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Nov 5, 2011 12:26 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Corey
Chicago (Zone 6a)
Daylilies Hybridizer Hummingbirder Salvias Bee Lover Bulbs
Pollen collector Hellebores Organic Gardener Seed Starter Composter Clematis
Maybe I am getting carried away, but a few days ago I scaled two entire bulbs of 'Silk Road' that came as a bonus with my order(s) from The Lily Garden. I still managed to plant a total of 10 'Silk Road' bulbs in my garden so I figured this would be a good one to practice on, especially since it is not rare and seems to have a reputation for multiplying very slowly.

I broke off all of the scales as close as possible to the basal plate, rinsed them off, soaked them for 20 minutes in a 10% bleach solution, air dried them for a few hours, and then placed them in a large ziploc with *just barely damp* peat moss (it really has almost no moisture at all) with about a teaspoon of fungicide powder mixed in. I then sealed the bag, placed it in a dark cupboard and placed some weight on it.

Now, barring disaster, all I need to do is be patient until bulblets form. Easier said than done!

I decided on the techniques above after reading through many posts here, on DG and on GardenWeb about scaling. I hope I didn't leave out any important steps.

Is anyone else scaling right now, or does anyone have a different technique to share?
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Nov 5, 2011 6:10 PM CST
Name: Anthony Weeding
Rosetta,Tasmania,Australia (Zone 7b)
idont havemuch-but ihave everything
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Region: Australia Lilies Seed Starter Bulbs
Plant and/or Seed Trader Hellebores Birds Seller of Garden Stuff Garden Art Cat Lover
Corey i purchased 'Grafitti' from a shonky Ebay seller, way too late into the growing season last year[our summer is now]..It fell apart in the post and i noticed some basal rot on the bulb, so i cut it away and threw all the scales in a large pot of soil..This year, it looks like there are about 30 leaves,.
lily freaks are not geeks!
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Nov 5, 2011 6:13 PM CST
Lincoln, NE
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Miniature Gardening Butterflies
Sounds like you did a good job, Corey.
Where are we going, and why am I in this hand-basket?
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Nov 6, 2011 9:00 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Corey
Chicago (Zone 6a)
Daylilies Hybridizer Hummingbirder Salvias Bee Lover Bulbs
Pollen collector Hellebores Organic Gardener Seed Starter Composter Clematis
Thank you for the encouragement. I can't wait to see how this project turns out. I will be sure to post updates as they happen.
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Nov 6, 2011 11:44 AM CST
Moderator
Name: Connie
Willamette Valley OR (Zone 8a)
Forum moderator Region: Pacific Northwest Sedums Sempervivums Lilies Hybridizer
Plant Database Moderator I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Charter ATP Member Pollen collector Plant Identifier Celebrating Gardening: 2015
Corey, you are going to find yourself with a whole lot of Silk Roads. Hope you have some acreage!
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Nov 6, 2011 12:07 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Corey
Chicago (Zone 6a)
Daylilies Hybridizer Hummingbirder Salvias Bee Lover Bulbs
Pollen collector Hellebores Organic Gardener Seed Starter Composter Clematis
Pardalinum, actually I live on a cramped Chicago city lot, about 1/16 of an acre if you can imagine. It is a normal sized lot around these parts. Luckily, my house has a small footprint with living space extended up on the second floor and in the basement and I am blessed to live in an area with ample resident-only street parking, so I don't have or really need a garage. That gives me a surprisingly large amount of useable garden space considering the tiny size of my lot. I have an area about 15 ft. x 10 ft. that is currently lawn that I would like to remove and plant with a swath of lilies, possibly my 'Silk Road' babies. That should be a giant patch of lilies to scent the neighborhood! However, I am sure I will have to give away or trade most of the bulblets in due time. I am mainly doing this project to gain practical experience with lily propagation rather than to plant acres of 'Silk Road'.
Last edited by Ispahan Nov 6, 2011 3:40 PM Icon for preview
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Nov 7, 2011 3:21 AM CST
Name: Anthony Weeding
Rosetta,Tasmania,Australia (Zone 7b)
idont havemuch-but ihave everything
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Region: Australia Lilies Seed Starter Bulbs
Plant and/or Seed Trader Hellebores Birds Seller of Garden Stuff Garden Art Cat Lover
I like the sound of that!! Confused -Hmm'grassy lawn' i remember those too Hilarious!
lily freaks are not geeks!
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Jan 7, 2012 3:07 PM CST
Name: Brian
Ontario Canada (Zone 5b)
I had very poor results from my scaling attempts this year. I think my medium was too dry as so many of the scales just shrivelled up and died. I did get a lot of bulblets from some of the larger, thicker scales though. I used vermiculite, what other mediums have people used?
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Jan 7, 2012 3:12 PM CST
Name: Øystein Hermansen
Østfold,Norway (Zone 5b)
I use a mix of peat and perlite. Works fine for me. The peat keeps the moist bether.
Ille bra,se.
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Jan 7, 2012 8:19 PM CST
Name: Rick R.
Minneapolis,MN, USA z4b,Dfb/a
Garden Photography The WITWIT Badge Seed Starter Wild Plant Hunter Region: Minnesota Hybridizer
Garden Sages I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Identifier Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
With hybrid lilies, I have used peat, perlite and vermiculite (each separately), and they all work.

