Lilium bolanderi question

Cody H plantboy@gmail.com
Mon, 07 Nov 2016 17:43:15 PST
Lilium bolanderi is native to northwestern northern CA and adjacent
southeastern Oregon. I've never grown it. I've seen it in the manzanita
scrub in the hills above crescent city and on dry, rocky, but somewhat
protected hill slopes in the interior, higher elevation, more extreme
vicinity of Eight Dollar Mountain, OR. The whole region it occurs in is
winter-wet so I would not imagine some winter moisture would be a
problem--more likely excessive summer moisture would be a concern--but
excellent drainage is probably important, the soils where I have seen them
growing were rocky and the aspects were sloped.

I wonder about temperature based cues for dormany, growth, etc. In the
interior of the siskiyous, snow is common in winter, and when the plants
bloom around July, temps regularly exceed 100F. I believe L. bolanderi does
most of its growth during the mild spring and goes dormant by the end of
the hot summer dry season.

As I said I've never grown it, but I'd guess based on my experience with
wild populations that your seedlings would be happy to continue growing in
the mild Bay Area conditions (which probably resembles spring in their
native habitats) until really cold weather comes. If I were growing them,
I'd put them in a bright spot outdoors, protected from frosts, and water
them sparingly over the winter, whether they go dormant or not.

But maybe somebody with more experience has better advice?

On Sun, Nov 6, 2016 at 1:56 PM arcangelo wessells via pbs <
pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> wrote:

Hello all,Another request for advice. This year I had seven Lilium
bolanderi seedlings germinate after almost six months in the frig at 51
degrees. That was in late May. Now I don't know exactly how to treat them
going into winter. They spent the year in a cool room in the back of the
house with only indirect light. That room is now cooler and darker. They
are now in a bit brighter room in the house, but it is about 60. That may
be too warm. I have started to let them dry out  but they seem willing to
stay green. Do  I force them to dry out or grow them until they yellow. I
think I want to avoid moist soil when they stop growing. Should they be
cold? These are a bit out of the usual for me. I mostly grow bulbs that are
ok with winter wet and my outdoor temperatures. I essentially have outside
or in the house as options. We just had some rain but now we are in for a
few weeks of 72/48 day and night temps. Any help would be
appreciated.Arcangelo WessellsVallejo CAnorthern California




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