Spherical lily

The article presents a spherical lily: photo, description, complete instructions for planting, care, protection from diseases.

Lily is an amazing flower, delicate and majestic, considered a symbol of purity and femininity. Let's talk today about a real work of art - Lily Ball.

It is impossible to take your eyes off the large graceful flowers of a spherical lily of purple color, and it seems that none of those contemplating its beauty will leave without the received aesthetic pleasure.

It is important to know that even a novice florist can handle the cultivation of a spherical lily. You will learn more about the choice of bulbs, the correct planting and care of the daylily in this article.

Globular lily: description

Lily spherical: photo

This bulbous perennial of the Liliaceae family is characterized by deformation with accretion of several stems (fasciation). Thanks to this property, a flower ball with a huge number of buds is obtained.

Fasciation (mutation) occurs randomly under the influence of external factors (fertilizer, biostimulants, climatic anomalies, various types of damage to planting bulbs). Mutations lead to thickening of the bulb and stem. Usually undergoing mutations are middle-aged lilies, older than two years.
Of the species in question, the most famous is the globular lily. Marlene, which is dedicated to the German female name from the songs of the Great Patriotic War. This hybrid variety has turned out through crossing its 2 species - "Longiflorum" and "Lilia Asiatica". He is unpretentious and resilient, and his showiness makes him a favorite on any personal plot. It is worth noting that without any fasciations, "Marlen" has several dozen buds on the 1st stem, and this ball of stunning flowers looks just magical!

Lily spherical: detailed characteristics

Lily spherical: photo

Adult globular lilies reach a height of up to one meter. The straight stem of the spherical Lily has elongated leaves around the edges, pointed at the edges. The beginning of the stem is at the base of the bulb. On the lower leaves, you can see the appearance of generative buds, which give rise to young lily bulbs.

One can talk for a long time about the beauty of large flowers of a spherical Marlene lily, reaching a diameter of 20 centimeters, but it is still better to see them. The big advantage of this variety is the absence of the characteristic lily odor, which is often poorly tolerated by many flower connoisseurs.

The petals are the most delicate pink, in the center the color is paler. The lower parts of the petals are marked with small reddish blotches.

The flowering time of the globular lily variety is from June to July. From the time of germination of shoots to flowering, it usually takes about 3 months.

The root of this culture is a fairly large onion with scales.

The wilderness of North America is known to have rare blue bulbous perennials from the Liliaceae family. Its name is "Camassia", it has long ribbon foliage, gathering in rosettes, and with small flowers gathering in inflorescences.

The wild-growing species of "Camassia" has presented a lot of stunning beauty cultivars and species, but all of them are not globular.

For example, Blue Melody, which has blue flowers, stands out strongly from the Camassian variety. Its leaves are green, along the edge of which a white border breaks through.

The camassian variety "Orion" has large dark flowers. They are perfect for decorating a rock garden or rocky garden.

Camassian variety "Cerulea" with delicate lilac-blue flowers, against the background of its unpretentiousness, feels great in open sunny areas and in loamy soil.

Lily spherical: planting and care

Lily spherical: photo

All daylilies, regardless of the variety, stand in the water for a long time and remain fresh. These spectacular flowers make up original flower arrangements, especially the ball-shaped Marlene lily is used for these purposes.

You can "drive out" the plant for some kind of holiday, anniversary date. To do this, in addition to accurately calculating the date, it is worth remembering that with this method of cultivation, fasciation will not occur.

Several bulbs of a spherical lily are planted in a large pot, after having subjected them to stratification (i.e. it is necessary to put the bulbs in the refrigerator for 2 weeks), due to which the plant will awaken. Then it is necessary to place them in a solution of potassium permanganate for two hours for disinfection. The next step is to soak the bulbs overnight in a growth stimulant solution.

Then they start planting a spherical lily in a pot, on the bottom of which drainage (pebbles, expanded clay) is preliminarily placed, and on top - fertile soil with a layer of 10 centimeters.

