Lilium Sentosa - Lily

The 'Sentosa' lily appreciates humus-bearing, slightly calcareous, well-drained, and light soils. You will plant it in full sun, preferably in spring, burying the bulbs 15 cm deep in a pocket of soil mixed with leaf compost. Surround them with a pocket of sand to prevent rot and slug attacks, while allowing them to grow more easily. Mark the planting location, as the vegetation only starts in April. When the stems reach 30 cm high, discreetly stake them.

If red insects appear, treat them immediately; they are lily beetles whose larvae can devour all the leaves. The most effective method is to catch them by hand, but be careful as they drop as soon as they are touched, so place a box underneath. Otherwise, treat regularly with permethrin. After flowering, it is useful to cut the faded flowers halfway to keep the bed beautiful during the summer.

Tips for planting lilies in compact soil: The scaly bulbs of tall lilies fear clay soils that suffocate them and cause rot. In Eastern Europe, the following technique is used to help these bulbs survive the winter. Plant them on 'benches' built above ground level. These benches consist of a first layer of gravel, on which tightly packed branches are placed. Cover everything with a thick layer of 20 to 30 cm of leaf compost. Plant the bulbs in the compost, on which you can also let some creeping plants grow.

On the terrace, you can create sumptuous pots with lilies. Choose a container large and deep enough (at least 16 cm in diameter for 1 bulb). Fill it with a mixture of garden soil, leaf compost, and sand. Plant the lilies in groups of 3 to 5 bulbs, 10-15 cm apart, then water abundantly. Place the pots in a cool room or outside once the frosts have passed. The ambient temperature should be around 12°C. When the shoots appear, place the pot in a bright veranda or room at a temperature of about 18°C. Make liquid fertilizer additions twice a month until the flower buds appear.