Among garden plants, lilies are especially popular. Wild species are cultivated; varieties and hybrids are bred on their basis. This regal flower will decorate the most modest garden, and white lilies are especially spectacular.
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Description of varieties and species
White flowers are found in various species of lilies. Consider the most famous.
- Long-flowered hybrids. They are characterized by flowers in the form of a long tube at the base, with expanding petals at the end. The buds are directed in different directions, slightly drooping to the ground. These are LA hybrids (longiflorum). Very beautiful plant, has a strong aroma.
- Candidum. This species is called - snow-white. There are flowers with a yellowish color. Buds come in two forms - tubular or in the form of a wide funnel. The flower is very beautiful, emits a pleasant aroma. The best among these hybrids is Apollo.
However, you should be aware that these lilies do not have high winter hardiness and suffer from fungal diseases. They require careful care.
The progenitors of long-flowered hybrids are Japanese wild lilies. This is due to their thermophilicity. The culture is grown in greenhouses or in pots, like an indoor flower. Bouquets sold in flower shops are collected from these lilies.
The best varieties are recognized:
- White Haven;
- White Elegance;
- White Fox.
How to choose white lily bulbs
The choice of bulbs should be taken responsibly, because this is the key to obtaining a beautiful healthy flower in the future.
The bulb must meet the following requirements:
- be firm and juicy;
- to have no damage and traces of disease;
- have sprouts and live roots, at least 5 cm long;
- optimal diameter - 14 - 16 cm;
- should be white or slightly yellowish.
A dry and sluggish bulb may not take root at all and die. Small bulbs, up to 3 cm, will need at least two years to have flowers.
It is very important to plant a healthy bulb, otherwise you can infect other flowers and spoil the flower garden.
Selection and preparation of a landing site
The most suitable for lilies will be a sunny place, sheltered from the wind. It is advisable to provide a slight shade at noon. The culture grows well in the neighborhood with other plants, the main thing is that they do not obscure it.
White lily flower requires liming the soil before planting, if it is acidic. Otherwise, the plant will hurt and develop poorly. The soil is needed quite loose, close proximity of groundwater and stagnation of melt or rain water should be excluded.
It is important to remove all perennial weeds and carefully remove their roots. White lily does not tolerate frequent transplants, so the site needs to be cleaned thoroughly and for a long time.
How to plant lilies in open ground
The main landing time is the end of August. Usually, by this time the bulbs are already ripe, and they are being excavated. Hybrid candida is planted immediately after digging. LA hybrids are best planted in the spring.
- The bulb is washed with running water, then placed in a disinfectant. This may be a pink solution of potassium permanganate, a special composition of "Maxim" and others.
- Maintain the head for half an hour, then slightly dry. Material is ready for planting.
- Sand is poured at the bottom of the planting fossa, a bulb is placed on it, spreading the roots to the sides.
- A little sand is poured on it, and on top - the ground. Only a few cm deep.
- Between seedlings in a row leave a distance of 20 cm, between rows - up to 30 - 40 cm.
Garden Flower Care
White lilies do not like acid soil, so it is useful to use wood ash when feeding. It contains useful trace elements, and it reduces the acidity of the soil. Ash can be scattered under the bushes or make an aqueous solution.
When growing white lily, it is most useful to use mineral compounds containing all three main elements - phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium.
They can be planted in the soil or added to water when watering. The main dressings for care should be applied three times a season. Soil fertilizer is especially important after flowering, when the bulb is formed.
Do not allow the soil to dry out at the flower. Watering should be sufficient, but do not overdo it; excess water is undesirable. Loosening the white lily is best replaced by mulching, so as not to damage the closely located bulb.
The stem is gradually cut off as it dries. Before wintering, a dried piece of the stem is easily removed so that water and cold do not get into the bulb. In winter, the plant is mulched, covered with spruce branches or lutrasil.
Reproduction and transplantation methods
Lilies are propagated by separating the bulb-children from the main bulb. White lily begins to be divided at the age of at least 4 years. By this time, children are ripening.
The best time for transplanting and breeding is August. It is important that the stem is completely dry, and at least a month after flowering is completed.
Snow-white lily can be planted in the summer with a lump of land. Even flowering plants are used. In this case, we get a complete picture of its appearance and make sure of the varietal affiliation of the material.
Disease and Pest Prevention
Diseases in lilies appear when the growing conditions are not respected. Their main reason is waterlogging of the soil, as well as thickened plantings, cold rainy summers.
To avoid diseases, lilies should be planted at the distance indicated above, so that they are aired. In wet weather, you can spray the planting with a 1% solution of Bordeaux fluid or Fitosporin.
The main flower pest is the lily bug. It is bright red in color and is clearly visible on the plant. With a small number of individuals, you can limit their collection.If there are too many of them, use the means to combat the Colorado potato beetle.
To exclude the appearance of diseases in the flower, it is important to use healthy planting material. For this, the bulbs are treated before planting with disinfectant solutions.
Lily is a beautiful plant desired in any flower garden. To decorate your site and avoid unnecessary trouble, you should choose the right variety - what is possible in the Krasnodar Territory will not work in Siberia. But the types of lilies are so diverse that you can always choose a flower that will grow perfectly in your garden.
