The toad lily is an easy-care perennial that is reminiscent of an orchid. It can be cultivated both in beds and in tubs.
The toad lily (Tricyrtis) provides a touch of the exotic in the garden bed. In the fall, the lily family revitalizes the perennial bed and impresses with its colourful, dotted blossoms.
The garden orchid is also decorative as a container plant and makes few demands on location and care. Below you can read about what needs to be considered when cultivating exotic beauty.
Special Features
| Toad lily (Tricyrtis formosana) | |
|---|---|
| Growth: | upright, pedicels slightly overhanging |
| Growth: | 50 - 80 cm |
| Growth: | 30 - 40 cm |
| Flower: | August - October |
| Location: | Sun and partial shade |
| Floor: | fresh, permeable |
The toad lily genus includes about 20 representatives. The original home of the plants can be found in the mountains of the Himalayas. Korea and Japan are among the main distribution areas.
If you are looking for a last splash of color in the autumn border of perennials, the toad lily is a good choice. The yellow, blue, purple, or burgundy flowers appear in late August and often last into October.
The toad lily is visually reminiscent of an orchid. Hence the popular name garden orchid.
An overview of some pretty varieties
| Chinese reed variety | Flower Color | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Tricyrtis "Sinonome" Hybrid | white with purple spots | 60 cm |
| Tricyrtis macropoda | pastel yellow | 80 cm |
| Tricyrtis Empress | white with dark red spots | 70 cm |
| Tricyrtis hirta "Miyazaki" | white with purple spots | 30 cm |
| Tricyrtis hirta "Alba" | white | 50 cm |
Planting
Appropriate locationfind
Toad lilies are not very demanding when it comes to their location. The plants thrive best in a partially shaded location and can reach heights of up to 1.5 meters depending on the variety.
The plants are well suited as underplanting for shrubs. A sunny location is also tolerated. It is important that there is no waterlogging at the chosen stand.
Coming soon:
- partial shade
- breezy
- light
Selecting the ideal substrate
Toad lines prefer a well drained substrate. A compacted soil leads to waterlogging, which is not tolerated by the plants. A humus-rich and slightly acidic substrate is also advantageous.
Tip: A compacted soil can be made more permeable by adding sand or gravel.
Coming soon:
- permeable
- moist
- rich in humus
- slightly sour
Planting toad lilies - step by step
1. Determine location
2. Prepare soil
3. Dig plant hole
4. Lay drainage
5. Insert flower bulbs
6. Fill up substrate7. Press the soil down gently
8. Water the flower bulbs
The best time to plant the toad lily is spring. The specialist trade offers flower bulbs. These should be planted as fresh as possible.
Tip: It is possible to store the onions in a cool and fresh place for a short time.
The planting hole should be 25 to 30 centimeters deep. A layer of gravel about ten centimeters high, which is filled into the planting hole as drainage, is helpful so that the irrigation water can drain off better and waterlogging does not occur. A mixture of potting soil, sand and compost is suitable as a substrate.
Tip: The toad lily can be cultivated in beds as well as in tubs.
Care
Watering the toad lily properly
The water requirement of the toad lily is rather moderate. However, the soil should not dry out. The plants need sufficient water before and during flowering. A lack of water is indicated by wilted flowers and leaves.
Tip: To avoid waterlogging, watering should be moderate and sporadic.
Fertilize toad lily properly
If the nutrient requirements of the plants are to be ensured, it makes sense to put compost in the substrate when plantingto incorporate The natural fertilizer has a long-term effect and promotes growth and flowering.
If you don't use a long-term fertilizer, you should feed the perennials with conventional liquid fertilizer three to four times a year.
Overview of planting and care tips
| Activity | Explanation |
|---|---|
| planting | • use fresh flower bulbs • create drainage |
| Casting | • water moderately • high moisture requirement before and during flowering • soil must not dry out • avoid waterlogging |
| Fertilize | • Compost as long-term fertilizer • Liquid fertilizer several times a year |
Pruning Toad Lily
Toad lilies tolerate pruning well, but do not need to be pruned regularly. After flowering, the perennials can be cut back by hand. This ensures vigorous growth in the coming garden year.
Propagating Toad Lily
There are different ways of propagating the toad lily:
- Cuttings
- Division
- Lowerer
- Seeds
Propagation by cuttings
Cuttings are taken before the toad lily starts flowering. Early summer is the ideal time for this method of propagation.
Sturdy shoots are used as cuttings, which should be about 15 centimeters long. If possible, the cuttings are cut off with a sharp knife so that the cut edges are smooth.
Tip: If more plant secretion escapes from the cuts, applying wood ash will help.
Each cutting should have three to four leaves at the top. The cuttings can be cultivated in individual planters or planted directly outdoors. If they are kept evenly moist, but not too wet, the cuttings will root and sprout within a short time.
Reproduction by division
In spring, when the plants have not yet started sprouting, the toad lily can be divided. A prerequisite for this type of propagation is a vigorous and well-developed mother plant.
The plant must first be completely dug up. The root felt is carefully divided. The strongest sections are placed back in the planting hole. It is a good idea to use compost to improve the soil on this occasion.
The weaker sections are placed in planters and cultivated there,until they are strong enough to plant outside.
Tip: Each piece should have at least one eye.
Propagation by lowering
If you want to try this method of propagation, choose a strong shoot of the toad lily that is close to the ground. The shoot is pulled to the ground and guided along a gully.
The tip of the shoot sticks out of the ground. In order to speed up the rooting of the offshoot, several small cuts should be made. A razor blade can be used for this.
Now it's time to wait. If the shoot begins to grow vigorously on its own and has developed its own roots, the planter can be separated from the mother plant.
Propagation by seeds
Anyone who already owns a toad lily can win the seeds themselves. Fading is left on the perennial until the seed pods dry up. The seeds are now ripe and can be removed from the pods and laid out to dry.
A mixture of potting soil and sand is suitable for cultivation. The toad lily is one of the cold germs. The seed first needs a cold stimulus and is therefore kept in the refrigerator for two to three months. The planters are then placed in bright but not full sun. The temperature should be around 18 degrees. About two weeks later, the toad lily will begin to sprout. The strongest seedlings are pricked out and cultivated in a separate plant pot.
It takes a little patience to flower. Toad lilies grown from seed do not flower for at least three years after sowing.
Detecting and fighting pests
Some pests have specialized in toad lilies. These include voles, which prey on the bulbs and rhizomes of the plant. An infestation can be prevented by planting the perennials in wire baskets.
The lily chicken is also not to be missed. The red beetles are easy to see with the naked eye and can be read with the hands. Check the underside of the leaves. This is where the beetles lay their eggs. If the maggots remain undetected, this can lead to the plants being bare.
Against the lily beetle, rock flour is recommended as a natural active ingredient. The plant is dusted with the powder. The active substance dries out the pests.
Tip: Rock flour also helps with aphid infestation.
Nudibranchs can also be dangerous for the toad lily. The plants should be checked regularly. theSnails can be collected in the evening hours. Putting up snail collars or spreading coffee grounds, pine needles or wood shavings keeps the pests away from the perennials.
Winter Toad Lily
All toad lilies are hardy. Temperatures down to -20 degrees are tolerated. Like roses, toad lilies need protection. Brushwood or leaves protect against cold and snow.
Potted plants are more sensitive and can quickly freeze through in permafrost. As a result, the toad lily can no longer absorb nutrition through the roots and dies. The plant pot should therefore be set up in a protected location on the balcony and terrace. Temperatures down to about -5 degrees are tolerated. To ensure that the planters do not freeze, they must be positioned on a base made of wood or polystyrene.