Gardening




                                          HISTORY OF THE EASTER LILY

History Easter lilies are indigenous to the southern islands of the Liu-Chiu Archipelago of southern Japan. Many legends have grown around the lily through history. History, mythology, literature, poetry and the world of art are rife with stories and images that speak of the beauty and majesty of the elegant white flowers. History, mythology, and art are filled with stories and images that speak of the beauty and majesty of the elegant white flowers.

Lilium longiflorum , the Latin name for the Easter Lily, is native to theRyukyu Islands of southern Japan.

Along a few miles of the Pacific Coast at the Oregon and California border lies a unique area where the ideal combination of climate, soil, water and man has developed a product of deep meaning, beauty and tradition – the Easter Lily. All about Easter Lilies! Selecting the perfect lily plant, ordering online, Easter lily meanings, care, pet concerns, planting tips, and more. A mark of purity and grace throughout the ages, the regal white lily is a fitting symbol of the greater meaning of Easter. Easter is here and thoughts turn toward hunting eggs, eating candy, beautiful Easter lilies and the true meaning of the day on a higher level. Along these few miles lies a unique area where the ideal combination of climate, soil and man has developed a product of deep meaning, beauty and tradition in the Easter lily. Under the right environmental conditions, a central shoot arises from the center of the bulb producing leaves and flowers ‘Baby’ bulbs called bulb lets may be initiated on the stem close to or just above the ground The bulb is non-tunicate, meaning there is no papery protective covering around the scale as in onion and garlic.

CARE

 Most lilies bloom in the summer and even with special care it is difficult to get them to flower at Easter. To best care for your lily in the home, place the plant near a window that receives bright, indirect natural daylight. Do not throw away your Easter lily after it is done blooming.   Care and Cultivation of Easter Lilies in the garden Those years, however, are not a carefree time for the bulbs nor for the growers. The bulbs are never dormant and require constant care and attention to assure superior quality and cleanliness. When the mother plant is harvested, the bulblet is carefully removed and planted in another field. They earling is planted in a new field for another full year of cultivation and specialized care to allow it to grow into its full potential, maturity and status as a commercial bulb. Carefully, work the fertilizer in without disturbing the bulbs

Along a few miles of the Pacific Coast at the Oregon and California borderlies a unique area where the ideal combination of climate, soil, water and man has developed a product of deep meaning, beauty and tradition – the Easter Lily. Over the years,the total number of Easter Lily bulb producers dwindled down to just ten farms in a small, isolated coastal region straddling the Oregon-Californiaborder. 

GROWING

Around the turn of the century, the Japanese took over the annual growing exportation of EasterLilies to the United States, and continued to dominate the U. As a result, the value of lily bulbs sky-rocketed and many who were growing the lilies as a hobby decided to go into business. Precise growing conditions are necessary since the Easter Lily bulbs must be cultivated in the fields for three, and sometimes four years, before they are ready to be shipped to commercial greenhouse growers. Leaf Counting The Easter Lily is an determinate plant in that once the growing apex initiates flower buds, no new leaves will be formed. According to Biblical scholars, the Easter Lily was found growing in the Garden of Gethsemane where Judas is said to have betrayed Jesus. A commercial- sized bulb often starts as a small, baby bulblet growing underground on the stem of its mother plant. Often called the “white-robed apostles of hope,” lilies were found growing in the Garden of Gethsemane after Christ’s agony. The few with bulbs in this country who were growing them more for a hobby began growing White Gold, as they were called, for business. While growing inside the home they are a source of beauty and fragrance, but soon the flowers fade and you are faced with the question of what to do with your plant. 

