Lily of the valley - planting and growing tips?

first off, i bought some bulbs (seeds?) and they look really dry and like fat hollow straw strands. is this normal? i had no i dea what i was doing, i just remember my grandma used to have them when i was a kid and i thought they looked beautiful. should i cut off those straw-like tips? that's how they came in the bag from the store. they look kind of ugly right now. have i bought something already dead? hah. if this is normal, how long should i expect to wait until i see anything change? should i water every day? less often?

Lily of the valley - planting and growing tips?
You may have bought duds. Lilly of the valley is a spring flower, with the blooming happening at the same time as lilacs (I have both).





Lily of the valley is best transplanted in the fall. When first unearthed you will see small bulbs attached to hairy root systems. The dead looking stalks you talk about is what is leftover of their previous tops.





Try planting these now (I sure hope they haven't dried out too much), about an inch into the soil, with those hard little stalks sticking straight up. Group them fairly tightly together (in a diamond pattern about 2 inches apart). If they survive and start multiplying they will do this by division of the bulb itself, and the areas beside each will fill in fairly quickly.





Also lily of the valley really likes shady areas...some sun is okay, but it should be planted in an area that is in shade for the afternoon. And they like moist soils, so enriching the soil underneath the bulbs with a good 4 inches of mulch will help feed them and keep them healthy for years.





Finally, please remember that lily of the valley IS poisonous. Make sure your kids and pets don't try to chew at them.


http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/...
Reply:Must have bought them from an idiot mart, er...mass-merchandizer? Those came to the store in mid-Feb, %26amp; should have been potted or planted by April . They are probably dead, or severely weakened . The "straw" is from the plants starting to grow, %26amp; then drying out . Take them back %26amp; get a refund . If you want L-o-t-V, walk around , %26amp; look for someone with a lot of them . Ask to buy some . He/she will probably just give them to you . In any event you will get a better deal . If all else fails, buy some plants from a local garden center, or pips from a reputable mail-order/online plant company . ( NOTTTTT!!!! Michigan Bulb Co., or Springhill Nursery - small crap,almost as bad as where you got the ones you have.) I'll look for some good sources . Back in a bit.;D








Here's how-to info:http://www.plantideas.com/bulb/bulb7.htm...





Sources:


http://www.willowcreekgardens.com/index....





http://www.waysidegardens.com/webapp/wcs...
Reply:They don't like to be planted too deeply, %26amp; they love shade.


They prefer cool, moist, acidic soils


Plant 1-2" below soil level. They're usually planted in the spring when the ground warms to about 50 degrees.


Once established, they'll grow rapidly %26amp; will need to be divided in spring or fall. Each division should have at least one “pip”- a pinkish-white growing tip that looks like the eye of an Irish potato. Add plenty of organic material to the planting area- compost or leaf mold both work well. After planting, the pips should be one inch below the soil surface. A one to two inch mulch of shredded leaves or pine straw should be added after planting to conserve soil moisture and to keep the soil cool. Top dress with a new layer of organic material each fall, and then cover the planting with a new layer of mulch.





I had the same problem when I bought my rhizomes fro WalMart. They never came up. I planted them in good potting soil mixed with peat moss. I took extra care to provide them with the best growing conditions, but nothing happened.





You'll have to go back to the store to get a refund. I'm actually contemplating going to a garden center to buy one that's already growing. Once you get one that's growing, they easily increase.





Sorry that you got such a bum deal.


Good luck on your next try at growing them!
Reply:Lily of the valley's month to bloom is May, I'd suggest planting them in total shade, they thrive well under a tree, the look that you have described just sounds like they are in hibernation, don't take them apart. Remember, these plants spread, if you place them around a tree, make a small hedge around it with stones to contain them. They'll be beautiful next spring!