The bulbs are laid out on top of the soil and covered with soil mixture. Then they water it with warm water and put the pots with bulbs in a cool place for 30 days (the air temperature should not be higher than +5 degrees). Sometimes the planting is watered. During this time, rooting will take place, and as soon as the first shoots appear, the planting is placed on a light windowsill.

The next stage is hardening. The pot should be periodically taken out into the street, for a start 30 minutes will be enough, but gradually this time is increased to 10 hours. If the air temperature outside keeps at least +10 degrees, then it's time to leave the lily for the night.

After about 90 days from the moment the seedlings appear, the lily will give the first flowers.
The main steps for successfully caring for this crop are to water regularly, provide the necessary temperature and sufficient lighting.

How to choose lilies when buying

To buy high-quality varietal ball lilies, you need to contact specialized flower shops, garden nurseries or other proven points of sale (maybe online stores). Markets for such purposes should be avoided as quality assurance is minimal.

How to choose a healthy ball lily bulb? First, it must be solid, without any damage. Signs of decay and various diseases should be absent. Carefully examine the scales of each bulb: they should be dry, light brown in color.
Choose large bulbs by size, then the guarantee of flowering in the first year will be maximum. The rest will bloom only after a couple of seasons.

About the features of the landing of the spherical lily

Globular lily is an amazing flower, delicate and majestic, considered a symbol of purity and femininity. It is impossible to take your eyes off its large graceful purple flowers, and it seems that none of those contemplating its beauty will leave without the received aesthetic pleasure.
Since the ball lily is very easy to root, we can talk about the grateful nature of this flower. In addition, it is unpretentious and responds with lush flowering to any concern.
Before spherical lilies are planted in the soil, the bulbs are kept in the cellar or in the refrigerator (you can use a box with sawdust).
Let's talk about the key features of planting Liliaceae: about the time, the landing site and the technique of planting in the ground.

Globular lily: time and place of landing

Planting or transplanting Globular Lilies is carried out both in spring and in autumn. Particularly bold of florists transplant lilies in the summer, preserving as much as possible a land ball near the bulbs.

The more precise timing of the autumn planting of a spherical lily can be said based on the climatic conditions of the planting region: in the Middle Lane it is August / September; in the southern region - October. The main reference point when landing is the first frost, that is, one and a half months before they occur, you need to land. Then the plant will take root in the soil and be ready for winter.

Despite the frost resistance and unpretentiousness of the globular lily, it is still recommended to mulch and cover the area where the bulbs are planted in the northern regions or where the winter temperature is unstable. In this case, the lilies will definitely survive the cold and will not freeze.

In the spring, the bulbs are planted from mid-spring to the end, again depending on the region.
On the site for planting a globular lily, you should choose a place where there is diffused sunlight. As a last resort, partial shade is suitable. Open sunny areas are not for lilies, as plants can overheat, and as a result - wilting of leaves and a decrease in flowering time. If you plant a lily in deep shade, then it will slowly grow with possible curvature of the stems and dropping of buds.

Also, open windy spaces with drafts are not suitable for ball-shaped lilies. Otherwise, gusts of wind can rip off the buds and break the tall stems of the plant.

Same important when choosing a place for planting a globular lily, pay attention to the occurrence of underground water sources and to the accumulation of water after heavy rains. The main thing is to protect the bulbs from excessive moisture, in order to avoid decay.

All about the agricultural technology of Lilia globular

The spherical lily with its unpretentiousness can safely be found in any soil, but there are still preferences. Daylily develops well in sandy loam and loamy soils with nutritious leaf humus. They tolerate much worse (less bloom) heavy and poor soil. The classic option for a globular lily is a loose, slightly acidic, fertile soil with good drainage.

If you still cannot do without heavy clay soil, then add peat, sand and humus to it. And if you have sandy soil, then enrich it with clay, peat and humus.

Attention! Fresh manure is contraindicated for Globular Lily! In this case, it is impossible to save the bulbs. By the way, the Asiatic lily hates an excess of lime. If you have a lot of lime in your soil, add peat to it before planting the bulbs.

