[Elaine G]

Mathematical help needed please!
I have 15 lily bulbs - 5 of each type.
The instructions say to plant 3 in a 12 inch pot, but I don't want to mix and match.
So how big a pot do I need for 5 bulbs. I guessed 20'' but that seems awfully big just for a few lilies.
Any advice welcome please.

Thank you

Elaine

[Trillium]

THe sizing given is right. Lilies create very large root systems as the bulbs get larger. If they get crowded you'll see them suffering and possibly attracting the dreaded lily beetle. If pressed, put 2 in slightly smaller pots and a single in a still smaller (but not too small) pot. Lilies do best planted outside in the ground.

[Stripey_cat]

OK.  Area is proportional to radius squared, so 3 lilies need pi times 36 square inches.  That means one lily needs pi * 12, so five will need pi * 60.  The square root of 60 is near enough to 8 not to matter, so you'll need a 16" diameter pot for 5 lilies.  Better to go up than down, unless you plan to plant them out in the garden after flowering, and to make it easier to keep them watered, but 16" should be OK, especially as wider pots tend to be deeper too.

See, maths can be useful!

[Elaine G]

Hi
Thanks for your replies and the mathematical calculations.
Had not thought about a three and a two!
Will go and have a look tomorrow and price up the 16'' pots - but maybe an assortment of sizes will look more interesting.
Lily beetle are a problem Trillium, but any planted in the garden have never been seen again so I suspect slugs are a bigger problem!

Thanks again

Elaine

[sunshineband]

OUr lilies attract lily beetles evbery year, and so do the fritillaries. Watch out as they are on the spread around the country. Catch and kill is our motto!

[Stripey_cat]

At least the beetles aren't camouflaged.

[sunshineband]

Very true!! Unlike their grubs, which of course are camouflaged with their own poo  ... Find and kill 

[mumofstig]

Just a shame they look so pretty with their red coats

[Elaine G]

Ha ha yes I remember seeing them for the first time and thinking they were pretty.
10 minutes later I opened my new copy of Gardeners World Mag and saw an article about them.
OH was surprised when I leapt up, ran outside and started squashing them!

Elaine

[sunshineband]

I am sure they hear you coming and drop to the ground.... stealth is required!

[Novice but totally hooked]

Lilies do best planted outside in the ground.

That may be the case in general but the best lillies I've ever seen growing were some in pots outside a wine bar in St David's in Pembrokeshire.  The owner tells me that he's kept the bulbs in the pots for years and just protects them in the winter, feeds them and hey presto the following year they're back. 

They are magnificent - about 3 ft tall, massive blooms and the smell is amazing.

On the subject of how many per pot.  From an artistic point of view things should always be grouped in odd numbers - ie 3 together, 5 together etc.  Even numbers of items means that one's eyes will automatically pair them and they won't look nearly so attractive.  This rule should be applied for anything, plants, photographs etc that are being arranged together.

[wellybabe]

Pot of lily bulbs down at the allotment has started making new shoots already; I noticed yesterday they were already a few inches out of the pot.

Should I cover them to protect them from frost?  They have survived outside all winter.

[sunshineband]

Mine are up too, shoots about 2 ins high --- I'm leaving them to fend for themselves as they are hardy I think

[wellybabe]

I hope you are right sunshineband; I didn`t know whether to fuss with fleece or not.  They were so lovely last summer and I would hate to lose them. 

[sunshineband]

If you are worries tuck some straw around them , or fuss with the fleece for peace of mind --- Bucks is slightly further north than me ( Berks) I'm leaving mine alone but it would be a shame  to lose them.

let me know how you go