TIPS 

A few simple tips will keep your lily plant blooming through the season and maybe even keep it going a few season longer. Here are some tips for choosing lily plants that will last through the holiday season and beyond:. All about Easter Lilies! Selecting the perfect lily plant, ordering online, Easter lily meanings, care, pet concerns, planting tips, and more. Whether you plan to give plants as gifts or use them to decorate your own home, the following tips will help make your Easter Lilies keep on giving

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Lilies generally start to bloom in late spring/early summer when the nights are cool and when the days are getting longer and warmer. Lilies are commonly split into two main groups: asiatics and orientals

Asiatic lilies are the first to bloom in may or june and they are very colorful with bright drastic colors: red, yellow, orange, purple, etc. these lilies are somewhat shorter than the orientals, e.g. three to four feet vs five to six feet. But usually they have no scent. They multiply readily. It is not uncommon to buy one asiatic lily one year and have four to six blooming lilies a few years later.

The Orientals bloom later in july or september. The flowers are usually larger, have greater texture, and can be extremely fragrant. The colors are more suttle and the texture of the petals tend to be more delicate. e.g. compare a strawberry milkshake, oriental, to a strawberry popcicle ,asiatic, for example. Orientals generally do not propagate as easily and readily as asiatics.

Many people believe that orientals are unsurpassed in beauty. Regal, tall, taking their time to flower, but the show is well worth it. Very large, textured flowers with unmistakable fragrance. Others love the screaming bright – in your face – colors of the asiatic lilies in spring when the the summer garden is still to develop.

There are of course exceptions. You can have asiatics which bloom very late, you have orientals which are not fragrant and which flower very early. There are also species lilies and very particular types of lilies which fall outside the two main groups. One example are the pumilum lilies which are high with a very high number of flowers pointing towards the ground, normally asiatics are upfacing and orientals are up or side facing. Minitaure, pixie, versions of orientals and asiatics also exists.

Tiger lilies are similar to asiatics except they are spotted and can carry lily virus inside them without showing it, like a trojan horse. The two main groups: asiatics and orientals are well established and best known. There is a lot of plants which borrow the lily name. Lilies, orientals, asiatics, pumilum, tiger, etc, are all of the genus “Lilium”. Other plants may be known as ‘lilies’ but really they are not ‘true lilies’.

Here are some for examples: Daylilies heremocalis, Calla lilies callas, Canna lilies cannas, Toad lily tricyrtis, Plantain lily hosta, Sword lily gladiolous etc. You may say that they are all ‘lily wanna-bees’. A lot of people believe daylilies, canna lilies and calla lilies are part of the lily group. They are fundamentally different.

Stargazer lilies can grow in most of usa without problems and the climate in Massachusetts is not adverse to these. Holes in leaves are likely slugs who loves lilies. You can purchase slug bait from garden centers. Apply in very early spring as the lilies poke their head above ground, and then repeat about every three to four weeks, as long as the lilies are small.

As they grow taller you can stop applying snail bait. I still do it up until mid summer because it is amazing how high the snails can travel on the lilies and because we have other plants which also are attacked.

Lilies tend to get thin and spindly if allowed to grow in too dense shade. If shade is the problem, moving them to a a position with better sun should rectify in the problem. The problem can also be one of care. Lilies are pretty easy to care for, but you need to know the basics. Lilies which you want to come back should be fertilized two to three times during the growing period, in early spring as they poke their heads above ground, just before flowering and finally you can broadcast fertilizer over the ground in early fall.

After the lily has bloomed and the petals start to fall off, deadhead the flower. This is done by cutting the small stalk off which holds the flower to the main flower stem. Sometimes, small green puffy seed pods develop where the flower used to be. These should also be removed to preserve energy in the bulbs and avoid the lily spending energy on setting seeds.

Otherwise, leave the main flower stem alone. Many people mistakenly cut the flower stem back to the ground after flowering which removes the potential for the lily bulb to recharge for the following year. The lily needs the flower stem with it’s green leaves to conduct photosynthesis, e.g. to recharge the bulb for next year’s bloom.

A topdressing around the base of the plant every year with a good quality compost is also recommended. Fertilize two to three times per year. Deadhead spent flowers by removing the dead flowers plus seed pods. Do not restrict foliage, but allow the lily to grow until it turns brown on it’s own in fall. If planted in too deep shade, move to a place with more sun. Apply a good layer of compost around the base of the lily in spring and fall, if possible.. optional. This would depend on you and what you think would be best for your lily.

