[Lupin lurcher]

Hello. I have ordered some tree lillies. I am going to grow some at the back of my boarders but I should have about 3 left over.  My question is has anyone grown them in pots and if so what is the smallest pot I could get away with and what type of compost do I use. Many thanks.

[New shoot]

Think you have stumped everyone there LL 

I've never grown tree lillies in pots but they are one of those tricky plants that need rich soil, plenty of moisture and free drainage as well 

Best guess for me would be go for a deep pot like a long tom and use John Innes no 2 mixed 50/50 with multi purpose.  The JI will help stop them drying out and give the compost a bit more body.  Put plenty of drainage in the bottom of the pot. They get tall, so I think you will need a decent sized terracotta pot something like this http://www.thenurseries.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1529  These are called Yorkshire Pots and lots of garden centres have them.

[Rhiannon]

I grow masses of Stargazer and similar scented lillies for cutting, essential thing is feed feed feed , this keeps the bulbs big and strong if no feeding  they just get smaller and smaller. Think tree Lillies look like the scented African trumpet lillies , my African ones got pretty big , over 4 foot.

I grow mine in containers as they dont do well in the ground they get eaten, just phostrogen  would help and a good bed of well rotted manure .Every year i have to turn them out and repot .

I am basicaly saying exactly what New Shoot has advised 

[Lupin lurcher]

Thank you New Shoot and Rhiannon for your replies. I will get some JI no2 and multipurpose and the tom pots look ideal. I have loads of well rotted manure over the allotment so that will save a few bob. Rhiannon what do you feed your lillies with and how often? Thanks once again.

[Rhiannon]

Once they start to grow and get to about a foot i feed Phostrogen every time i water till the flowers are cut . i am not saying im right , but it seems to work for me.

This year im going to try Nutrimate which is a ready made fertilizer and  mix that in the pots with the compost see how that does.

Right now i think im useing John Innes potting compost mainly because where i get my animal feed has it and its easier with the truck for loading . I remember getting some stuff from Westland i didnt like at all , most of its much of a muchness tho.

If you havent had lillies before look out for bright red Lilly Beatles , thier grubs can be found over wintering in pots thier white and nasty, another sign is notched leaves and horrid dark squidgy stuff  on the leaves. I keep it under control by picking off the adults and jumping up and down on them, very high tech requires a lot of skill 

I think these might be regional as down south we never saw them.

[mumofstig]

Lots of bright red lily beetle down here as well 

[Lupin lurcher]

I have grown a few normal lillies before and yes I did get the bright red beetle I squashed them as I saw them, but on the tall ones only being 5ft 4 I probably will not see them all, I will keep on checking the soil for their grubs yuk. Thanks for the advice on feeding and everything else Rhiannon it very much appreciated.

[New shoot]

Lily beetle grubs are the dark squidgy stuff on the leaves Rhiannon describes.  They cover themselves with their own pooh as a defence against predators - yuk 

Grubs in the pots are probably vine weavil - creamy coloured with brown head.  You can get a product to water into pots by Provado to control it

http://www.dobbies.com/Bayer-Provado-Vine-Weevil-Killer-2/pid-VAR265573?utm_source=googleshopping&utm_medium=Garden%20Care&utm_campaign=Pest%20Control

This is the only product listed for Lily beetle. 

http://www.notcutts.co.uk/Provado-Ultimate-Bug-Killer-400Ml-Aerosol/pid-00032405

They are both systemic insecticides so provide a good level of protection against nasties on ornamental plants.

Alternatively jumping up and down on the adults will also work 

[Rhiannon]

I wont argue with that yeah they were as you describe , white brown head, logicaly they wont have 2 sorts of grubs will they , um senior moment?

[New shoot]

That sounds like vine weavil you have there Rhiannon - they love laying eggs in pots but as you empty your pots out and replant every year you shouldn't have too many problems.  The grubs chomp away at the roots and eat the lily bulbs as well given half a chance.

Adult vine weavil eat the leaves.  They tend to be nocturnal so you may not have seen them on your plants.  They leave notches in the edges of leaves, so if you spot the damage, probably worth treating the pot.  Unless you fancy a moonlight vigil for the stomping treatment    I have this picture of you jumping up and down to the amusement of your neighbours which is making me smile    That's my high tech method for quite a lot of nasties.  My other is the underarm fling to the chickens     

[Lupin lurcher]

Thank you both.  I do have some provado ultimate bug killer so I will spray as a precaution before the little devils arrive.

[Rhiannon]

Yeah i am a source of amusment to my neighbours  They think im mad talkign to the chickens ... sneeking around in the dark isnt a problem , thier those rather plain beetles arnt they? sort of a light brownish colour and not shiney.
Its probably why bulbs in the ground up here dont do well , i blame mice and the mole but one never knows.

[New shoot]

I talk to my chickens too 

Vine weevil looks like this - grubs and adults 

[Rhiannon]

Ugh yes deff thats what i was thinking of beetle wise and thats what ive had in the pots in the past , trouble is they see the big self propelled sprayer heading for the fields and rush for my garden lol..