Lilies are beautiful flowers with a delightful scent and appeal to gardeners, florists and anyone who appreciates their beauty and unique fragrance. Lilies are very hardy and easy to grow. This article will teach you how to plant them and make them thrive for many years.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Part One: Plant the Lilies
Step 1. Find the right place to plant the lilies
Choose an area in full sun where the soil has good drainage.
- To find a spot with good drainage, you need to find out where the soil dries quickly after rain. If you can't find the right spot, plant the lilies on a slope and let gravity take care of the drainage.
- Look for an area where the sun shines for at least half a day. If there are many hours of shade, the lilies will seek the light by visibly bending over. It is better to choose a spot exposed to the sun all day.
- If the location is not suitable, the leaves of the lilies could be attacked by botrytis, called gray mold. Although botrytis is beneficial for some types of wine grapes, it reduces the surface area of the leaf which absorbs energy from the sun, thus damaging the health of the bulbs that will fail to reproduce.
Step 2. Plant the bulbs as soon as you purchase them
Lilies are sold to be planted immediately, without the tunic, a membrane that prevents the bulbs from drying out.
- After purchase, plant your lily bulbs as soon as possible to achieve good flowering. If you can't bury them immediately, store them in the dark in a cold environment (such as the refrigerator, avoiding freezing them). This method is useful for keeping them from sprouting, but as soon as you notice the first shoots you need to plant them right away.
- Plant them in the fall or early winter for flowering in the spring. You can also plant them during the spring, but they will flower later in the year. Flowering normally occurs during the following spring.
Step 3. Dig a hole
Lilies need the sun, but the bulbs prefer to stay cool during the summer. Dig a hole about 10 to 15 centimeters deep; remember that the deeper it is, the better it will protect the bulbs from hot summer, while also providing excellent support for the stems.
- You can also plant them in a raised bed: bury the bulbs at ground level, then cover them with a layer of soil 10 to 15 centimeters high that will promote drainage.
- Space the bulbs apart. If you decide to plant them in groups, leave about six inches between them so that each flower has enough room to grow.
- Loosen the soil at the bottom of the hole, sprinkle some bone meal and then set the bulb inside before covering everything with more soil.
- Water immediately. This will ensure that the moist soil makes contact with the roots, promoting growth.
Step 4. Add mulch
If you fear a cold winter, spread a layer of mulch over the area where you planted the lilies to protect them from the harsh weather.
- Trombone lilies are more vulnerable to cold.
- Remember to get rid of snails from mulch where they tend to take refuge.
Method 2 of 2: Part Two: Growing Lilies
Step 1. Fertilize the lilies
When you notice the first shoots, use some fertilizer suitable for this type of flowers. Lilies are quite hardy and don't need a lot of fertilizing. In fact, too much nitrogen can make the stems weak and in hot and humid climates it can cause the bulb to rot.
- For best results, choose a potato fertilizer.
- Fertilize as soon as they sprout and repeat a month later.
Step 2. Water the lilies as needed
They generally don't need a lot of water, so water as needed.
- Asiatic lilies, trombones, and orienpets bloom in warm, humid climates if they are watered enough during flowering.
- Asian varieties also need watering during the summer, otherwise they won't bloom until August.
- A little extra mulch is useful in the summer to keep the bulbs cool, reducing the need for additional watering.
Step 3. Protect them from frosts
During the winter months, cover the bed with straw or evergreen branches to protect the bulbs from freezing.
Step 4. Continue trimming the lilies
During the flowering season, cut the withered flowers, leaving at least 2/3 of the stem left to keep the plant healthy and strong for years.
Advice
- If you are going to cut lilies, cut off 1/3 of the stem along with the flower leaving most of the stem. In doing so, the bulb in the soil will continue to absorb nutrients to produce a beautiful new bloom the following year.
- Lilies can be planted at any time of the year, as long as the soil is not too compact. In the first year, the flowering will take place slightly late, but in the following years the bulb will flower towards June.
- For optimal drainage, create a raised bed with potting compost. It must be at least 13cm high and wide enough to accommodate the bulb according to the directions explained in this guide. This method works especially well if you plant lilies in an area that doesn't dry out quickly after heavy rains.
- If you notice brownish spots on the leaves of lilies, the plant has probably been attacked by botrytis, also called gray mold, a fungus that grows in cold, humid climates. Spray a fungicide on the leaves, buy it at a nursery or garden store.
