Lesson 2
Deep in pots
Plant in autumn or early spring, 3 times the height of the bulb deep. Crocks at the bottom for drainage; gritty compost — lily bulbs rot in wet soil.
1 bulb per litre is the rule of thumb: 5 bulbs in a 5 L pot looks lush. Always plant the bulb pointy-end up; the basal plate (with roots) goes down.
Mix 1/3 horticultural grit into your compost for pots. Plain bagged compost retains too much winter water and the bulbs sit in cold puddles.
Planting lily bulbs in pots
- 1Choose a deep pot — minimum 30 cm — with a drainage hole.
- 2Layer of crocks or coarse gravel at the bottom.
- 3Fill 2/3 with compost mixed 1/3 with horticultural grit.
- 4Set bulbs pointy-end up, almost touching each other, on this layer.
- 5Cover with 15 cm of the gritty compost; top with grit mulch.
- 6Water once. Store outside in a sheltered spot until shoots emerge.