Potted Plant Production

Easter Lilies

Introduction• Lilium longiflorum

• Native to Islands south of Japan

• Introduced to England in 1819

• Bulb production in US in 1898

• Grown as cut flower and Potted plant

• 3rd in potted plant production

• MI is #2 producer in the US

Cultivars• ACE -

– pyramidal shape

– medium height

– broad dark green leaf

– large number of flowers

• Nellie White -– most popular

– shorter plant

– fewer leaves

– suffers fewer tip burn problems

Propagation• Non-tunicate bulb

• Field production on West side of US

• Done by collecting bulblets and scaling– Scaling is done by breaking off scales, planting

in rows, and allowing 2-3 years until ready to be forces

Propagation• Harvesting of bulbs

done mechanically

• Bulbs are grades by circumference

• Shipped in boxes with humid peat moss

Growth Requirements• Cooling -

– Require 6 weeks of cooling at 40-41 F– Can be done in two ways

• Case cooling - cooled in shipping crates

• Pot cooling - planted in finishing pots, allowed 1-2 weeks for root development and then placed in a cooler

• Pot cooling is a preferred method although it takes up more cooler space

Growth Requirements• Media -

– High porosity– High water holding capacity– Sterile– pH of 6.5 -6.7– Soil mix or Soiless mix

Growth Requirements• Water-

– Do not let plants dry out excessively

– Allow top to dry between watering

– Use spagehtii tubs or overhead watering

– Subsurface results in taller plants

• Fertilizer - – Constant Liquid feed

of 200 ppm Nitrogen

– High salt levels decrease plant height

Growth Requirements• Temperature

– Very sensitive to temperature changes!!!!!– Warmer temp- faster development and taller

plant– Cooler temps - oppesite true– This is a way of timing flowering– In general, plants kept at 63-65 F at night and

73-75 during the day

TemperatureCooler temps slow growth and flower production

Warmer temps speed up flowering and growth

Growth Requirements• Lighting -

– Standard mum lighting used

– Maximize light intensity

• Height Control -– Temperature

– DIF

– Light intensity - lower the light the taller the plant

– Controlling crowding or spacing

– Chemicals - ex. A-rest

Problems• Insects

– Aphids

– Bulb mites

– Fungas gnats• To control all of above

practice IMP and makes sure to use undamaged bulbs

• Diseases – Root Rot - use clean

soil, let soil dry between watering or use fungicide

– Viruses - controlled by using clean material and controlling aphids

• Names by it does to leaf: Fleck, Streak, Curly srtipe

Problems• Physiological

– Bulbs are immature at harvest– Not enough cold treatment– Low light intensity– Temperature too high

Post Harvest & Handling• If bloom too early they

can be held at puffy bud stage at 35-40 F

• Sell lilies when first flower opens

• Remove anthers ASAP. This limits the yellow pollen that sheds on petals and lengthens shelf life.