Let's talk a little about pre-planting. While digging the soil, add compost or some rotted manure to it. Only - not fresh, otherwise it will burn all the bulbs.

Before planting, lily bulbs are treated with a solution of karbofos as a preventive measure. This insecticide will neutralize the planting material from any harmful insects and larvae.

For planting, prepare several holes or grooves with a depth corresponding to the size of the bulbs. More precisely, the depth of the fossa should be three times the diameter of the bulb. On average, it turns out that young small bulbs should be planted to a depth of 10 cm, and large ones - up to 20.

Agrotechnical recommendations for globular lilies are almost the same as for other bulbous. When planting, the first layer in the hole should be sand for drainage. It will protect the bulb of excess water, which means rotting.

So the bulbs have been planted! Now cover each hole with soil and water the planting abundantly.

Do not plant bulbs too close together. Otherwise, in the spring you will find numerous, additional, short, underdeveloped stems. If this happens, immediately transplant the bulbs long distances from one another. Then they will not oppress each other.

Make a note of the year in which you planted the bulbs.After all, liliaceae in one place should be no more than 5 years. You will see for yourself how the length of the peduncles and the number of buds will become less and less every year. This indicates the depletion and weakening of the bulb and the need to rejuvenate the plant.

Lily spherical: about the rules of care

Due to its resistance to the whims of nature, the spherical lily does not need any complex care, except for the usual ones - watering, loosening, feeding.

About watering, loosening and mulching

As soon as more or less stable warm weather sets in in spring, the land where the lilies are planted begins to loosen. In order not to harm the bulbs, they do not loosen deeply, the next day after watering. In this case, moisture will be retained in the soil, and its aeration will be much higher. If you forget to loosen the soil, then the roots of the bulbs will lack air, and they can dry out from lack of air.

An important part of bulb care is weed removal.

Watering for ball lilies should be regular and moderate. Here you need a "golden mean", since this plant is moisture-loving on the one hand, and on the other hand, it does not tolerate stagnant water and excessive moisture. If this "middle" is found, then it will be possible to avoid rotting of the bulbs.

The best preventive measure (to prevent overheating or drying out of the soil) is to mulch the area with humus or peat chips. Also, needles can act as mulch, the advantage of which is that, in addition to maintaining the necessary moist soil microclimate, it will support the slightly acidic soil necessary for Lily.

The beginning of October is the time when the spherical Lilies finish watering, and thus preparation for winter begins.

About feeding and pruning spherical lilies

The main feeding of Lily is carried out three times during the growing season.

• Top dressing 1. It is carried out when the very first leaves appear. The active growth of the plant at this time should be supported by the introduction of nitrogen-containing fertilizers into the soil.
• Top dressing 2... It is carried out at a time when lily buds are forming. During this period, organic fertilizers are needed, such as, for example, mullein concentrate (1:10). As a last resort, you can use a mineral fertilizer complex (50 grams per 1 sq. M).
• Top dressing 3. It is carried out when the plants have faded and the vitality of the bulbs needs to be restored. A suitable period for the third feeding is July or August. The composition of fertilizers - with a predominance of potassium and phosphorus.
  To improve flowering. To this end, wood ash is introduced into the soil twice a season, which, with the help of the Liliaceae substances important for the vital activity, provides the correct balance of micro and macro elements.

Sometimes bone meal is added for flowering, it contains a lot of calcium and phosphorus.

Some gardeners are convinced that active fasciation occurs as a result of a large amount of fertilizer used. As a result, the plant is over-fed every week for the entire period of its growth. But professional growers have not proven the connection between the mutation of the crop and its fertilization to date.
After flowering. Usually they get rid of wilted inflorescences and ovaries. Cut off two thirds of the shoot in order to prevent the emergence of seeds. In this case, the plant will not unnecessarily waste the strength of the bulbs remaining after flowering.