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Do you ever feel like you know just enough about Lilies for the garden to be dangerous? Let’s see if we can fill in some of the gaps with the latest info from Lilies for the garden experts.

Lilies are one of the most striking and beautiful plants in the garden, and most gardeners will work with these beautiful plants at least once or twice in their lives.

Lilies can add beauty and drama to any garden, and they are very popular flowers for indoor display as well. Lilies are popular in many contexts, from giving a beautiful contrast to a winter rock garden, to providing a beautiful accent to surrounding shrubs and trees.

No matter how the lily is displayed, and whether it is enjoyed indoors or out, there are some important things to know about these wonderful plants. This article focuses on some of the most frequently asked questions about choosing, planting, caring for and enjoying lilies.

When should I plant my lilies?

The best time to plant lilies is in either the spring or fall of the year. Regardless of the time of year, however, it is important to get the bulbs in the ground as soon as possible after purchasing them. Unlike many other types of bulbs, lily bulbs do not store well.

What is the difference between a daylily and a garden lily?

The plant known to gardeners as the garden lily is grown from a bulb, but the plant known as the daylily actually grows from a corm. In addition, the daylily contains many leaves that grow from the corm, but the garden lily contains only one shoot that contains leaves. That shoot grows directly from the bulb.

It’s really a good idea to probe a little deeper into the subject of Lilies for the garden. What you learn may give you the confidence you need to venture into new areas.

How deep should lily bulbs be planted?

The general rule of thumb for many types of bulbs, including lily bulbs, is to plant them three times as deep as the bulbs are wide. For instance, a two inch wide lily bulb would be planted to a depth of six inches In addition, lilies should be planted in groups for the best effect when they bloom. It is a good idea to dig a hole to the proper depth, then plant several bulbs together in that hole.

How do I propagate lilies?

Garden lilies are best propagated through breaking off a few of their scales in the spring or fall and planting them approximately one inch deep. Daylilies can be propagated by dividing the corms and planting them. In addition, some lilies will produce bulbils, which may appear to be black or dark green seeds. These bulbils are found at the point at which the lily leaf meets the stem. Even though these bulbils are not really seeds, they can be planted, and they will emerge within two or three years of planting.

Should I cut back my lily after it has finished blooming?

After the lily has bloomed, it is best to remove only the stem itself. That is because garden lilies will continue to feed off their foliage, and lilies that are left to die off naturally tend to grow better the next year. On the other hand, daylilies usually bloom for longer periods of time. The blooming season of daylilies can be extended if the gardener deadheads the blooms and cuts back the stems. After the blooming season is over, the foliage on the daylily should be allowed to die back naturally.

Can Easter lilies be planted outside?

Many people are interested in planting their Easter lilies outside, and it is fine to attempt that. The main problem with Easter lilies is that they do not bloom naturally at Easter time. Easter lilies are actually forced to bloom at that time of year by the florist. This forced blooming can make it harder for the lily to grow properly once it is transplanted.

If you plan to transplant your Easter lily after you have enjoyed it outside, the following steps will help increase your chances of its survival.

Plant the lily in a sunny spot using well drained soil Use a good, high quality planting mix Plant the bulbs three inches under the surface of the soil and also place an additional three inches of soil on the top Allow enough space for the lily to spread its roots Water the newly transplanted lily thoroughly

Now you can understand why there’s a growing interest in Lilies for the garden. When people start looking for more information about Lilies for the garden, you’ll be in a position to meet their needs.

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While the lily plant grows with green leaves, the bulb is being recharged. The longer you can keep the lily growing, the better recharging and the bigger the bulb gets. You should continue to water the lily. Do not cut the stem back until the leaves fall off by them selves and the stem dies back. Sometimes, the stem will die back from disease, but most often you can get the lily to grow for a long time which is good. Do not cut the stem back before the lily stem has withered.

