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Saving Your Easter lily

Saving Your Easter lily

The blossoms on your Easter lily are starting to fade, you look at the plant and wonder “now what”. Here’s what you can do. After the last flower has withered, cut it off and keep the plant growing indoors until the weather warms up.

Easter lily

Lilies are great repeat preformers and can be planted in the garden after the danger of frost has passed. Place them in a 6-8” deep, well-drained sunny location and water immediately after planting. Lilies like their “feet in the shade and heads in the sun”, therefore mulch at least 2” deep. This will conserve moisture and keep the weeds away.

It is important to let the leaves and stems die back in order to replenish the nutrients and energy needed for next year’s growth. Once they turn brown, cut off the stems of the original plant and wait for the new growth to begin. It is unlikely that your lily will re-bloom this year but look for it in subsequent years to bloom in June-July.

Fertilize monthly, when the new shoots emerge until flowering with an 8-8-8 or use a slow release fertilizer in the spring. Apply the fertilizer 3 inches away from the stem and water.

Easter lilies grown in the cooler zones such as Northern Illinois are marginally hardy. It is recommended that they be planted 8” deep and heavily mulched over the winter, in case of a hard freeze. It’s worth the effort.

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April 17th, 2006 | Category: Easter lily, SEASONAL GARDENING | 52 comments
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52 comments to Saving Your Easter lily

  • LINDA STEARNS
    April 15th, 2005 at 9:55 am · Reply

    WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO MOVE AN ALREADY PLANTED EASTER LILLY TO A NEW LOCATION?

    If your lily has started to grow, it is best to leave it where it is unless you don’t have a choice. A better time would be after it has finished blooming and the stem has died back(mark the spot or you might not find it), sometime in the fall.

  • Michele
    February 28th, 2006 at 7:43 pm · Reply

    I purchased an easter lilly last year. After it had bloomed I put it outside still in the pot. We live in Hawaii but I have it in a shady spot and it has sprouted many new shoots. Can I separate them without killing them?

    Yes, you can separate them, actually they are bulblets that develop at the base of the mother bulb. Do it while they are small and have some roots.

  • Stephanie
    April 4th, 2006 at 3:47 pm · Reply

    I have never had an Easter lilly before and I think I jumped the gun. I didn’t research first like I should have. I bought the plant and then brought it home and planted it outside. Will it still survive or should I dig it back up and keep it inside until it has finished flowering and then plant it outside?

    It depends on how cold it gets where you live. They like temperatures of 60-65 during the day and 50 at night. Lower temps can deteriorate the flower but will not kill the plant (as long as the bulb doesn’t freeze). After being indoors nice and cozy, the lily will need to acclimate to the new environment outdoors. Unless you expect freezing temperatures I wouldn’t dig it up. Transplanting it again can do more harm than good.

  • Joy
    April 17th, 2006 at 6:44 am · Reply

    Hi, I just purchased my first Easter lilies today.I live in south FL (80’s in the day and 70’s at night) do I leave them in the pots they came in or replant in another pot or the soil? How often do I water? do I keep them indoor or outdoor? Any other helpful advise for my region? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

    You can leave them in a pot until the lily is done blooming, then let it die back(turn brown) or plant it outdoors in your garden. Put it in an area where the feet are in the shade and head in the sun. Water regularily. It will die back and should rebloom next summer. Sometimes if you’re lucky, it may rebloom even this year. They are hardy zone 4-9 and Florida falls right in the area.

  • Barbara
    April 18th, 2006 at 1:29 pm · Reply

    How much sun/water does my lilly require? Not all buds have blossomed. Other info. very helpful.

    Bright indriect sun is all they need, if the buds are a pale green/white color they should eventually open. Water when the pot feels light or the top 2 inches are dry. Be careful not to overwater or let it stand in water. They do not like wet roots.

  • Ms. Missy williams
    April 19th, 2006 at 6:58 am · Reply

    Reblooming Easter lily
    I received an Easter Lily for a gift and i do not have a yard to plant it in. I live in Arizona and it is hot here in the summer and the coldest it gets in the winter is 45-50 degrees at night day 85-90/ summer 95-100 degrees night and daytime it gets 110-120 degrees. Please help i really would like to know step by step how to keep it and store it until next year after it dies completely out. Right now i have 3 flowers left and it is beautiful and healthy. after they die what do i do? As i said i have no yard or basement i live in an apartment. Please help if you can i really love this plant. Thanks much Missy!

