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Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2006 6:54:37 GMT
A couple of year ago I bought from Thompson and Morgan a selection of 5 lilies for autumn flowering.  I guess they must have been kept in cold storage as the instructions said plant immediately. Which I did, of course. But what a disappointment. They grew very quickly, loads of foliage but they refused to flower  I complained to T & M but they were, at first, unwilling to give me my money back. I argued that the lilies hadn't done "what it said on the packet" and that I wanted a refund. Their reply was "but you still have the bulbs and they will flower next year". I said "true, I will have the bulbs for next year, but the reason I bought them was because I loved the idea of having lilies in flower in the autumn and that is how you had promoted them". They agreed, reluctantly in the end to refund me but by only 50% |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2006 13:03:19 GMT
Rita I think you are being unfair, and obviously know little about bulbs - one reason I am seriously thinking of giving up my business is because of people with your sort of attitude. It's never anything they do, it must always be my bulbs at fault. Keep them for 3-4 months before they plant them them complain they don't flower etc.
You say they must have been kept in cold storage - wrong, you can't do this with lily bulbs. Neither do you say when you ordered them, lily bulbs - depending on the species are available from late autumn through to late spring - so that gives a fairly wide time scale.
They propbably didn't flower because you didn't plant them deep enough or the soil was too rich - the main reasons why they don't flower. Many bulbs also take a year to settle down and start giving their best.
I think you should count yourself very lucky you got 50% back.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2006 16:45:50 GMT
Dee - I think you are missing the point - these lilies were supposed to flower the same autumn as a one off, then revert to their normal flowering time.  BTW - I have been growing oriental lilies in pots for years without any problems at all. I have always planted them at the recommended depth using JI compost too. I think you are being unfair too, in assuming that I know nothing about growing bulbs If you do give up your business please don't apply for a job as a diplomat!!! |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 1, 2006 23:53:37 GMT
Rita I am so sorry - I was just reading it as you wrote it and obviously not as you meant it.
You didn't state the lilies were meant to flower THAT autumn - you just said autumn flowering lilies! ALL lilies should be planted immediately on receipt as they are very prone to drying out, which is another reason they cannot be kept in cold storage due to the high water content.
As you point out you have grown Oriental lilies in pots for years, so you must know about the culture of this genus, so I must apologise for trying to explain something to you that you already know.
Diplomacy was never my strong point, however standing up for things I feel passionately about, is.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2006 22:17:01 GMT
Dee - do you have any idea what might have been done to these bulbs to cause them to flower in the autumn just for one season? |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2006 12:31:52 GMT
Yes, they have been treated with a retardant.
There are many lilies which flower naturally in Autumn, I still have some in flower now.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2006 12:38:38 GMT
Yes, they have been treated with a retardant. Hey Dee - as I'm a keen messageboarder all over the place and am constantly amazed at folk's lack of general understanding - perhaps this stuff is being released into the atmosphere! |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2006 15:12:41 GMT
Yes, they have been treated with a retardant. Perhaps they used too much - as mine didn't flower at all |
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