In your area, the temperatures may not be as low as to make the lily bulb “go to sleep” naturally and vernalize, cooling period which prompts the lily plant to bloom again. Therefore, if the lily has not started to show signs of going “back to sleep” nine months after flowering, you can put the pot ,and all, in a spare fridge set at a low temperature 33-35F. As low as you can without freezing. Gradually begin to withhold water.

Do not worry about lack of sunshine during this period. After the stem has died back, you keep the lily in the cold temperatures for six weeks and bring it back out. It should not be “programmed” to start growing again and flower.

Calla Lilies are most certainly perennial. In your region, a very mild usda zone nine, you can plant all your Calla Lilies in the ground and if you water and feed them they will all grow beautifully. It sounds like you are enjoying the blooms on your Callas. If you really want to impress your husband, memorize the following word “Zantedeschia”, the scientific name for this is plant. There are two kinds of Calla Lilies/Zantedeschia.

One is the kind that loses its leaves when it rests. The other just stops flowering and doesn’t grow much, but it still has leaves. The first one is big and white, occasionally yellow. The second one is a little smaller and brightly colored. First, the “bulbs”, which are really called “Rhizomes” , of deciduous, leaf-losing, Calla Lilies look completely different from the large, evergreen white-and-green florist Calla Lilies. Rhizomes of deciduous, colored Calla Lilies are flat, round wafers, typically with bulls-eyes or dark circles. They grow best in bright sun and can dry out between waterings.

If the flower on your Calla Lily is pink, red or plum, and it has finished blooming, and when is at the end of the growing season, the leaves will begin to turn yellow. That would tell you that you have a deciduous Calla Lily. The kind that loses its leaves when it is resting. Just water it once in a while. Don’t let it get completely dry. The leaves will drop and the plant will look like you have killed it. “This is normal”. Don’t give up. Now, I must warn you: Even very experienced gardeners are rarely successful long-term with deciduous Calla Lilies.

But maybe you have the other Calla Lily. This one is the large, white florist’s Calla Lily. It is two too three feet tall and has solid green leaves. This one keeps its leaves and looks so beautiful, most people have to touch it to see if it is real, even when it is not blooming. The rhizomes are long and oval, with a larger end that is placed up when it is planted. These are strong and said to be hardy to zone seven. They need lots of water.

Remember, Ximelle,”all” Calla Lilies Must have a rest period. If you have the colorful, deciduous, slightly smaller Calla Lily described first, this is where many gardeners give up. That’s because keeping a dormant plant can feel like a total waste of time. You are sitting with a pot of dirt that seems to have absolutely no use whatsoever other than to take up space and occasionally fall over and spill its contents. Anyone you live with will think you can’t admit you have a brown thumb. The dog will knock it over and play with it.

At our house, the nanny considered all dormant potted plants utterly worthless. One weekend she did us the “favor” of throwing out a potted Amaryllis bulb; I rescued it just in time from the rubbish, but not before we argued as to whether there was anything actually growing in that pot of bone dry dirt under the pantry cabinets. A few months later, of course, there were green stems sprouting from the dry dirt. She was amazed. But that’s what happens.

A dormant potted plant, whether deciduous Calla Lily or Amaryllis, is not a pretty sight. Keep your pot in the coolest spot in the house that you can find without “Freezing”, and you have the perfect winter location for your Calla Lily. Check it every so often for signs of life. Water it so that it does not completely dry out, once every two weeks or so. Now, your Calla Lily plant will go dormant sooner or later.

If it seems to be slowing down in the next few weeks, to try watering and fertilizing it through the summer. If you live in the Northeast, or somewhere that snow falls and it gets cold enough to skate on the local pond, you should keep it in the same pot all summer and make sure you water it faithfully. If you check the different colors, you will see that even thought they are all Calla Lilies, they bloom for different lengths, depending on the color/species. So don’t feel that you have to induce dormancy. It will tell You when it’s time for a rest.

