Alright, let’s talk about them lily bulbs, the ones that get all mushy on the bottom. You know, the ones you plant and then they just… disappoint you. Drives a body crazy, it does.
What’s the deal with mushy lily bulbs?
Well, I ain’t no fancy scientist, but I’ve seen my share of rotten bulbs. Sometimes, it’s them little bacteria critters. They get in there and make the whole thing soft and smelly. Like a rotten potato, only worse. You can tell, ’cause it stinks somethin’ awful. If it smells bad and feels all squishy, that’s the bacteria’s fault, plain and simple.
And sometimes, it ain’t the critters, it’s the water. Too much water, that is. Or the ground don’t drain right. The bulb sits there in all that wet, and it just rots away. Kinda like leaving your shoes out in the rain, they get ruined, don’t they? Same thing with them lilies. So, if your ground’s all soggy and wet, that might be your problem. You gotta dig ‘em up, see what’s what.
- Dig ’em up carefully, mind you, don’t want to break ’em more than they already are.
- Then, you gotta fix that dirt. Mix in some of that crumbly compost stuff, or that peat moss. Helps the water drain out, see?
- And don’t forget the bone meal! Good for the bulbs, makes ‘em strong. Like giving a kid their milk, they need it to grow big and strong.
Now, sometimes, it ain’t the water or the critters, it’s just bad luck. A storm comes along, beats up the plants, breaks off the leaves and buds. Weakens the whole thing, makes it easier for the rot to set in. Can’t do much about the weather, but you can keep an eye on things after a big storm.
Other problems, you say?
There’s this other thing, makes the leaves turn all yellow. And if you dig up the bulb, you see brown, rotten spots. That’s a different kind of rot, makes the scales fall right off the bottom. The whole plant looks puny and sick, like it ain’t got no energy. If the bottom of the bulb, that flat part where the roots grow, if that’s all rotten and mushy, well, then it’s likely a goner. Toss it out, not worth the trouble trying to save it, it’s too far gone.
And sometimes, the problem ain’t even the bottom of the bulb! You see, a lily is made up of all them scales stuck together on that flat part at the bottom. That’s where the roots grow from. Sometimes them scales get sick too, from the top even! They get spots and go all soft. It’s a whole mess of problems, I tell ya.
So, what can you do?
Well, first off, don’t overwater. And make sure your dirt drains good. That’s the most important thing. Keep the weeds down, too. They just steal all the good stuff from the lilies. And give them some space! Don’t plant ’em too close together. They need air, just like us. If the leaves stay wet all the time, that’s bad too. So plant them where they get some sun and air, help them leaves dry out.
Sometimes, even if you do everything right, them bulbs still rot. It’s just the way it is. But if you take care of them, give ’em good dirt and not too much water, you’ll have a better chance of getting pretty flowers. And that’s what we all want, ain’t it? Pretty flowers to brighten up the place.
Now, go on out there and take a look at your lilies. See if they need anything. And if they’re mushy on the bottom… well, you know what to do now, don’t ya?
Tags: [lily bulbs, mushy bulbs, rotten bulbs, bulb rot, bacterial rot, drainage, soil, bone meal, yellow leaves, basal rot, lily care, gardening tips]
