I went to several sites last night, pertaining to the lily virus. You guys, I have been hit hard. I think it started with a vendor at a farmers market, you know, buying those lilies after yours are all done blooming? I didn't have a very good understanding of all of this when my love of lilies began. Things that put you at higher risk too, like tulip planting near lilies, tiger lilies and Madonna Lilies. It was exhausting, getting rid of all of those infected bulbs.
All of the foliage had that mottled look. One that seemed particularly suceptible was Muscadet. I wonder if this one would be hard to see the virus in the color while blooming due to its almost white nature.
I haven't seen aphids this year yet, but last year was a horrible year for them. I was wondering if it would be possible for things planted last fall or this spring to be infected? Here's a group of San Souci planted last fall that I can't be quite sure...
This has been a horrible day....when you throw out bulbs that are this size....
Maybe I should have just let the deer have their feast...
Here's another newly planted one, Alegretto
It's a good thing my livlihood doesn't depend on this. Also a good thing I went gangbuster on the seeds and scales over the winter.
I'm just sad.
Mags are you sure they are all virused? I'd probably pot them up and watch the blooms. With this crazy winter/spring we've been having is it possible that cause the mottling on the leaves?
I don't think I'd be discarding just yet.
Diann
Oh, my. Are you sure they are all infected? If there are no insects to pass the virus around, I would think, if you planted healthy bulbs this spring or last fall, they would still be OK . I had one stem virused last summer and got rid of that single plant and I haven't seen any other sign of virus. My heart just aches for you.
Please make a list of the ones you lost. I know that I'm probable going to have to divide some clumps this fall and maybe we have some of the same plants. I do have Muscadet, but it was new last year.
Definitely make a list... I probably don't have any thing exotic, but I might be able to help out a bit...
I have a Silk Road that looks questionable too. I sat there staring at her for 10 minutes and I just could not do it.
I made myself go inside because I just couldn't look at one more lily stalk.
I had one mottled looking oriental from this vendor last year, only I just didn't understand about the lily virus when it happened. With the bad aphid year last year, I fought them all summer long, I just wonder if they were infected last year and showed signs this year.
I feel like I have to be catious, really I am not crazy. I just cannot stand the thought of infecting all of these newly planted bulbs either.
What did you use for the aphids? For a bad infestation, you really need to use chemicals. The first year I lived here, I had to do that, but since, I've only been using water with dishsoap periodically and haven't had any further problems.
There are nutrient problems that can cause leaves to vary in green to yellowish color. I think the only real test is the flower. If you have a lot of lilies I can see how the balancing act of waiting to see and getting rid of them right away could be difficult.
Do you fert. the lilies with anything like Super phosphate? Ed's book said that can have fluoride in it which is bad. I have a couple lilies that are irregular in green color. Could be a number of things.
There always seems to be a battle in gardening," It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..."
My regrets whatever the cause,
Andrew
Just wanted to add my sympathies. I have some LA lilies whose leaves are looking a little irregular, but my vague recollection is that they looked that way last year too and the flowers were fine. It's hard to look at those pictures! Very very sorry...
I used Eight last year, but not heavy. I really try to use organic methods, whenever I can.
I never use phosphates, on my soil test, I have always come up high in the phosphate department.
As luck should have it (or not), a B & D Lilies flyer came in the mail today. I gave Dianna a call and gave her my scenario. I didn't tell her I dug so many, but she said it could be weather related and to move and somewhat isolate them (you guys did have the right idea). I dug a trench and saved the ones I felt had a better chance. She said 80% of lilies will show it in the flower. She asked which ones were effected. She said since it was all over the yard (not quite an acre) it was less likely to be viral. She also reminded me that most lilies carry a virus, it's when two or three get into one plant, is when havock arises and it will present symptoms. I also explained the high level of aphids last year. She thought it highly unlikely that anything from a reputable grower last fall or this spring, would be effected.
Last year the iris borer, now this. Maybe I should stick to caring for critically ill children.
Time will tell, I guess.
Having not been gardening long, I am constantly amazed at the creatures & weather that appear to reek havoc.Somedays I feel like throwing in the towel.Then I see a beautiful flower or smell something intriguing and I go at it some more.
Allegretto and San Souci look like they have chlorosis. I would try a tsp. of epsom salts in a gallon of H2O before tossing them!
A couple of pics I took yesterday in the garden of lilies that appear to have chlorosis.
Another, and there are a lot more. As well as lots of late frost damage.
Oh Mags, I'm crying for you too. I have some in a holding bed that are questionable and only time will tell.
Here, I'll share my very first bloom with you to make you feel better. :)
my gosh, how awful...I hope its weather related and not a virus...my sympathies
So sorry Mag. I'd be sick by day ends... I don't know what to say.
Kim
Thanks you guys. And for your posting, pard, of chlorosis. And for you sweet Moby and your first bloom.
It all can be very confusing as things develop, after a very strange spring. Like, is it twisting of the stem due to virus OR is is weather/cold stress? How to know? Only the blossoms will tell.
