Resurrection Lilies (Lycoris squamigera) are also known by the name 'Surprise' or 'Magic' Lilies and sometimes 'Naked ladies'! They grow in zones 5 to 10 according to the standard classification of the US Department of Agriculture, which means they can withstand temperatures as low as -26 degrees Celsius. They have gorgeous pink flowers that generally bloom during the summer months. Resurrection Lilies are slightly unusual in that the flower blooms after the leaves die, justifying the way they are called 'surprise', 'magical', or 'naked' effect.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Planning and Preparation
Step 1. Divide and transplant lilies every three to five years
Whether you are relocating and want to take the lilies with you, or because the garden is getting too crowded or because you have any other reason to transplant the lilies, you should try to divide and transplant them every three to five years. This will help prevent the plants from becoming overly invasive and improve flower production.
Lilies divide in the soil and become invasive. This will cause the piece of soil to produce fewer blooms. Having few blooms is a sign that it's time to divide and transplant
Step 2. Mark the location of the lilies before the foliage dies
Since it is necessary to wait for the lily to go into dormancy before transplanting, it can be difficult to find the plant once the foliage is gone. This can make it difficult to know where to dig to access the plant's roots without damaging them.
- One solution is to draw a circle around the plant using spray paint before the flowers fade.
- Alternatively, mark the spot with a stone circle, or insert plant markers in the ground (without damaging the bulb).
Step 3. Prepare the new place for the lilies
At the same time you mark the location of the plant, it's a good idea to prepare the new planting area so you have time to fix it before planting. Lilies want a sunny location with good drainage.
- If you know your soil is clay-based or has poor drainage, or if you observe puddles forming and disappearing rather slowly after a rain, you need to improve drainage by mixing lots of gravel or compost into the soil. Alternatively, consider raising the flower beds.
- Weed the soil at the new planting site and incorporate organic matter into the soil. This organic matter can be compost or manure. Let the flower bed rest for a couple of weeks or months.
Step 4. Transplant the lilies one month before the first frost
Resurrection lilies should only be transplanted when they are in the dormant phase, which occurs in late summer and fall and winter. Try to transplant lilies in the fall about a month before the first frosts.
Note that while it is best to transplant bulbs in the fall in the dormant stage, it probably doesn't hurt that they are moved into late summer or winter. However, this can lead to a delay in flower production the following season
Step 5. Consider transplanting resurrection lilies in stages
Be aware that lilies don't always bloom again the year after they are transplanted. Sometimes they refuse to bloom for several years after the shock of the move. Transplanting resurrection lilies in stages spanning a number of years might be considered to ensure that you can get at least a few blooms a year after transplanting.
Method 2 of 3: Dig and Divide the Bulbs
Step 1. Wait for the foliage to dry naturally
It is important to allow the foliage to die naturally, so don't be tempted to cut it. The lily will use the foliage to generate energy from the light to survive through the winter. This will help the plant recover from transplant and flourish again.
- Leave the foliage on the plant until it wilts. From mid-summer, when the flowers appear, there will be no foliage residue.
- After the flower fades the plant will go into dormancy. When autumn comes, no plants will be visible above the ground, and the plant should be dormant.
Step 2. Dig the lily bulb carefully out of the ground
Carefully dig the onion-shaped bulb out of the ground, using a garden fork, and being careful not to damage it. Try to keep as much soil around the root as possible. If the bulb is damaged or shows signs of rot, discard it. Avoid composting diseased bulbs.
Step 3. Clean and divide the lily bulbs
If you think the bulbs need to be divided, clean the earth from the roots with the help of a pump. If the bulbs are divided they will have the scions (or small bulbs) attached. These will look a bit like garlic bulbs with the shoots resembling separate garlic cloves.
To divide the scions, gently pry them off with your fingers
Step 4. Eliminate any damaged, diseased or stunted bulbs
Keep the older ones, the ones with the healthiest appearance and dispose of those with the damaged or diseased appearance. Bulbs that have rot will look mushy. This is a good time to give other gardeners any healthy offspring you don't want.
You now have more bulbs than you thought you had! It may not be worth keeping the little ones. However, if you have the patience to wait several years for them to mature, you might consider planting them among the larger ones or on the back of a flower bed, so you won't notice a bare area in the garden
Step 5. Store your lily bulbs before replanting them in the spring
If you dig the bulbs in the fall, you can wait and store them over the winter before replanting them in the spring.
Store them in a cool, dry place such as inside a paper bag to keep in a cool closet or pantry
Method 3 of 3: Replant the Lily Bulbs
Step 1. Replant the lily bulbs to a depth of 12 to 13 centimeters and approximately 25 centimeters apart
In the new location, make a hole about 13 cm deep. Resurrection lily bulbs will need about 25cm of space between them and other bulbs.
- Place them so that they are resting on a handful of bulb compost and with the pointed end facing up.
- Fill the hole with soil around the bulb and tap it gently. Avoid pressing the ground with your feet. Water the area well.
Step 2. Mulch over the lilies in the winter
A 5 - 7.5 cm layer of mulch, such as hay or leaf compost, will help protect the bulbs during the winter, but you should remove the mulch in the spring to let the shoots appear.
Step 3. Realize that lily bulbs may take a couple of years to flower again
Expect transplanted lilies to not bloom again the following year, or even the next. Be patient and don't give up on them as they will most likely recover from the shock of the transplant eventually.
