Bob Hobden wrote:
"danny" wrote ...

I've just potted eight oriental lily bulbs. i want them to really
thrive and be all they can be - anyone got any tips? i hear they
love water, but i dont want to drown them! does anyone have any
tips? also, if anyone can help with the jasmine thread i posted before
please do, im desperate lol

Most of the UK suffers from Lilly Beetle, a bright red beetle that
eats lilies, totally. You will see they look nothing like any other
red beetle and they drop to the ground if you don't get them first
time. They will attack your plants as soon as they start to grow so
check daily and pick off and crush any you find. Once the plants are
growing well it is best to spray with a systemic insecticide which
will allow the plants to grow to their full potential and make a good
food store for next season.

Lily beetle (and its grubs) will eat many liliaceous plants - not just
lilies. They are a real nuisance - so much so, that I have given up buying
anything they may take a fancy to. The only systemic insecticide available
for use today is of the imidacloprid/thiacloprid type. I have used
imidacloprid in the past, but find it has become less effective
(resistance?) than it was when I started.

Dimethoate would be effective, but is unfortunately still unavailable for
domestic use.

--
Jeff
(cut "thetape" to reply)