Next to Poinsettias, Easter lilies are perhaps the most recognized flower in the western world. Now that Easter's come and gone, there's no need for your lily to fade. With the proper care, and Easter lily can flower for a month or more before transplanting easily into the garden. Here's how to keep yours growing.
Remove the Anthers: As the flowers start to mature, remove the lily's yellow anthers before it starts to shed pollen. This will keep the petals white and give the flowers greater longevity.
Discard the Decorative Packaging: If your lily came in a paper or foil sleeve, remove it-preferably as soon as you get the plant home. Plants kept in these sleeves deteriorate faster and tend to get water logged.
Protect it From Bright Light: Lilies kept in direct sunlight are almost certain to die quickly. Place yours in a room full of natural daytime light, but keep it out of direct sunlight.
Keep it Cool: Daytime temperatures of around 60° to 65°F will keep flowers lasting longest. You can place the lily in a cooler room (such as a porch) at night or on the floor provided it's kept out of reach of pets. Avoid placing the plant near drafts or heating ducts.
Keep its Feet Moist (Not Wet): The soil should be kept lightly moist as long as your lily continues to flower. Check moisture levels daily in the morning. If the surface of the soil feels dry to the touch (just the surface), take the plant to the sink and give it water until the soil is completely saturated and water starts to drip through the drainage holes in the pot.
As flowers fade and petals start dropping off a stem, use a sharp pruning shears to trim the stem by lopping off the blossom. When all the flowers have been pruned, the lily should be moved into a room that has some morning sun and afternoon shade. Give it a balanced (20-20-20) half strength water-soluble fertilizer every two weeks to promote the growth of foliage.
Easter lilies can be grown indoors indefinitely, but it's difficult to get them to bloom a second time if they spend their time inside. As soon the weather warms, move the pots to a sunny location outdoors and begin to harden them off if you want to transplant them to the garden.
After all danger of frost has passed, select a sunny location for transplanting your lily-one protected from the wind and in warm climates, protected from extreme heat. Make sure the soil contains plenty of organic nutrients, has a neutral to slightly alkaline pH and above all, it has good drainage. If necessary, create a raised bed area by mounding up the soil to ensure proper drainage.
Plant the bulbs 6 inches deep (3 inches below ground level if you mound up three more inches of topsoil), spacing each bulb 12 to 18 inches apart. Make sure to dig a hole wide and deep enough to allow sufficient spreading of all the roots. Work the soil around each bulb to eliminate air pockets. Cover them with soil and water thoroughly.
Lilies like their heads in the sun and their feet in the shade, so after planting, cover the soil around the lily with 2 inches of mulch or compost
New growth will start to emerge as the old stem dies back. You may get lucky and see a second bloom this season, otherwise be prepared to wait until next summer (or the right conditions).
When stems turn brown and die back in the fall, cut them down to soil level. Apply generous layers of mulch over winter, removing it carefully in the spring as the new growth emerges. Fertilize new growth monthly with a balanced fertilizer applied at half strength, or apply a slow release once in the spring. Discontinue fertilizing when plants flower.
Many species of lilies, including Easter lilies, are extremely toxic to cats-even in small doses. These include Easter lilies, Tiger lilies, Rubrum lilies, Japanese show lilies and Day lilies. Keep potted plants away from your cats and keep you cats away from the lilies you transplant outdoors. If you notice your cats eating lily leaves or stems, seek veterinary attention immediately.
This page contains the following solutions.
My friend has the most beautiful bright pink lilies in her garden. After her white Easter lilies died off, she saved them for the following spring.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
My Easter lily is droopy and the leaves are turning brown. What is causing this? Is it over watering?
Could be many possibilities-insects, mold or fungus, nutrients missing in soil, etc . Usually, though, overwatering is the culprit.
Lilies are bulbs and once they bloom, they die back every year. That is probably what is happening. Daffodills do the same.
