By Steragram
Pembrokeshire,
United Kingdom 
Lily question - I grew some Asiatics in pots two years ago. Last year they were in the ground and flowered well. This year they are paltry little things that haven't flowered at all. Will feeding do much good or are they for the old heave ho?
16 Jul, 2013
Answers
I saw that too scottish, you need to put your lilies in ericacious soil, something I learnt from GW. this year, going to repot mine in the autumn. Although the flowers this year are beautiful the leaves aren't.
17 Jul, 2013
mine are in alkaline soil and they didnt do much in their second year but I did feed them and they flower now every year.
17 Jul, 2013
Ours do fine in normal soil.
17 Jul, 2013
Just noticed that the taller ones I've had in a pot for 10 years are also very very poor this year and have always been magnificent before, and the treatment has been no different. I'll try ericaceous soil for those and an ericaceous feed for the ones in the ground and give them another year - but they have been warned...
17 Jul, 2013
all that cold wet weather last year probably affected the vigour of the bulbs.
18 Jul, 2013
Seaburng. the guy on GW was a lily grower and had thousands it was his recommendation so no harm in trying, i have always grown mine in 'normal' soil but they do look ragged this year, so anything is worth a try. Stera try it and see I am going to.
18 Jul, 2013
i agree no harm in trying but i am not going to start trying to change my alkaline soil which is very alkaline.
18 Jul, 2013
No need Sbg. but if lilies are in pots it's worth a try don't you think? have remembered this guy was at Hampton court flower show and he had the indoor Lily stall all grown in pots and incredible!
18 Jul, 2013
The Asiatics are in the ground so I think I'll just feed and hope for the best.Thanks folks, it was probably just the horrible weather last year as you suggested SBG. The ericaceous thing is interesting though - hadn't heard that one.
18 Jul, 2013
yep worth a try as you can use a range of composts and find one that suits. mine only stayed in a pot for the first yr then went in the ground. Many of the named varieties I have are in pots and get dotted around the borders. just lots of water and feed every 4-6 weeks.
18 Jul, 2013
Do you feed the ones in the ground?
19 Jul, 2013
Stera maybe dress the ones in the ground with horse manure :)
22 Jul, 2013
Could do. My rotted stuff is all gone - must order another load. I can get fresh off the road - could risk that, Mum used to put it straight on her roses.
22 Jul, 2013
Lol so did my Dad, he would always go out after the milkman had been and put the fresh stuff on his roses too! He always wore a rose to work in summer time, in his lapel, bless him.
22 Jul, 2013
no I don't particularly feed the ones in the ground.
23 Jul, 2013
I think they need acidic conditions Stera. There was an article on Gardeners World (I think) saying that they will deteriorate each year rather than increase/improve if they don't have it.
16 Jul, 2013