Globular lily: the right preparation for winter

By autumn, the lily foliage turns yellow, losing its decorative beauty. But so far it is not worth cutting off, since the peduncle and the rhizome are interconnected, and the metabolism is still going on between them. As soon as the stem is completely dry, it is removed, and the foliage is cut at the root.

Globular lily is quite cold-resistant and does not require shelter in winter. But mulching will come in handy during severe and little snowy winters. In these cases, mulching is recommended with the help of fallen leaves, humus, sawdust with spruce branches covering the flower bed.

In autumn, before frost, spherical lilies, cut at the root, are covered with polyethylene with holes through which air will pass. It will not allow excess moisture to accumulate, which can cause putrefaction in the bulbs. As soon as frosts begin, the polyethylene is removed.

Globular lily: about diseases and pests

When it comes to diseases and insect pests, the lily is not much different from other flowers. She may well be exposed to various diseases and suffer from the attack of harmful insects.

If the summer is cool and rainy, the leaves, and later - and the buds of the lily may be covered with brown specks. These are signs of gray rot. Here, a fungicidal preparation will come to the rescue, which is sprayed on the plant (for this purpose, for example, "Homa" is suitable at the rate of 40 grams per 10 liters of water). The procedure is repeated after seven days.

Sometimes the leaves of a spherical lily are affected by rust. Then they are removed, and the plant is sprayed with Fitosporin (1.5 grams per 1 liter of water).

If the bulbs are in the soil, then it is almost impossible to cope with fusarium or bulb rot. Here, only the prevention of infection is possible. Before planting, the bulbs are treated with Fundazol (2 grams per 10 liters of water), that is, they are dipped into the solution for a couple of hours. And during the growing season, the soil is shed with this prophylactic agent, and the ground part of the plant is sprayed with Fitosporin.

The spherical lily can be attacked by ticks, for which insecticidal agents are used - Fitoverm (4 ml / 1 l of water), Actellik (2 ml / 2 l of water). Spray them several times, every 8-9 days. The parasites must disappear.
Lily beetles, bears and wireworms can create a problem. The insecticidal agent Fufanon (2 ml / 1.5 l of water) will help to cope with them.

About the reproduction of spherical lilies

There are several ways to reproduce Globular Lilies:

• with the help of children (bulbs);
• using scales;
• using seeds.

With the help of children - the easiest and most affordable way. Around the middle of autumn, the bulbs are dug out for dividing. The mother's bulb is already covered with babies. It is easy to separate them, then it is necessary to clean and dry them.

If you notice that the scales are covered with spots, then cut them off, "etch" permanganate in a solution of potassium and dry.

Remove the dead roots, and shorten the living ones to 15 centimeters. Around April, the bulbs are prepared for planting in open soil. The smallest bulbs can be planted in a separate growing container.

The second method of propagation of a spherical lily - with scales - is less popular among gardeners. What do they do for this? Take an adult Lily bulb to remove scales. They are placed in a light manganese solution, then dried by mixing with sawdust. Then they are put in a bag, which is placed in a room at +20 degrees for 2 weeks. By this time, the scales are gradually forming a root system. Give them some more time to grow and place them in a container with nutritious and loose soil.

By June, the bulbs will grow up and should be planted in open soil. The donor mother bulb is not thrown away, but is planted in a pot container, grown, and then transplanted into open soil.

The propagation of a spherical lily by seeds, due to the complexity, duration and labor intensity, is not very popular among flower growers. In addition, there is no guarantee that the characteristics of the variety will be preserved. The fact is that you need to go through several stages (ripening, collecting, sowing seeds) before a tiny onion appears. And before it blooms, it will grow for another 4 to 7 years. Only a few years later, normal flower stalks with buds will form.

So, the spherical lily is a real work of nature, which will overshadow many flower cultures on your site with its beauty.And its advantages - to take root easily and quickly, unpretentiousness, perfectly tolerate frosts, bloom early and give a huge number of buds - help flower growers (both professionals and beginner amateurs) choose for planting, as well as breeding new varieties on its basis, namely this culture.

Globular lily: video about the variety