    After your flowers die let the plant die back till all that is left is a brown stalk. At this point you should have a replenished lily bulb in the pot. Store in a cool place(refrigerator) until ready to plant. Prior to planting the bulbs should be chilled in temperatures of 40-50 degrees for 4-6 weeks. The precooled bulbs can be then planted in pots late Nov./early Dec. for Easter bloom.

  • Anne
    July 2nd, 2006 at 4:18 pm · Reply

    I live in NYC and placed my Easter lily outside on my terrace in the original pot in May after the flowers had faded. It is in the morning sun and has been watered regularly. The stalk is now brown; however, there are two plants coming up on each side of the stalk. What I should do next. I am new at gardening and unfortunately need step by step instructions. I thank you in advance for your help.

    Now that the main stem has died back, you can cut it off. Let the new sprouts grow and they will eventually nature and should also be allowed to dieback in order to replenish the bulb. Store the bulb in a cool place 60-65F until ready to plant. Prior to planting the bulbs should be chilled in temperatures of 40-50 degrees for 4-6 weeks. The precooled bulbs can be then planted in pots late Nov./early Dec. for Easter bloom. Planting them outdoors in the ground is much simpler.

  • Lily Newbie, Houston, TX
    August 31st, 2006 at 2:12 pm · Reply

    I kept the easter lily I bought this year in the balcony in an 8 inch pot. Now the leaves are finally turning yellow in August. I also noticed there are 4 to 5 green bulblets along the soil line. I am wondering if I can leave the pot as it is after the stem died back and wait for next year’s bloom or do I need to dig it up and remove the bulblets and plant them in separate pots? Thank you for your advice!

    Since you can’t plant it in the ground, I would leave the bulblets in the pot for the winter and keep them growing. You can separate them in the spring into small pots for new plants which will bloom in several years otherwise leave them with the mother plant until they get larger.

  • Ariel Corrado, FL
    November 2nd, 2006 at 11:02 pm · Reply

    It’s November and my easter lily is starting to grow, is this good or bad? Should I try and chill it and plant it later?

    Easter lilies are planted in late November/December for Easter blooming. Yours is done resting and is ready to go. In order to slow down the growth for a month, put your lily in a cool place with temperatures around 40 degrees. This will give it more time to develop a root system. In December take it out and place it in a sunny spot, with temperatures of 65 degrees. Timing an Easter lily to bloom at the right time can be tricky but with a lilttle luck, it will bloom in spring.

  • Kennie
    April 18th, 2007 at 7:51 pm · Reply

    I live in Arizona where the summers are scortching, I was just given two easter lily plants. Is it safe to plant them outside, or do I need to do something different.

    Easter lilies need a winter cooling period of 1000 hrs or around 9 wks with temperature around 40-45 degrees F. Plant them in a shaded area at the same level as they were growing in the container.

  • jaime
    June 13th, 2007 at 9:54 am · Reply

    I would like to heard your comments and advice about growing Easter Lily from seeds.
    Actually, need all your knowledge and experiences on this procedure for pot flowers and for cutting flower.
    Thank you……..

    Here are some links that you can try for more detailed information on growing lilies from seed to flower http://www.plantlilies.com/read/seeding.pdf and http://www.lilies.org/resources.html. Hope this helps.

  • ron maracle
    April 2nd, 2008 at 12:11 am · Reply

    we built a four season room onto our house. our easter lily did wonderful there. we would like to keep it a house plant. should i repot it into a bigger pot now and continue to water until leaves turn brown, then cut it back to soil level. i am hoping it will continue to grow in this room without having to take the bulbs out, please advise. thanks

    You don’t need to repot it at this time. After your flowers die, continue to water and fertilize letting the plant die back until all that is left is a brown stalk. This process may take all sumer. At this point you should have a replenished lily bulb. Cut off the stalk to soil level and store the bulb in a cool dark place until ready to replant. Keep the bulb slightly moist at all times, they should not be allowed to dry out like other bulbs. Prior to repotting the bulbs should be chilled in temperatures of 40-45F degrees for 6 weeks (approx 1000 hrs). The precooled bulbs can then be planted in pots late Nov./early Dec. for Easter bloom. It’s much easier to plant them outdoors-you will have better sucess at reblooming.

