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Newbie in PNW needs help!

16 years ago

For the first time this year I bought some rain lily bulbs. When I received them the bag said not to plant them until the night temps remained in the 60's. Our current nightly temps are still in the 40's. Do any experienced gardeners in the PNW know aprox. when the temps will be 60's at night, how do I store them until then? Also is the foliage toxic to cats in case I have to start them inside? Thanks for any help you can give, Janet.

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Comments (5)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
16 years ago
Are you referring to Zephyranthes? They should be hardy to zone 7 and are most often planted in the fall, so I'm not sure why they advise needing to wait until temps are in the 60's....in the PNW that could be August!! Go ahead and plant them now in very well draining soil and a sunny location. They mix well in a perennial border but you will get a bigger impact if it is a dry location without regular irrigation. Then when the late summer rains do come, you'll be pleasantly surprised by the sudden explosion of bloom.
seacat
16 years ago
Easter Lilies are poisonous to cats so I'd be careful with any lily around cats.
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fleurdelis
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you for your responses. Yes, I am referrring to Zephyranthes candida. I purchased them from Old House Gardens and it was from them that I was told to plant them in the spring when night temps were above 60. I just checked on them and some are trying to spout in the bag. I got 50 of them so I didn't want the money to be wasted by my timing mistakes! The daytime temps are in the 60's, but we are still in the 40's at night and may dip into the high 30's by the end of the week. Should I go for it and plant them now as they are starting to sprout in the paper bag? Thank you for any help. [and I am keeping them away from the cats] Janet
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
16 years ago
Yes, plant them now! Species of true lily, Lilium, are poisonous to cats, although unless grown indoors with bored housebound cats you should have no worries. The list of commonly grown outdoor ornamental plants that are toxic to some degree to pets (and kids/humans) is really rather staggering but the incidence of poisoning to either tends to be extremely low. In most cases, one would need to consume quite large quantities to have anything more than an upset stomach. Zephyranthes are related to amaryllis, in an entirely different plant family from lilies, and should pose minimal risk. I've gardened with an assortment of pets all my life and other than some puppy-aged chewing, they have never seemed to find the need to graze on anything planted outdoors other than some lawn or weed grasses.
fleurdelis
Original Author
15 years ago
Thank you!

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