Hello, dedicated gardener. I am a lily bulb, a living library of next summer's beauty, currently resting in your care. From my perspective, here is what I need to safely navigate the winter and awaken strong and healthy when the warm sun returns.
As the days shorten and the air chills, I receive a powerful signal from the world above. My green leaves and stem, which have been tirelessly gathering energy from the sun, begin to yellow and wither. This is not a sign of sickness, but of my natural preparation for dormancy. Do not cut these energy-gathering structures away until they are completely brown; they are sending their final, vital stores of sugars and nutrients down to me, deep in the soil. This process is how I pack my lunchbox for the long sleep ahead.
Once my foliage has died back completely, it is time for you to gently coax me from my summer home. Please use a garden fork, not a shovel, and dig wide around my former stem's location to avoid accidentally slicing through my delicate scales. Brush the soil from my body gently; do not wash me with water as this can encourage rot during storage. Any remaining roots or stems should be trimmed back to about an inch from my base. I am now in a vulnerable state, transitioning from the earth's protection to yours.
Before I can be tucked away for the winter, I must be cured. This is a critical step. Please place me in a single layer on a screen, a newspaper, or in a flat cardboard box in a cool, dark, dry, and well-ventilated space—like a garage or shed. Leave me here for a few days to a week. This process allows any minor wounds on my scales to callous over, forming a natural barrier against fungal and bacterial invaders. My outer layers will dry and toughen, creating a perfect protective jacket.
My perfect winter home is cool, dark, and has just the right humidity. Pack me in a breathable medium; dried peat moss, perlite, or slightly damp (never wet) wood shavings are ideal. Place me in a cardboard box, mesh bag, or a crate with plenty of ventilation holes. The temperature must be consistently cool, between 35°F and 50°F (2°C and 10°C). A refrigerator's crisper drawer (away from ethylene-producing fruits like apples) or an unheated but frost-free basement or garage are excellent choices. This cool darkness mimics my natural underground winter environment and keeps me dormant until it is time to grow again.
While I am mostly dormant, I am still a living thing. Please visit me every few weeks during my storage. Look for any signs of trouble: squishy spots that indicate rot, or excessive shriveling that suggests I am losing too much moisture. If you find a bulb that is rotting, remove it immediately to protect the others. If I am starting to shrivel, you can very lightly mist the packing material around me (not directly on me) to provide a hint of humidity.