I live in Houston, Texas. I purchased an Easter lily in the spring which I kept in its original pot. The plant dried up and I was going to toss it, but I noticed there is still a healthy looking bulb, or cluster of bulbs. (I am not sure, but it looks kind of like a large garlic bulb. Is that one or multiple?)
I am hoping to be able to restart it in the spring. I read about it needing 6 weeks of cold in order to bloom. That may be difficult in this climate, but if I get lucky it might happen. We have some winter, but I don't know if we will have 6 weeks at 45 degrees. I'm willing to chance it.
My instinct is to leave it alone until spring and just see what happens. However I am wondering if it will need to be watered or not. And at what point in the spring should it be fertilized and watered so it can sprout?
Any info you can give would be helpful.
I kept mine in my cellar which is cool but certainly not that cold, and I got a few years out of mine. If you have a cool spot in your house, it should be fine. They are usually pretty hardy.
Keep it covered (like in a brown paper bag) so it doesn't get buggy.
Bring it back out in Feb and start watering it again and it should come back!
It could be one or multiple....without seeing it, it is hard to tell.
Post back with an update in the spring!
Keep it in a cold, dark place. A garage or unheated basement is ideal.
I would not put it in the refrigerator...just on general principles. Do you have a closet or cupboard that is dark and cool (gets some air from the air conditioner)? That would be your best bet.
I may be reading this wrong, but it looks like in the Q&A for TX, you can leave Easter Lilies to go dormant in the ground....meaning add them to your landscape, versus tying to keep them as an indoor plant. This is something I could never do in PA, but apparently it works in TX.
aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/
The article is on PDF page 4.
Post back what you decide. I love it that I learned something new today!
I have these growths happening in my Easter lily pot. It's kept in the house. What is this and is it normal?
You may be watering the lily too much. Just remove them
Looks like you have mushrooms growing in your pot. These are not always easy to get rid of but here is a link that has information on how to handle these pretty little things.
www.mushroom-appreciation.com/
Hello ! It is only fungi and it is not dangerous for the plant. Fungi need moisture and darkness to start growing. You could water less, scratch the soil surface to air it and bring the plant in full sunlight where Easter lily can grow. If the plant is in half shade at the moment bring it into full sunlight gradually to give the leaves enough time to adapt. Fungi can't propagate in full sunlight.
Hope this helps !
Happens frequently in houseplant soil.
Reference: www.gardeningknowhow.com/
Hardiness Zone: 6a
luv2craft from Normalville, Pennsylvania
A: luv2craft,
As long as danger from frost has passed, as soon as the flowers die back on your Easter lily, cut the stem back to three inches and plant it in the ground. Select a sunny, protected location for transplanting your lily. Make sure the soil contains plenty of organic nutrients, has a neutral to slightly alkaline pH and above all, it has good drainage. If necessary, create a raised bed area by mounding up the soil to ensure proper drainage.
Plant the bulbs 6 inches deep in a hole wide enough to allow the roots to spread out. Work the soil around each bulb to eliminate air pockets, cover with soil and water thoroughly. Lilies like their heads in the sun and their feet in the shade, so after planting, cover the soil around the lily with 2 inches of mulch or compost.
New growth will start to emerge as the old stem dies back. You may get lucky and see a second bloom this season, otherwise be prepared to wait until next summer (or for the right conditions).
Ellen
I planted an Easter lily late last spring. I was surprised to see that it grew again in the fall and had a few beautiful blooms! It was strange seeing white Easter lilies in the fall. I live in zone 5 and planted it after it had died back. I cut off all but about 3 inches. I thought maybe it had died, but it came back. It has also come back this spring, so I assume it will be nice once again late summer.
We planted all the lilies in containers we had for our wedding in the backyard right away (it was summer in N.J.) and the gardener told us it was ok.
I have planted my left over Easter Lilies for several years....After they are done blooming I put them where I want them in the garden. They multiplied and have bloomed for several years, but they usually bloom in late May or June. Florists "force" lilies to bloom for Easter.
Ooops I meant to also say that I am in Tennessee!
I plant all my Easter flowers in the spring after they have finished blooming..
