Lily Bulb Scaling
Hello, fellow flower lovers! I hope you're doing well. Today, in the cozy environment of our barn, where we maintain a crisp 50-degree temperature during winter, I'd like to share a fascinating propagation technique: lily scaling. This method is a relatively speedy way to multiply lilies, and it's perfect if you're curious about expanding your collection or even creating unique hybrids.
Understanding Lily Propagation
Lilies, like many other plants, can be propagated in various ways:
Natural Division: Allow the bulbs to stay underground. Over time, they'll naturally divide.
Bulblets from Stems: Capture bulblets that grow on the stem below the soil surface.
Cross-Pollination & Seeds: Cross-pollinate them and grow out the seeds.
Tissue Culture: Using a lab to grow them scientifically in an agar medium.
Scaling: Lilies can also be propagated through scaling, a process in which the scales of a bulb are removed and stored in a way that promotes the growth of new bulblets on them.
The Process of Lily Scaling
Lily scaling is surprisingly simple and fast:
Peel the Scales: Just like peeling an onion, remove the scales from the lily bulb, capturing a small part of the basal plate where growth occurs.
Prepare the Peat: Store the scales in dampened peat at temperatures between 50 degrees and room temperature. Little water is needed.
Here’s a simple step-by-step guide:
Collect Scales: Gently peel scales from a fresh lily bulb.
Prepare Storage:
Place the scales in a vented plastic bag filled with dampened peat.
Make sure the bag has little vent holes for circulation.
Close the bag with a rubber band or twist tie.
Wait for Growth: Leave them alone for a few weeks.
Observe the Bulblets: Tiny bulbs will form along the basal plate of the scales.
Bump up the Bulblets: Remove baby bulbs and place them in a new bag of peat, then store them in a cooler for about 12 weeks.
Repeat the Process: After harvesting a round of bulblets, you can reuse the scales up to three times for the maximum yield.
Observations and Considerations
We’ve experimented with various lilies:
Asiatic Lily: This variety propagates the fastest.
Double Oriental: Displays slower growth.
Single Oriental: Falls right in the middle.
Benefits of Lily Scaling
Efficiency: This method doesn’t require a large farm or commercial operation.
Sustainable Growth: You can avoid sourcing bulbs from expansive farms.
Family-Friendly Farming Experiment: We think just about anyone will be fascinated by this process! Try some some for fun.
Important Tips
The initial season may yield no flowers or less spectacular blooms, but with time, your bulbs will grow larger, resulting in more flowers.
It’s a long game. But— if you get some lilies scaling going each season and make a habit of continuing the process, you can produce your own bulbs for cut flower use in a few years.
Whether you’re aiming to build your collection or just want to have fun with your plants, scaling is a fantastic process to explore. So, find a small area in a garden, dive into this process, and be amazed by nature's ability to replicate and flourish.
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions, or share your experiences with lily scaling in the comments below! Happy gardening!