  • Uncle Jake
    April 4th, 2008 at 5:34 am · Reply

    The comment made often is… you now have a replenished bulb, so now store in a cool dry place… can we dig up the bulb and store it by itself in a brown paper bag like we do gladiola bulbs, or do we need to let it in the soil??

    A lily bulb needs to be stored slightly moist- too wet will rot the bulb. It cannot be allowed to dry out as that will kill the bulb. To store the bulb wrap it in moist paper or moistened peat moss or sawdust and place in a ventilated bag-like the mesh bags they use for oranges or onions and keep it in a cool dark place. Periodically, check the bag to make sure it doesn’t dry out. The other alternative is to leave it potted and store in the frig.32-35F away from fruits and veggies. See stargazer lily storage Q for additional info.

  • ivor simmonds
    April 16th, 2008 at 11:39 am · Reply

    IN STORING AMARYILLIS BULBS IN THE LATE FALL, CAN THEY BE PUT IN THE REFRIGERATOR TO SLOW THEM DOWN FROM STARTING TO BUD IN THE SPRING,?
    Thank you.

    A refrigerator may be too cold for your amaryllis bulb since it needs to be stored at 40-45F in a cool, dry, dark environment. It is a tender bulb and doesn’t require a cooling period lilke some other bulbs. Temperature too low will kill the bulb-that is why it is stored indoors for the winter in colder climates. It can be left in the ground in warmer climates. I store mine in the basement until I’m ready to get it started, then I water it and put it in a warm room (70F). It should not start to grow until you begin to water it. A cool closet will also do the trick.

  • Ray
    June 1st, 2008 at 10:47 am · Reply

    I read all the suggestions which tell me a lot of what I must do for my Lilly. However, this is after I’m left with a brown stalk! I have continued to water the pot which has lain indoors throughout at 70F. I live in an apartment so can’t plant outside. I live in southern Ontario, with north facing floor to ceiling window. Would appreciate all help in re-blooming my beautiful Lillies. Thanks!

    Hi Ray
    Stop watering. Cut off the brown stalk and store the bulb in a cool place 60-65F in the pot, watering only occasionally to keep it slightly moist. Prior to planting , chill the bulbs in temperatures of 40-50 degrees (frig)for 4-6 weeks.. The precooled bulbs can be then planted in pots late Nov./early Dec. for Easter bloom

    .

  • Billie
    June 11th, 2008 at 6:48 pm · Reply

    Can I prune my Easter lilies that have gotten 5 feet tall? If so, how short and if I plant the pruned stalk, will it root? I am in Louisiana and have very tall Easter & Asiatic lilies that I would like to prune. They are way too tall for my flower bed. Also, can I plan the seed pods that have developed after the flowers died? THANKS!

    Hi Billie,
    If you cut off the stalk before it blooms then you will not get any flowers this year. You can cut it back after blooming but it is best to leaves the plant and let it die back on its own. Even though it may seem unsightly, the taller the stalk the more nutrients you’ll have to “recycle” back into the bulb which in turn will produce a larger bulb or even additional bulbs. The pruned stalk will not root. You can plant the seeds from the pod once they are ripe. Wait for the pod to turn brown. For info on starting seeds look in the Stargazer lily questions, there are detailed instructions.

  • Pat
    June 27th, 2008 at 12:46 pm · Reply

    My mother passed away 2 weeks ago before her beautiful white lily bloomed (14 in all). I want to dig it up and plant it on her grave this fall. Can I dig it up now and transplant it in my garden until I visit her grave in October to plant it there? What steps should I take? Thank you for your help.

    Hi Pat
    My condolensence on the lost of your Mother. If you can leave the lily where it is until it dies back to the ground. Mark it so you know where it is and dig it up in the fall or once the foliage has turned brown. If you need to transplant it to your garden now, dig up as much of the rootball and carefully transport it in a container to your garden trying not to destroy any roots. After planting, make sure you water and pamper the plant.

