off or need to go very deep etc,
They should be pretty deep as longk suggests.But there are limits.

I'm not sure, I believe certain kinds of slug tend to live underground, and go deep to avoid frost, but I'm basing my experience on digging up some C Is by mistake in summer and finding the bulbs very badly eaten.

 

I would plant them into large pots and leave outside.

I have 3 large pots of lillies on the patio and they have been there for a number of years. All I do is scrape off a layer of compost each year and replace with new.

This year I have taken all the little bulbils of and put them in a seed tray outside, inside a blowaway that is open to the elements at the front, new leaves are showing already

Trevor

 

See what you mean FC.
Not just shoots more like foliage.
I think potting up and putting somewhere cool might be your only option.
If you can keep them cool enough you might be able to plant them out from the pots in late March or so.

 

Tree Lilies, One of the most productive bulbs I have ever planted Taylors from the garden centre not cheap ,I purchased 3, planted them deep about 4ins (we have sandy soil here) the builders tried their hardest to destroy them last spring I dug them out sprouting replanted with a good handful of Growmore underneath and away they went, flowered for weeks beautiful things they are on a south facing wall which seems to suit them.Would most certainly recommend them reckon you would need to stake them if not against a wall the flowers get very heavy in the rain.

 

Thanks Pete - good advice about slugs and Crown Imperials - I am growing them for the first time. But they wouldn't be hardy up here, so I am bringing them on in a pot.

 

Where they large bulbs with a cavity in the middle. My understanding is that it's less a case of the cold getting to them but more about rot from winter wet - I have mine set on their sides.
That explains my losses last spring in pots too - if I were growing in pots again I would plunge the pot and not water from the top.

 

LongK - yes, I put mine on their side. You are probably right about the wet. They say to bury the bulbs 6 to 8 inches deep. Frost shouldn't get at them there - but rot will. I am keeping mine under cover at the present - a bit on the dry side.