Lilium sp. ‘Mid Century Hybrids’ Adapted to Pot Use with Ancymidol1

Abstract

Abstract ‘Enchantment’, ‘Prosperity’, ‘Harmony’, and ‘Hornback's Gold’ were the hybrid garden-type lilies most adaptable for pot plant use. With 6 or 8 weeks of post-plant-storage, a growth retardant was not required to obtain a final plant height between 30 and 50 cm. With 10 or 13 weeks of post-plant-storage at 0°C, ancymidol [N,N,N-2 tetramethyl-5-(1-methyl-ethyl)-4-[(1-piperidinylcarbonyl)oxy]-benzenamonium chloride] as a 0.5 mg a.i. (.0264% active ingredient) drench applied at shoot emergence or as a 100-ppm spray applied when shoots were 7.5 cm long, effectively reduced height and improved appearance. The final plant heights of ‘Rainbow Hybrid’, ‘Sutter's Gold’ and ‘Pastel Hybrid’ were maintained between 30 and 50 cm with a 0.5 mg ancymidol drench. However, these cultivars were not as promising for pot plants because of narrow and short leaves and necrosis of lower foliage which detracted from their general appearance. The concentration of ancymidol used did not reduce sufficiently the final plant height of ‘Challenger’. Cost of the bulbs may be a factor when considering the use of cultivars such as ‘Challenger’ and ‘Pepper’ for use as pot plants.