Chinese edible bulbs
Leo A. Martin (Fri, 10 Oct 2008 12:58:15 PDT)

Iain wrote about lily culture in Phoenix. Thanks, I'll try the
suggestions. The edible one never bloomed so I don't know what the flower
looks like, nor the species. It's OK to use degrees C even in the USA.

Leo Martin
Phoenix Arizona USA

Leo your note is interesting and I have a suggestion which might
alleviate the lack of 'happiness' which hopefully might improve outcomes.
By now the lilies should be going into rest mode, tip them out of their
pot and see what is in their. Assuming no nasty creepy crawlies look to
see it there are any underground bulbs on a part of the under ground
stem, also see if there are any bulbils between the nose of the bulbs on
the underground portion of the stem before it breaks through the surface
of the soil. If you find either pot them up separately and renew potting
mix for the original two bulbs. Put them into a pot which is smaller than
another which you could try to get, put the bulb pot into the larger pot
and insulate all around between the two pots using peat or anything else
which would not rot down e.g vermiculite or polystyrene chips. This will
insulate or buffer the bulb's roots from excessive heat and can be wetted
during very not weather.

Most lily species need a dormant phase, if this doesn't happen naturally
for other plants in your area then the lilies will be stressing. In that
case put each bulb in a wrapper of sorts and place it in a fridge for 2-3
months at around 0 C to 5 C [sorry I can't help with F temps] In due
course when what passes for your winter type period nears its end, put
the bulbs back into pots as above and see what happens. It is important,
certainly with Old World species e.g. Chinese, not to damage all roots
especially those that they start producing, the new contractile roots
from autumn [fall] onwards and these should not be damaged if at all
possible. When in the fridge make sure the container can breathe, a
plastic bag with holes punched in it may be one way and include moist
peat or moist vermiculite beads in with them, they MUST NOT dry out.

You didn't say what the flower colour or type was, anyway best of luck,
I'd be interested to know how you get on next year. Remember to feed them
ideally with a liquid feed during the first part of the year but stop
that once the flowers drop off or the bulbs will get very flabby, just
like us humans when we eat too much, {not me of course - I wish}

Regards, Iain