I received an Easter lily as a present. I have looked for information on how to care for it indoors, but I keep seeing that after some time they have to be planted outside. I currently don't have any space to plant outside. How can I keep the Easter lily alive and well while keeping it inside in a pot?
Hardiness Zone: 7a
By Isaura from Charleston, WV
One important note-- these are highly poisonous to cats (not sure about dogs). Many people don't know that so I thought I'd pass it along. Here's a link on lily care:
www.thegardenhelper.com/
My easter lily was given to me as a present. I live in an apartment how can I keep my easter lily alive indoors
I have an Easter Lily I have has for 3yrs. now and it is living in a pot in my bathroom. It have morning sunshine and afternoon partly shaded. it is about 3feet tall and doing good. It has a lot of TLC but I water it when the soil feels dry about 1 in down inside the pot ( every other day). I give it no special care and it is doing just fine.
how do you stop an Easter from growing before it's time and to stop before it chokes out the second plant that is beginning to grow? The first one has grown so big that just has leaves and no flowers I live in an apartment, and don't have a place to plant it outside. It is still in its original pot. I need an answer quick! Thank you for understanding.
Why do the bottom leaves on Easter lilies begin to yellow and fall off?
It is part of the normal life cycle. Cut the plant back to the bulb and there will be new growth to replace the old.
With proper care Easter lilies can re-bloom :)
This will help you:
- homeguides.sfgate.com/
- homeguides.sfgate.com/
I bought 8 lilies for my church for Easter Sunday. The flower on the plant is still closed. What should I do to have the lilies open their blooms by Easter Sunday which is 5 days away?
According to this article, the greenhouse temperature affects the bloom. Perhaps you can adjust the temperature? bellingrath.org/
Hopefully your lilies are showing signs of opening for your Easter Sunday.
Sometimes lilies are sold that have not been given the "cold" treatment which forces the early blooms (I think the normal bloom time for Easter lilies is June-July) but most lilies found in stores at this time of year are either blooming or ready to bloom.
The only information that I found suggested this treatment (for potted lilies):
Easter lilies must remain moist; water them whenever the soil dries out in the top 1 inch. Must have good drainage (remove from foil pot covers or place holes in bottom and use saucer for catching excess water.
Display your plant in bright, but indirect sunlight, and protect it from drafts and heat sources.
Cool daytime temperatures in the 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit range will prolong the life of the blooms. The temperature can be even cooler at night.
I've been given three Lilies for Easter. Once they die back, can I plant them in my yard? How do I go about it? Will they survive and come up again? Would really appreciate some information to keep them going.
I was given 6 Easter Lilies plants from my church after the Easter season. I was told that if I cut off all but 3 inches from the bottom and throw them into the ground that they should bloom again in August. Then yearly afterwards. I'll try it and see. Maybe now that this plant is no longer popular, you can check your nursery and see what kind of deal you can make and do the same as I am. (I was also told this works for tulips too.)
By LRP from LWL, MA
Answers:
Probably morning sun only. (05/09/2007)
By Holly
The Easter Lilies plant is best if you dry it completely. Then plant in ground and yes, you will have lilies for years to come. They multiply fast. I always try to get flowers from church also after Easter. (05/10/2007)
By Maggie
I have a potted Easter lily from last year. I trimmed it once it died. It had two bulbs this year, one which popped off and died. Now the other is beginning to grow leaves and they are beginning to turn yellow. I am trying to have this plant bloom this year, but I'm afraid it's not gonna make it?
Anyone have any tips or could tell me why this is happening? The leaves are also growing to one side to catch the sun and seem to be flopping down. What can I do for this plant to make it grow strong and healthy?The Easter lily that I bought last year has a nice fat stem, and three little skinny stems. Should I separate them, if so how?
By Brenda
I live inMinnesota It is now October and my inside potted Lillie has bloomed in a small pot can I transplant into a bigger pot without damage to the flowers
Like most overcrowded perennials, Easter lilies are best divided in the fall. This is a page about dividing Easter lilies.
