Description and characteristics of varieties of tiger lily, cultivation and reproduction
The tiger, or lanceolate lily, is found naturally in China and Japan. The perennial representative of the Liliaceae family is of East Asian origin, but despite this, it is characterized by high frost resistance. At home, flowers are grown not only for decorating the site, their bulbs are eaten, and seasonings are made from the buds. Tiger lily care is no more difficult than any other species.
general description
With proper care, the tiger lily reaches a height of up to 2 meters. It is decorated with large flowers - up to 15 cm in diameter. It is noteworthy that this lily is completely devoid of aroma. The shades of the petals are different - there are yellow, dark pink, red representatives. The flowering period begins in July and lasts about a month. At this time, up to 10 buds can be observed on one stem at once.
The lily bulb has a white tint and wide scales, its size is about 8 cm. A distinctive feature of the tiger lily is the presence of buds in the leaf axils.
Varieties and hybrids of tiger lily
The wild-growing representative has become the basis on which breeders have developed new varieties and hybrids, which today are successfully cultivated on the sites of Russian gardeners:
- Knight Flyer. It is characterized by burgundy red buds with slight dark blotches. It develops in height up to 110-120 cm, the diameter of the flower is about 16 cm. This variety is easy to reproduce and is famous for its high winter hardiness.
- Flora Pleno. It has flowers of a double type, a bright red hue, in which there are about 30 petals. As they grow, they twist back. Flora Pleno is one of the most cold-resistant varieties, therefore it can withstand temperatures as low as -35 degrees. It does not exceed 1 meter in height.
- Slendens. The visiting card of the variety is bright orange flowers, which are covered with profusely dark purple spots. During the flowering period, about 20 buds are tied on one stem. It is characterized by the fact that it grows equally well both in sunny and shaded areas, and does not exceed 1 meter in height.
- Pink Tiger. The diameter of one pink or red-orange bud is about 10 cm. Dark dots are scattered over the entire surface of the petals. It develops in height up to 120 cm and has a drooping flower shape. The disadvantage of the variety is that it is more often than others affected by viral infections.
- Citronella. The color of the buds of the variety is yellow, dark spots are scattered over the surface of the petals.It grows up to 130 cm, the size of the buds is within 12-13 cm. It has one of the longest flowering periods among all varieties of tiger lilies.
Pros and cons
Before deciding to grow a tiger lily, the strengths and weaknesses of the flower are assessed and on the basis of this, the appropriateness of planting is determined.
The benefits of the plant include:
- Spectacular appearance and varied color of buds.
- Unpretentiousness to care.
- High frost resistance.
- Ease of reproduction.
- Possibility of quick distillation at home.
Among the disadvantages are such points:
- Demanding to the composition of the soil.
- Disease in the absence of care.
Features of growing flowers
They start growing flowers by determining the planting site and preparing the bulbs. The health of the plant and its decorative qualities depend on these criteria.
Landing place
A slightly elevated area with good drainage is ideal for planting tiger lily bulbs. The site must be protected from strong gusts of wind, which can break the stems. Lily is a lover of sunlight, but the root zone must be protected from overheating. For this purpose, gardeners plant ground cover plants around the flower.
A nutritious and slightly acidic soil is what a tiger lily needs for successful growth and flowering. If the soil on the site is clayey, fix it by adding sand, lime and wood ash. It will not be superfluous to introduce humus if the land is not too fertile.
Preparation of seedlings
Tiger lily bulbs are purchased from nurseries or flower shops, which provide a certificate of conformity. Before planting, each specimen must be inspected for dark spots, dry scales and traces of fungal infections and mold. It is recommended to treat each bulb with a weak solution of potassium permanganate in order to increase survival rate and get rid of pathogens.
Landing
It is recommended to start planting tiger lily bulbs in early autumn or late August. If early frosts are expected in the region, the process is postponed to spring.
