I have had a really hard time trying to grow lilies in containers. They’re one of those that, at least in this area, very much want to grow in the ground. But if what you call a tall narrow 2-gallon pot is what I think it is, that is the only type of container that lilies survive and even multiply in for me. I use large “tree pots”. But with two additional conditions. One, even though I use a very well draining mix in all my pots, they usually have lots of pumice and perlite in them. But for lilies that survive, I have had to use a lot more organic material like peat moss and finally shredded bark. Two, the sun cannot ever shine on the pot itself. The tops may love sun, but the bulbs/roots seem to not withstand even a little bit of overheating. So I have to situate them in kind of precise locations. Anyway that has been my experience. On the other hand, when I’ve planted some types in the ground that I thought needed more chilling in winter than we get here, some have unexpectedly thrived. One that surprised me was an interspecific martagon lily hybrid, can’t remember its name. It ended up forming a big clump until a gopher discovered it and ate every single bulb, including the little baby ones. Now I can’t find that variety anywhere. BTW, have you tried Lilium philippinense? It’s supposed to take even warmer weather than formosanum, even though it looks very similar. --Lee Poulsen San Gabriel Valley, California, USA - USDA Zone 10a Latitude 34°N, Altitude 340 ft/100 m > > I bought a Lilium formosanum seedling from Annie's Annuals this spring. I kept it inside my house in a window. It went on to produce one flower in the shipping pot, which is 4" square and low. That is the first time in 38 years at this house a member of genus Lilium has flowered, inside or out. > > After flowering the top gradually died down. I unpotted it and found a small lily bulb about the size of a Queen Anne cherry. > > I repotted it to a tall, narrow 2-gallon nursery container. I don't know the natural history of these. It is still good and hot here. Should I expect it to grow again this season, or is it likely to remain dormant until Spring? I know I should never let Lilium bulbs in a pot dry completely. > > Leo Martin > Phoenix Arizona USA > Zone 9? > _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> PBS Forum https://…