Here is the lily diseases and pests forum.

Please create threads here relating to lilium diseases and pests. Thanks!

and "pests," right, magnolialover?? :-)

LAS

I corrected it. Yes, pests too

http://www.vandenbos.com/site/...

This link was posted today on Facebook by a well known lily friend. Good reading here and there throughout for all backyard lily enthusiasts, but especially interesting is a section on diseases, starting on page 25.

Excellent! Thanks Lorn, I will be reading the whole thing through when I have a little more time. I'm cringing a bit from the disease section...

It's surely an informative read. Depressing I'd say from what I read though. Fumigating and crop rotation are two things I am not really able to do here. Made me wonder for a minute what the heck I even think I am doing hybridizing at all Thank you for the link Lorn.

Remember this pamphlet was written for the cut flower/greenhouse growing industry (such as Oregon Flowers, the place the PNWLS visited every December). I think outdoors growing reduces or eliminates some problems.

But outdoors weeds are a problem and I am sure I see weeds that look diseased. I am worn out trying to keep them at bay.

Weeds are probably my biggest hindrance . I have a very hard time keeping up. They are everywhere. If only lilies were half that prolific !

Weeds had a banner year around here as well. I think the main thing is to get as many pulled as possible before they drop their seeds. I'm taking advantage of the last couple day's cool weather.

Weeds can become a nightmare when you live right in the middle of the wild, as I do. Not only wind distributes the seeds, but lots of critters as well.

After we had the heavy rainfall they emerged in no time, growing at speedy rates. When weather allows my bones out, I weed and weed and weed. I have not been able to re-pot the plants that survived the rodents' attack, all my time in the garden is dedicated to weed.

I find that mulch is great for keeping weeds from growing out of control. Dropped a few bags of mulch on my perennial beds last year, and I have only had to weed once or twice this year!

Of course, scarlet lily beetles love to hide in mulch. So, it might not be a good idea if lily beetles are especially common in your area.

There is a lot of good, applicable tidbits of info to glean from that pdf

Looking at all the disease problems that might occur may be discomforting, but of course, it doesn't make your lilies any more or less susceptible. Look at it this way: just see all the problems your lilies don't have!

Phenolic, I think you are right. I have been learning about the properties of mulchig lately, and think I will buy alfalfa this coming season for my plants. Mulching is a concept that has not been used in Chile, as far as I know.

I have never seen a Lily beetle, except for pictures - I think so far we are free of them. Keep my fingers crossed for this condition to prevail.

The worst thing about lily beetles aren't the ones you have in your own garden, it's the ones your neighbours have in theirs, as most people unfortunately just give up on them. I did this myself the first time I experienced them, so I know what I'm talking about

This keeps a steady supply of beetles flying to your garden regardless of how diligent you are at squashing them yourself. This is especially bad as these beetles often are late arrivals and it's much harder to find beetles in the summer than in spring. In the summer they are often under the leaves laying eggs and enjoying some shade from the sun, but in spring they are really easy to spot as they are almost always 'sunbathing' at the tops.

I'd highly recommend planting a few bulbs of Fritillaria imperialis to anyone having a problem with the lily beetle (and who desires a non poison approach) as this most probably will attract a majority of the beetles during spring and that will allow for easy picking . It will also keep the foliage of your lilies looking more pristine. Of course this only works in spring as Fritillaria imperialis goes dormant quite early.

I'd also recommend to be especially careful about examining the cultivar 'Lankon' as that one also is a real magnet for the beetles. Overall I have a suspicion that anything with L. longiflorum in its 'blood' is especially attractive to the beetle. Of course if you have enough beetles they and the larvae will devour anything, but they still do seem to have favourites.

Has anyone tried dusting their lilies with diatomaceous earth to keep the lily beetles off? It works very well at keeping slugs away from hostas. Just wondering if it can do the same with lily beetles. Diatomaceous earth supposedly cuts into the bodies of pests and dehydrates them.

William said:I'd also recommend to be especially careful about examining the cultivar 'Lankon' as that one also is a real magnet for the beetles. Overall I have a suspicion that anything with L. longiflorum in its 'blood' is especially attractive to the beetle. Of course if you have enough beetles they and the larvae will devour anything, but they still do seem to have favourites.

I don't think I have ever seen L. lancifolium with lily beetles on it! It would be interesting to see if hybrids with lancifolium in their parentage are also as repellent to lily beetles.