The tiger lily planting algorithm is carried out as follows:
- Make small holes 20 x 20 cm in size.It is necessary to deepen the bulb by 10-12 cm.
- Sand is poured at the bottom of each hole, this will improve the permeability of the soil and create drainage.
- After the bulbs are buried, the soil is watered abundantly, and the surface is mulched with a thick layer of peat chips.
Now all that remains is to wait for the first green sprouts to appear on the surface.
The subtleties of plant care
The abundance and duration of flowering, as well as the decorative qualities of the culture, depend on the properly organized care of the tiger lily.
Bloom
During the flowering period, which begins in July for the tiger lily, the plant needs regular watering and fertilization. Also, faded buds are removed from the stems in a timely manner. The soil around each crop is loosened after each irrigation, simultaneously getting rid of weeds, which take away the necessary nutrition from the lilies.
Pruning
In preparation for the winter period, the stem of the lily is cut off, leaving only a 10-centimeter stump above the soil.
Temperature
A comfortable temperature for a tiger lily is in the range of 20-27 degrees. It is better to place flowers in a light partial shade, but the plant feels fine in the sun. The only thing, in this case, you will have to plant low-growing crops around the root zone, which will shade in extreme heat and keep the soil moist.
Watering
When moistening the soil around the tiger lily, be careful - drops of liquid should never fall on the leaves, as this will lead to severe burns. The procedure is carried out in the morning.The frequency of humidification depends on the place where the lily grows. If this is a shade, then it does not need watering at all; if it is an open sunny place, then irrigation is recommended once a week. To delay the evaporation of liquid from the soil, the root circle is mulched with sawdust or peat chips. After the flowering period ends, the moisture is stopped altogether and resumed only with the arrival of spring.
Lighting
For a beautiful decorative look of a tiger lily, sunlight is needed in the morning. In the shade, the color of the buds will be faded.
Fertilizer
If the soil is nutritious in the area where the tiger lily was placed, the plant does not need additional fertilization. On poor soils, it is recommended to fertilize once a month, using mineral and organic compounds for this. They also purchase complex options for bulbous plants in gardening stores. After the lily has faded, fertilization is stopped.
Reproduction and transplantation
The tiger lily does not need frequent transplantation. It is enough to carry out this procedure every 4-5 years, combining with reproduction and rejuvenation of plantings.
There are several methods to dilute a brindle-colored lily on the site:
- Bulbs. The easiest and most effective way, but requires investment in the purchase of planting material. A drainage system is created in the selected area, nutrient complexes are introduced and the bulbs are buried by 10-12 cm.
- Buds. They are formed in the axils of the leaves and make it possible to obtain planting material at no extra cost. At the end of summer, they are carefully separated from the mother plant and planted in pre-prepared boxes with nutrient soil. During the winter period, they will root properly, and in the spring they are planted in a permanent place in the garden.
- Scales. Another inexpensive breeding method. At the time of transplantation, the largest scales are separated from the adult onion and planted in wet sand. They also take sphagnum moss or vermiculite for this. They create greenhouse conditions for the scales and wait for the appearance of roots. Periodically, an impromptu greenhouse is opened for ventilation.
- Seeds. Not a popular method among gardeners due to the low germination of the material and a long wait for the result. This method is more often used by breeders to breed new hybrids and varieties of ornamental plants.
Disease and pest control
Common tiger lily diseases that are caused by care errors include:
- fusarium;
- gray rot;
- rust;
- gallic tumor.
They are fought with the help of fungicides: "Alirin", "Maxim".
Of insect pests, the culture is occasionally affected by:
- leaf beetles and scoops;
- thrips and hoverflies;
- aphids and lily fly.
Insecticides solve the problem of insect damage to flowers with timely treatment.
Among the most effective are "Confidor", "Aktara", "Aktellik".
Flower in landscape design
The tiger lily itself is a bright accent in the decoration of the site. Low-growing or ground cover green plants are selected for the company. The flower also looks impressive against the background of coniferous bushes.