Species, on the other hand, can be more picky in the moisture requirement, and it can be easy to incorporate to much water in the mix that encourage rot that wouldn't be a problem with hybrids. My solution is to use mostly perlite (rinsed to remove the flourine) and perhaps 10-20% raw sphagnum moss. Since the object is to keep the humidity high with as little free water as possible, the sphagnum acts as an easy moisture indicator. If there is not enough moisture, the dry sphagnum color will be noticeably lighter. (Then it's time to add s bit of water.) If there is condensation on the outside of the bag, that indicates too much water. Of course, once bulblets form, the vulnerable stage is past.
When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the losers. - Socrates
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Apr 23, 2012 7:11 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Corey
Chicago (Zone 6a)
Daylilies Hybridizer Hummingbirder Salvias Bee Lover Bulbs
Pollen collector Hellebores Organic Gardener Seed Starter Composter Clematis
As an update to this post, most of my 'Silk Road' scales produced at least a bulblet or two. Some scales were duds and just remained plump and healthy without producing bulblets, but I had no problems with rot.

I vernalized the bulblets in the refrigerator for 8 weeks and then planted them in a container about 2.5 weeks ago. As of today, 8 bulblets are sending out top growth. I am sure it is just a matter of time before the rest of them do, too.

It is so exciting watching your own "babies" start to grow! Big Grin
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Apr 24, 2012 8:04 AM CST
Moderator
Name: Tracey
Midwest (Zone 5a)
Garden Photography Tomato Heads Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle Pollen collector Forum moderator Hybridizer
Plant Database Moderator Cat Lover I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Charter ATP Member Garden Ideas: Master Level Seed Starter
I did the same thing a few years back with a Conca d'Or bulb, scaled the entire thing. I placed the scales in damp medium underneath a heavy book and you would not even believe how many Conca d'Or I had to share! Some are now growing at a public garden in Janesville, gave some to friends and kept a few here. I did not have to give a cold period as it was a spring purchase and had already had the cold period under its belt, so to speak.

So what I am saying is that my guess is that you will have a bumper crop! I did some of the bags with scales without pressure of a book on top and some with. The ones with the book placed on top had twice the growth, at least. I really think they like the pressure.
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Apr 24, 2012 8:28 PM CST
Name: Lorn (Roosterlorn)
S.E Wisconsin (Zone 5b)
Bee Lover Lilies Pollen collector Seed Starter Region: Wisconsin
I think a little pressure helps to maintain good media contact and to keep tiny little air pockets from forming next to the scale itself--it sort of simulates the 'real world condition' of a little ground on top.

Here's a little update on my five year old Grandaughters' experiment in cloning I originally posted in 'chickensandmore's thread'. The scales were put into incubation in mid October, inspected on Nov. 20th.(pictures 1 and 2). Then returned to incubation until the Christmas Holidays. She wanted to plant two scales at that point (without vernalization). The remaing two scales were then vernalized at 34F until the first week of March, then planted.

Picture 3 shows her success from four scales, two vernalized and two grown straight thru. The vernalized clones are on the left in picture 3, The unvernalized clones are in their original right side as planted spot, undisturbed. On April 5th, this pot was moved outdoors to her little 'seed hothouse' (for pansies, petunias,etc.)and within days, the four clones from one of the unvernalized scales seemed to have been tricked into Fall dormancy (see yellow/tan leaf from the last remaining one). In picture 4, the vernalized ones are on the right.

