Propagating lilies.

One of the joys of propagating lilies is the ease and speed with which the gardener can see the results--usually only a matter of months. For reliability, start your propagation adventure with hardy Asiatic lilies. And, for the best results, select healthy lilies, and use clean tools and containers and well-prepared soil or a sterile starting medium. The simplest method of multiplying lilies is by natural division of the bulbs, but harvesting stem bulblets, "growing on" stem bulbils, and growing bulblets from scales are almost as easy.

Bulb Division

Almost all lilies can be increased by bulb division, with no damage to the bulbs. A well grown, flowering stem will have formed one or more bulbs that should be ready for removal by mid-September when the leaves yellow as the lilies prepare for the coming winter. That's the time to lift the clump, remove the plump new bulbs as well as the very small ones, and plant them in rows according to size. Bulbs and scales (the fleshy segments …