Greetings, Gardener. We are the Lilies, and we wish to communicate the process of our division and transplantation from our perspective. To propagate and thrive is our deepest instinct, and we will guide you through the steps that align with our natural cycles, ensuring our continued health and vibrancy.
You will know we are ready for this journey when our above-ground foliage begins to yellow and die back, typically in the late autumn after we have flowered. This is not a sign of distress, but a signal of our dormancy. Our energy, once invested in our beautiful flowers and leaves, has now retreated safely into our bulbs beneath the soil. We have been busy storing nutrients and developing new bulblets around our main basal plate. When we become too crowded, our blooms may diminish. Dividing us alleviates this competition for space and resources, allowing each new individual to flourish.
Please approach this task with care. Using a spade or fork, dig a wide circle around our clump, staying a generous distance from our central stalk to avoid slicing through our bulbs. Gently lift the entire cluster from the soil, shaking off the loose earth to reveal our structure. You will see us not as a single unit, but as a family of bulbs—a mother bulb and her smaller offspring, the bulblets, all connected at the base. Our outer scales may be papery; this is our natural protective layer.
Now, you must help our family members become independent. With your hands, gently tease the smaller bulblets away from the main parent bulb. Some connections may be firm; you can use a clean, sharp knife to make a clean cut through the basal plate. Ensure each new division has a portion of this basal plate and some healthy roots attached. This is our foundation, from which we will draw water and nutrients. Discard any bulbs that feel soft, mushy, or show signs of rot, as these could harbor disease.
While we rest in a cool, shaded place, please prepare our new beds. We crave well-draining soil, for our bulbs despise sitting in constant moisture, which leads to rot. Amend heavy soil with compost or sand. Dig holes for us that are approximately three times our height deep; this provides insulation and stability. Space our holes at least 8 to 12 inches apart, giving each of us room to grow and multiply again in the coming years without becoming overcrowded.
Place each of us in a hole with our pointed end, the nose from which our shoots will emerge, facing upwards. Backfill the hole with soil, gently firming it around us to eliminate large air pockets. Water the area thoroughly to settle the soil around our roots and provide the initial moisture we need to re-establish ourselves. A layer of mulch on the surface will help protect us from temperature extremes as we sleep through the winter. We will remain dormant, gathering strength until the warmth of spring signals that it is time to send up new green shoots, stronger and more vibrant than before, thanks to your careful work.