These clones are No ID: T X T or T X A and nothing special, just a teaching excersize--but fun. Maybe I can-?-Nauh, a five year old--I've got to keep it simple.
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Apr 25, 2012 8:03 AM CST
Moderator
Name: Tracey
Midwest (Zone 5a)
Garden Photography Tomato Heads Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle Pollen collector Forum moderator Hybridizer
Plant Database Moderator Cat Lover I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Charter ATP Member Garden Ideas: Master Level Seed Starter
Very nice Lorn. What a great experiment for a 5 year old too.
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Apr 25, 2012 9:27 AM CST
Name: Lorn (Roosterlorn)
S.E Wisconsin (Zone 5b)
Bee Lover Lilies Pollen collector Seed Starter Region: Wisconsin
I enjoy her interest very much. She gets off the bus here everyday after preschool and before she does anything, she runs to her little garden and then walks slowly around checking everything out. She's very interested in growing things from seed.

In her little exersize above, I was thinking of giving the dormant ones an abbreviated vernalization of about four weeks and then reintroduce them back into the same pot for the rest of the year but I'm debating whether or not its too much for a five year old to grasp right now, especially with all her seeds popping up. She has a Great Aunt who she likes to garden with on week ends also.
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Apr 29, 2012 7:24 AM CST
Name: Polly Kinsman
Hannibal, NY (Zone 6a)

Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! I helped plan and beta test the plant database. Region: United States of America Irises Lilies
Seller of Garden Stuff Garden Ideas: Level 1
Lorn, that is such a wonderful thing to do with a child. As I'm sure you've seen, I garden with my Granddaughter, now 9. Each area I have a sales garden, she has her own strip to garden in.

I would guess with what your Granddaughter has experienced so far that what you propose would not be too advanced for her. Never underestimate those sponge brains of young children.
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Jan 1, 2013 9:36 PM CST
Name: Lorn (Roosterlorn)
S.E Wisconsin (Zone 5b)
Bee Lover Lilies Pollen collector Seed Starter Region: Wisconsin
Had to take a peak on some scales I started last middle of Oct. Basically, to check the moisture, too. Things are a little slower than last year with not as many bulblets forming. The mother scales are still pretty solid--tho they were big to start with. Keep in mind too, that not all cultivar scales form bublets at the same rate--same for bublet count. I caught a couple close to the surface for a quick photo. I suspect there's quite a few more down in there. I don't like digging around anymore than just finding out what I want to know. But, overall, they're doing OK. Oh-- the ones my Grandaughter started last year--we set those out in her garden this last Oct. They did just fine--have no Idea what they are as they were loose scales but no junk, that much I do know.

Thumb of 2013-01-02/Roosterlorn/0205e8
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Jan 2, 2013 3:25 AM CST
Name: Anthony Weeding
Rosetta,Tasmania,Australia (Zone 7b)
idont havemuch-but ihave everything
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Region: Australia Lilies Seed Starter Bulbs
Plant and/or Seed Trader Hellebores Birds Seller of Garden Stuff Garden Art Cat Lover
Lorn, I got a basal rot 'Acapulco' or two, earlier this year,set them into a pot after cutting the rot....many leaves sighted this afternoon, as I m trying to pump as much water into my garden as I can, considering tomorrows weather,.,.,.Anthony
lily freaks are not geeks!
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Jan 2, 2013 10:22 AM CST
Name: Rick R.
Minneapolis,MN, USA z4b,Dfb/a
Garden Photography The WITWIT Badge Seed Starter Wild Plant Hunter Region: Minnesota Hybridizer
Garden Sages I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Identifier Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
And hot weather with lilies in above ground pots is worse than with lilies planted in the much cooler ground.
When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the losers. - Socrates
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Jan 22, 2013 2:49 PM CST
Name: Lorn (Roosterlorn)
S.E Wisconsin (Zone 5b)
Bee Lover Lilies Pollen collector Seed Starter Region: Wisconsin
Calin, regarding your scales, I personally would remove them from your current set up and repack them in baggies (freezer bags) covering the scales with slightly damp ground sphagnum moss and coarse sand (what I use). Then place in a fairly warm location and cover with an old towel to keep out the light and to give it a little pressure. Check the next day for excess moisture--if there is it will show up as tiny little water droplets on the inside of the bag. If so, open the bag and recheck the next day. Don't pack away any scales showing any signs of spoilage if you decide to start over with a repack. The choice of media is pretty flexible but moisture content is critical.

I would like to hear if somebody suggests you just cover these, because I'd be tempted to try that too. but it seems to be a waste of space. Your scales look tough, so just try to save what you have!
Last edited by Roosterlorn Jan 22, 2013 2:51 PM Icon for preview

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