Take care of your growing Calla until the end of the summer or at least until the leaves begin to yellow and wither. Slow down on the watering without letting it dry out completely and see if all the leaves fall off. And if it appears that you’ve killed it, keep the pot slightly moist and cool through the holiday season and don’t forget to water it. Remember, it’s the dormancy period where most gardeners throw in the towel.

Growing Calla Lilies need rich soil, bright light and moisture. Some people think Callas are good plants for beginners because it is so hard to overwater them, a common and fatal beginner’s habit for other plants and very helpful if you are growing a Calla Lily. Drying these out while they’re growing makes them go dormant. Drying them out totally while they are dormant will turn them into good additions to your compost pile. In the wilds of Florida and Louisiana, these plants thrive at the edge of a tropical pond or lake where it never dries out.

“White Flower Farm” success depends on explaining the keys to growing the plants they sell and I think they have done a good job on the Calla Lily. If you can get past the unfamiliar vocabulary, think of a “Rhizomes” as just a funny looking bulb that you plant sideways; with little bumps that sprout into plants, you can see why these Calla Lilies are so popular. The hardest part is the patience you need to get through deciduous dormancy, if of course that is the kind of Calla you have.

“The Spider Mites” are easy. These are indoor plant bugs. Put these plants outside and the Spider Mites will be wiped out in a day. They can’t take dryness and they can’t take cool weather. Then when you bring these plants in, mist them every day and try to keep the air in the house more humid. A few hours in the bathroom while you’re taking a shower will keep the Spider Mites from ruining your Callas.

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There are many traditions surrounding the Holiday of Easter. From the American tradition of coloring and hiding eggs, to a Easter Dinner usually as Ham as the main course. There has always been the question in mind for me, as to why lilies are used during Easter.

The lily is sought frequently during the Easter Season, as it has become a symbolization of the Resurrection. As with many traditions of the Easter Holiday, the lily will continue to bring a breath of life to those who view it as a Holy Symbol.

First discovered by Carl Peter Thunberg in 1777, the Easter Lily(Lilium longiflorum) was starting a whirlwind tour, that would take centuries to come into a crowning achievement of acceptance and eventually tradition. Bermuda was the main production location for commercial bulb growing until 1898, when a virus destroyed the crop there. Until WWII production moved to Japan.

Ms Thomas Sargent is credited with the advent of using lilies in an Easter setting. In the 1880’s, 20 years before the crop was destroyed, She was visiting the Bermudas and liked how the Lily bloomed in Early Spring. This was due to the climate, as usually, a lily will bloom in late summer. Bringing back some bulbs with her to Philadelphia, she asked a local greenhouse grower there to train them to bloom in the spring.

Forcing the lily to bloom in spring is no easy task. It takes literally a thousand hours to get it to bloom properly. By controlling the temperature of the soil that the bulb grows in, a grower can control when the lily will bloom. When it is close to the Easter Holiday, which changes every year, there are different techniques that the grower will use to determine the correct time of blooming. By counting the folds on the leaf of a plant or moving the plants back and forth between warm and cold environments, it can be a daunting task to align nature with time.

When out lily shopping, look for plants with flowers in different points of bloom from buds, to open, or partially opened flowers. Look for a formed lily, being sure that it is about two times taller than the pot. The foliage should be thick, rich green in color, and extend all the way down to the soil line. Be sure to also check the foliage, flowers, and buds for signs of discoloration, disease, or insects.

At home, keep your lily away from drafts and drying heat sources such as appliances or heating ducts. Bright, indirect light is best with daytime temperatures of 60 to 65 degrees F. Water the plant only when the soil feels dry to the touch, but don’t over water. To maintain the life of the blossoms, discard the yellow anthers found in the middle of each flower.

If you have cats, especially those that like to chew on leaves, keep your lily away from them. Any part of this lily, as many of its relatives, can cause kidney failure in cats. Eating even one leaf can be fatal to a cat, starting with them stopping eating, vomiting, and becoming lethargic. If you think a cat has eaten a leaf, call a veterinarian immediately as prompt treatment often can be successful.

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