Lilium species

[Gene Mirro]

I agree with Yann on all points.

I grow all of my new seedlings under fluorescents at around 15C for a couple of months in late Winter.  I don't get any damping off losses.  If I put the new seedlings in the greenhouse, and if the weather is cloudy for a week or two, sometimes I get big losses.  I don't use fungicide on new seedlings.  I have had problems with fungicide.

I don't like the bag method.  Too much work.  I don't want to touch the new seedlings.

Johnw, I have not tried Bjornar's seeds yet.  I will try them next Spring. 

[Yann]

i've almost 100% of germination with Bojnar's seeds. Fresh material

[johnw]

I only used the bags to sprout the seeds, the minute they came up they were de-bagged and moved into the cool 5-10c room under fluorescents.  The transition always goes easily.  The fungicide was a bacillus ....   I suspect it may have fermented.

I will not give up hope on the souliei seed from 2014. So am I correct to assume they germinate immediately at room temps?

Thanks to all.

johnw

[Gene Mirro]

Seeds of Nomocharis and Chinese alpine species are supposed to be immediate epigeal.  But many of them have delayed germination, often a year or more.  So you should not throw away your pots, and you should keep them moist.  In my experience, the ones that are delayed do not grow as well as the ones that germinate right away.  But I grow them anyway. 

I usually plant the entire contents of the pot into the garden in mid-May, without disturbing the seedlings.  I often find new seedlings coming up in the garden in the following year or two.

[vanozzi]

Whoo hoo !!
 8 speciosum gloriosoides and 4 Lophophorum seeds have germinated in the last 2 days.Especially happy to see the gloriosoides .

Thank you Bjørnar Olsen.

[Gene Mirro]

I usually get poor germination of L. mackliniae, oxypetalum and nanum when I try to germinate them indoors at around 15C.  This year I am germinating them outdoors at 5-10C, and they are germinating strongly.  As soon as they make a leaf, they go under the fluorescent lights in my cold greenhouse.  I am also trying some Nomocharis in winter temps, but they haven't started germinating yet.  Next I am going to try some of the other Chinese high-altitude lilies at low temps.  I've seen several references on the web stating that these seeds like to germinate at low temps (5-15C). 

[P. Kohn]

We too enjoy raising species lilies from seed and generally don't find them too difficult once one has identified whether they are epigeal or hypogeal etc. but bulb scaling is definitely the method of choice for getting mature plants quickly. However, there seem to be a very limited number of species available as bulbs in the UK. Can anyone suggest good suppliers please ? How difficult (and expensive) is it to import from other countries ?

[Maggi Young]

As it happens, Peter - Pontus has just posted a list of plants....
http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=13571.0

 

[David Nicholson]

Susan Band at Pitcairn Alpines lists the following Lilium
columbianum; humboldtii; kelleyanum; kelloggii; lankongense; macklinae; pardalinum; parryii; rosthornii; taliense; wardii. I haven't checked her current stock position.

http://www.pitcairnalpines.co.uk/enter-main-shop-here-nall8curpage-3-8-c.asp

[Tristan_He]

It's funny that the technical terms epigeal and hypogeal always come up in any discussion of lily seed germination, as it gives growing them from seed a mystique they do not deserve.

Like Gene, I've grown a lot of lilies from seed and killed far more along the way. In my view germination is generally the easy part provided that the seed is reasonably fresh (I tend to sow as soon as they are ripe). Moreover, the 'sow, cover with grit, leave outside and await results' approach seems to work pretty well for most species. The trick is then in regular potting up whilst not disturbing the roots, and guarding against slugs and vine weevils. It's immensely rewarding to look at a clump of these beautiful plants in the garden and know that they are something unique that you have raised.

Fresh seed is key though - don't bother with offerings of seed companies which are mostly dead. I can recommend the RHS Lily Group http://www.rhslilygroup.org/ seed exchange (Declaration of interest: I used to help run it for a while).

Tristan

[Susan Band]

Just looked at my bags of Lilium canadense and michiaganense seed bought from Gabriela 4 weeks ago.  They have been kept in the living room(about 19-20C) they are now forming little bulbs. I will keep them in the house for another week to let them grow a bit. I will then sow them in seed trays and put them in the just frost free tunnel. I hope they will put up a leaf this spring. 

[Maggi Young]

Just looked at my bags of Lilium canadense and michiaganense seed bought from Gabriela 4 weeks ago.  They have been kept in the living room(about 19-20C) they are now forming little bulbs. I will keep them in the house for another week to let them grow a bit. I will then sow them in seed trays and put them in the just frost free tunnel. I hope they will put up a leaf this spring. 

   Gabriela  = Botanically Inclined   

[Cfred72]

What do you advise to plant Lilium nepalense?
I will soon reap the seeds of the single pod garden.
Is epigeal (immediate, delayed) or Hypogeum (immediate or delayed)?

[David Nicholson]

Immediate epigeal.

Just noticed in 'Lilies' by Edward Austin McRae "Coming from the Himalayan foothills it might be suspected to lack hardiness; however, it has survived outdoors in Oregon for many years......... The species can be grown in a pot or other container given plenty of moisture during its growing period, but it must be kept dry during fall and winter. It is necessary to cover it against fall rains"

[Cfred72]

David thank you for information.
I had planted last year in a new very light and very draining bed ..
I did not take special precautions to protect it. He appeared 50 centimeters further than where I had planted. True, he is known for.
For seeds I sow the pot in surface with 0.5 cm of grains above and then I lay in bed directly outside waiting for spring?