I made a brand new bed in the back part of the yard, where no one really looks but us. I planted as many as I dug that were not directly near the one I am certain, was virused, that I tossed. That is, the ones I didn't wreck.
Lucky for me, I am a lily hound. I moved some of my Faraway Flowers bulbs, that were up, but not really far, into some of the barer areas. My DH thinks the back section where nobody goes but us, looks all spruced up now. He loves the filled-in look. What a kind soul my daughter was to say, she didn't even notice the missing lilies. "Mom, she says, you have so many, don't worry. It still looks perfect."
Live and learn. Time will tell.
This is a really sad moment for all of us on this web - the horrible decisions you have had to make based on so many variables. I just can't imagine how you are feeling today. I'm so glad that you could get some encouragement to keep them at a distance and get a chance to evaluate them when it's more certain what ails them. There are just too many things going on at once this year to diagnose much of anything accurately and there is so much at stake. Hang in there, you have lots of friends out here thinking of you and a great, supportive family. Hopefully they will all be fine and you have a new lily bed!
Lily
Magnolia,
So sorry to hear about your loss - that really sucks. But, I agree with the others - you might just try isolating your lilies and see how they do. I have had viruses before and they usually have affected for me a small, localized group of plants - and not the whole yard. I am certainly no expert, but mine showed some obvious symptoms like some weird, dramatic twisting of the stalk and leaves, and the flowers opening deformed......much more noticeable than a little leaf streaking. Hopefully you'll come out of this more intact than you think.
Steve
You guys are great. Thanks for the kind words.
Mags, I also dug up one Arena the day before yesterday and potted it up. The leaves were mottled, but as I hadn't had any disease on it or the ones next to it last yr., took a chance as I said and potted it up to wait and see what the flower looks like.
None of the others next to it are showing any signs of the one that I dug.
Will take a pic. later today and post to show you what mine looks like.
Maxine
OK, everyone has me worried. What does lily virus look like?
Is there nothing you can do?
What is chlorosis?
I have had lilies for years and really just got on here to find out what everyone was using for fertilizer.
Joyce
Chlorosis:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorosis
It can be mistaken for virus damage. This site has good info and pics of virus damage.
http://members.shaw.ca/lilynet/netlil/id58.htm
Edited to add virus link.
This message was edited May 23, 2007 6:58 AM
I'm looking at alot of freeze damage this year on the earlier emerging lilies. Curled leaves, stunted growth,etc. Luckily, only a few lilies were hit. Are you sure it's the lily virus and not just frost damage?
Wanda ~ those look like some otherwise healthy and well-grown lilies. :(
That's the trouble. I am not sure. Had it not been for the affected lily last year and the high level of aphids we had, I would be more confident. I feel much better about quarantine than the landfill. I'm happy to give some in other areas a chance. The ones neighboring the posively infected one, Diann ( from B & D) & I agree, should probably not take a chance.
Perhaps my decision was hasty. But as I said, the chance of spreading a virus to unaffected plants is something I can't chance either. I was happy isolation was an option.
I hope we don't have a spring like this one again. But, then, what choice do we have?
Not much! Some lilies I will not get to see bloom again this year as last year's crop aborted many buds due to lack of moisture. Can't control Mother Nature as she can and will slay our best laid plans.
Moby, are you working hard TODAY so you can PLAY with Sue and me tommorrow?????
Crying for you!
That photo of Schez is dreadful, pard, on that second link. It's strange, that lily seems indestructible. Wow.
We got a hard rain yesterday, which worked out okay for my transplanted lily test plot. They got good and watered in.
On a unrelated positive note.... I got my martagon seedlings leafing out. I know it will be a few years to bloom, but I am just happy that I've made it this far ;0)
I have never had a problem with Schez except for the chlorosis symptoms every spring. I'm repeating my experiment from last year with the epsom salts on one or two of them growing in my Schez forest (aka Schez trees). The proximity of each to the others makes comparison easy. I had good positive results last year. I'm also looking forward to trying out a new (to me) foliar spray product that I ordered Monday. I was hoping to have it by this weekend:(
We are easing into our dry summer season here. This means we will have a bit of rain now and then over the next few weeks, then essentially none until around October. Still waiting to hear what plans the PNWLS has in store for us this summer!
How did it go with the Epsom salts and what strength did you use?
I made a weak solution, about a teaspoon/gallon. I have seen stronger solutions suggested and I have read some people just sprinkle it around the plants (eg roses) and water it in. It always makes me "nervous" to add "salts" to my garden lol. In a couple of weeks the Schez greened up; those light chlorosic (is that a word?) turned green. fYay! Anyway, my creed is always to use less than recommended just in case "more is not better"!
pard, I took your advice and used the epsom salts, 1 tsp/gal H2O, to those that were questionable (aka my new lily bed) and San Souci and Alegretto. After reading a bit more, I also did a couple roses and tomatoes, for further testing. My soil Ph is rather high, which, from reading, can participate in this problem.
Now to wait it out those couple weeks.
