Kind Lily (Lilium) from the Liliaceae family has more than 110 species, which are distributed mainly in Europe and Asia. The lovely flower lily owes its name to the ancient Gallic word "li-li", which literally translates as "white-white". It is a perennial bulbous plant with flowers that have the most diverse shape and color, which can be white, yellow, orange, pink, red, etc. Many lilies have a very pleasant aroma.
The beauty of these flowers, their grace and perfection of forms, as well as resistance to various diseases and the long growing season have made them very popular among gardeners. Today, there are up to 30 species of lilies that can be grown in gardens. Basically, they require careful shelter for the winter, for example, Japanese lily (Lilium lancifolium) or golden lily (Lilium auratum), which come from Japan and Korea; Nepalese giant lily (Lilium giganteum) is even more sensitive. Therefore, in our climatic conditions, mainly ordinary white lily (Lilium candidum), bulbous (Lilium bulbiferum), tiger (Lilium tigrinum) and others are grown.
Lilies - growing and care
Lilies develop well on light, slightly sandy soil. Since they are perennial plants and grow in one place for up to 5 years, the land for planting bulbs should be prepared in advance. Peat, humus and sand should be added to heavy soil. However, it must be remembered that with an excess of organic fertilizer, the aboveground part begins to grow rapidly to the detriment of the formation of strong healthy bulbs, winter hardiness and resistance to diseases are reduced, flowering is weakened.
Soil fertilizer, as a rule, coincides with the main preplant planting. Organic and mineral fertilizers are introduced for plowing or digging. Nutrient soils need to be added about 100 grams of the mixture per 1 sq. Km. m
The soil for planting should have good breathability, as these flowers do not tolerate stagnation of water. However, prolonged drought can also destroy them, so lilies need to be watered in dry weather. You do not need to do this often, but plentifully, and at the same time make sure that the water gets only under the root.
Lilies need sunlight, but they should be protected from direct gusts of wind so that the thin stems of adult lilies, reaching a meter in height, do not break. When they finish flowering, their stems must be cut at a height of about 10 cm from the ground. In autumn, when cold weather sets in, flowers should be prepared for wintering, having piled up more dry leaves on the place of their growth.
Lilies - transplant and reproduction
Typically, lilies can grow in one place without transplanting up to 5 years, forming nests from bulbs of different ages and sizes. Transplantation of lilies to a new place should occur after the growing season, when the bulbs are already strong after flowering, that is, from about mid-September to early October.
The most common way to reproduce lilies is vegetative. Usually for the propagation of lilies, children are used - bulbs, which are formed inside the old bulb. In August, they are separated from the mother plant during transplantation and planted for growing.
Also, the lily can be propagated by division. To do this, after flowering has ended, when the stem is already turning yellow, one of the scaly leaves forming the bulb is cut off so that with each scale a piece of the bulbous donut remains. This scale is planted in the ground and provides constant moisture, then buds (small bulbs), suitable for reproduction, are inflated in it.
Still lily can be propagated by seeds, however, this method is very complicated and is used mainly in professional gardening, for breeding new varieties.
Lilies - Diseases and Pests
When growing lilies, you can make some mistakes that can lead to plant disease.
For example, with excess moisture, bulb decay may begin, and the plant may even die, so when planting, lowlands should be avoided or good drainage should be taken into account.
When the soil overheats, especially in open spaces, the flow of biological processes may be disturbed in the bulb, so you should mulch the soil with light materials (sawdust, straw, etc.).
Overfeeding plants with fertilizers can inhibit their growth and development, therefore, they can be applied only in prescribed doses.
Also, lilies can get sick with gray rot, affecting the entire plant with its spots. To combat it, the lily must be sprayed with special solutions of fungicides.
The plant can be affected by fusarium basal rot of the bulbs, which can be recognized by the solid yellowing of the leaves below. In this case, the affected bulbs should be destroyed, and when transplanted, etch healthy bulbs with a suspension of fundozole.
Of the pests, the bulbous root tick, which causes rotting of the bulbs, is most dangerous for lilies. To prevent its occurrence, during planting, you must also pickle the bulbs with a solution of fungicide (acrex or celtan).
Also, lily can be damaged by aphids, which affects the appearance of the tops of shoots and young leaves and slows the growth of the plant. For prevention purposes, the plant should be sprayed with a solution of kalbofos or actelik.
