Help! My lilies have sprouted in the bag!

SpookyShoe · January 30, 2019

I know this is not the right forum, but more people will see my post here. How do I plant these? I can't cover up the sprout with 6 inches of soil. I was going to plant them in two weeks, but I'm going to have to do it now. I'm in zone 9, so no frozen soil. I have 4 bags.

Labradors2 · January 30, 2019

I would plant them according to the instructions. If they came without any, you would have to look up the variety and how to plant.

For example, Asiatic lilies should be planted 6-8" deep, so the sprout would be under the soil! Obviously, you will need to work carefully with the soil so as not to break the tops off. I'd be inclined to use peat moss over the delicate part. I'm sure they will be fine.

Good luck!

Linda

Whwoz · January 30, 2019

Donna, just plant as per normal at advised depth. I often see them like this and the lillies that I planted last year and put in the bulb thread were at about the same stage. Just make sure that you cover them with loose soil that is not to lumpy and they will be fine.

greenthumbomaha · January 30, 2019

And now the story changes ... I had a different experience. The shoot (neck) will not grow any taller once the flower emerges . I am basing this opinion on daffodils that overwintered in a pot in my garage. I didn't see them sprout they were deprived of light. They bloomed but were really short and curved. I did not carry them over a second year due to space but they would probably have straightened out and achieved a normal size if properly cared for.

Fingers crossed for you!

- Lisa

SpookyShoe · January 31, 2019

It's done. I potted the bulbs under 6 inches of soil. We'll see.

SpookyShoe · January 31, 2019

I placed some soil into the container. Then I placed the bulbs in at the proper depth. I watered the soil at that point. And then I put loose barely moist soil over the tops of the bulbs and the sprouts up to the top of the container. I don't want soggy soil over the sprouts as they're trying to emerge towards the top of the soil.

Whwoz · January 31, 2019

Sounds good to me, not unusual over here to see bulbs sprouting in their packing and they all do well as long as the soil on top is loose. you may have upto a month to wait to see them poking through but they should be fine.

SpookyShoe · January 31, 2019

Some of the bulbs I planted were Tiger Lilies.

Whwoz · January 31, 2019

Tigers are similar to Asiatic lilies, should still be no problems. Been a few years since I have grown them though

PhilaGardener · February 1, 2019

Are the pots now in a cooler place, like an unheated garage? I think part of the problem is that they seem to have been inside where it is warmer. Potting them up was a great idea, and keeping them cool (but not frozen) will help hold them back and promote root development until your ground thaws.

SpookyShoe · February 1, 2019

Phil, my pots are outside. I don't worry about the ground freezing and thawing because I'm on the Texas Gulf Coast in zone 9. I'm sure you're correct in assuming that the warmer conditions inside my house contributed to the sprouting. I probably could have even put them in the put them in the refrigerator. I think.

PhilaGardener · February 1, 2019

Yup, missed that! For those of us up North, at present the thought of digging in the ground is only a dream!

SpookyShoe · February 2, 2019

OK, 2 days ago I potted the lily (sprouted) bulbs. The bulbs were planted about 6 inches under the top of the soil, with the sprouts extending higher about 1.5 to 2 inches. Today I checked the pots and one of the stalks has pierced the top of the soil! Already!

January 31, 2019	#5
SpookyShoe Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: El Lago, Texas Posts: 1,100	It's done. I potted the bulbs under 6 inches of soil. We'll see. __________________ Donna, Zone 9, Texas Gulf Coast

January 31, 2019	#6
SpookyShoe Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: El Lago, Texas Posts: 1,100	I placed some soil into the container. Then I placed the bulbs in at the proper depth. I watered the soil at that point. And then I put loose barely moist soil over the tops of the bulbs and the sprouts up to the top of the container. I don't want soggy soil over the sprouts as they're trying to emerge towards the top of the soil. __________________ Donna, Zone 9, Texas Gulf Coast

January 31, 2019	#8
SpookyShoe Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: El Lago, Texas Posts: 1,100	Some of the bulbs I planted were Tiger Lilies. __________________ Donna, Zone 9, Texas Gulf Coast

February 1, 2019	#11
SpookyShoe Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: El Lago, Texas Posts: 1,100	Phil, my pots are outside. I don't worry about the ground freezing and thawing because I'm on the Texas Gulf Coast in zone 9. I'm sure you're correct in assuming that the warmer conditions inside my house contributed to the sprouting. I probably could have even put them in the put them in the refrigerator. I think. __________________ Donna, Zone 9, Texas Gulf Coast

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January 30, 2019	#2
Labradors2 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Ontario Posts: 3,886	I would plant them according to the instructions. If they came without any, you would have to look up the variety and how to plant. For example, Asiatic lilies should be planted 6-8" deep, so the sprout would be under the soil! Obviously, you will need to work carefully with the soil so as not to break the tops off. I'd be inclined to use peat moss over the delicate part. I'm sure they will be fine. Good luck! Linda

January 30, 2019	#3
Whwoz Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 870	Donna, just plant as per normal at advised depth. I often see them like this and the lillies that I planted last year and put in the bulb thread were at about the same stage. Just make sure that you cover them with loose soil that is not to lumpy and they will be fine.

January 30, 2019	#4
greenthumbomaha Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Omaha Zone 5 Posts: 2,514	And now the story changes ... I had a different experience. The shoot (neck) will not grow any taller once the flower emerges . I am basing this opinion on daffodils that overwintered in a pot in my garage. I didn't see them sprout they were deprived of light. They bloomed but were really short and curved. I did not carry them over a second year due to space but they would probably have straightened out and achieved a normal size if properly cared for. Fingers crossed for you! - Lisa

February 1, 2019	#10
PhilaGardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Near Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1,940	Are the pots now in a cooler place, like an unheated garage? I think part of the problem is that they seem to have been inside where it is warmer. Potting them up was a great idea, and keeping them cool (but not frozen) will help hold them back and promote root development until your ground thaws.