How to Propagate Lily Bulbs by Scaling

Overview

Lilies are a desirable, favorite flowering bulb for home gardens. Producing a profusion of flowers in many colors from June until September, lilies are always a winner in the landscape and are easy to take care of and propagate. Bulb scaling is one of the methods you can use to create more lily plants---others include dividing bulbs after they create a secondary bulb and separating the bulb's bulblets and bulbils from the stem.

Propagating Lily Bulbs by Scaling

Step 1

Dig up your lily bulbs in the fall after their blooming season is finished. Discard small, unhealthy bulbs and keep the larger ones.

Step 2

Wash off all the soil that remains on the bulbs and then allow them to dry in a warm, dark, dry, well-ventilated area such as your garage for one to two weeks.

Step 3

Peel off the scales from the bulb in the same way you would tear off artichoke leaves. Make sure you break the scales off cleanly; discard any that might become damaged. You can use a knife to ensure clean cuts.

Step 4

Plant the scales eight to 12 inches apart in the garden area where you want lilies to bloom next summer. Choose an area with good drainage that gets at least six hours of direct sunlight. Your lilies will grow best if you first dig some compost or well-rotted manure into the planting area.