  • Ray
    July 19th, 2008 at 9:13 am · Reply

    I’ve been trying to find some info on Tiger Lillies. I bought a pot same time as my easter lillies. The pot has 3plants, which have now dried down to brown stalks. I s there any way of re-blooming a Tiger Lily? Or should I just throw out the pot & get a new plant next year??

    Hi Ray
    It sounds like yours was an asiatic lily. Plant the lily bulbs in the garden, in a well drained area. It should return and bloom next year.

  • Ray
    July 25th, 2008 at 8:43 am · Reply

    Thanks for your reply. However, I do not have a garden, only an extremely shaded balcony. Is it possible for the Asiatic Lily to rebloom in it’s pot? Any special tips on how to achieve this?
    Thanks!

  • AJ
    August 11th, 2008 at 8:16 am · Reply

    Ok I checked out the site and not quite getting the answer I’m looking for. I recently moved into my northwestern home in Washington state and still learning how to garden out here. I have an Easter lily that is in the ground and looks as if it’s been there for a while. It looks heathly but what about when the winter comes? Do I prune it when it dies or do I wait until early spring to do anything to it?

    Hi AJ
    You really don’t have to do anything. The stem will turn brown and die back and the bulb should winter over in the ground. Fertilize after bloom or in the spring with a 4-12-4 or 10-10-10 or mulch with compost or well-rotted manure around the plant.

  • Pam Carmona
    September 6th, 2008 at 7:06 am · Reply

    I have an Easter lilly that was in a pot when I purchased it. I planted it in the garden – I live in Illinois. The original stalk has turned brown, but it made several new plants, one of which is large and has 3 blooms now. I would like to cut off the flowers to put in a vase for a friend. Is this OK? Will it hurt the plant to cut off the flowers?

    Hi Pam
    How nice for you! You can cut off 1/3 to 1/2 of the flower stem without harming the plant. A little bit of fertilizer in the spring will help rebuild the bulb.

  • Bill Burt
    September 9th, 2008 at 12:18 pm · Reply

    My Easter Lily died back and I neglected to throw it away. This spring, it was still in its pot in the window and began to grow, quite tall and bloom. Now it is dying back, but it appears to have a number of bulblets up the stem of the lily. One at the base of each leave that has died back. Are these bulblets and what should I do with them to get them to become big lilies?

    Hi Bill
    The bulbs at the base of each leaf are called aerial bulbils. Pick them when they are ripe(brown/black) and replant in a protected raised bed or small pots. They can produce bulbs in 2 years.

  • tyra arellano
    September 21st, 2008 at 3:14 pm · Reply

    hello! i have a easter lilly. i’m new and have a question? the plant has bloomed and died back. the bottom of the plant has yellow and brown leaves and the top is green but has not produced a flower this year. it did bloom last year,i think i’m taking good care of it but was expecting a new bloom by now? what should i do? thank you.

    Hi Tyra
    Your Easter lilly bloomed last year but not this year. What could have happened is that it did not get enough growth to replenish the nutrients it needed to rebuild the bulb. If your plant is in a container, it is best to plant it outdoors where it can get optimal growing conditions. If it is outdoors, make sure it gets enough sun and fertilize the area in the spring. It’s important to allow the lily to die back because that’s where the nutrients rebuild the bulb come from to .
    If your Easter lily bloomed in the spring, then there’s a good chance that it will not bloom again this year. They bloom naturally once a year in June/July. Sometimes, if your’e lucky, they will rebloom the same year. Keep taking good care of the plant as it is rebuilding the bulb for next years bloom

    .

  • Ray
    September 28th, 2008 at 11:36 am · Reply

    I’ve kept my Easter Lily moist thru’ it’s dormant stage. Since the bulbs need to be pre-cooled, preferably in the frig, my quesn is if I keep the orig pot in a plastic bag in the crisper in the frig, would the fruit (apples, grapes, pears) I always have in another compartment, still harm the bulbs?? Alternately, with the temperatures here in Toronto at 18Cmax/9Cmin, would it be ok to leave the pot outside on the balcony?
    Also, should I repot the bulbs in fresh soil BEFORE pre-cooling?
    Thanks!

    HI Ray
    I’m not sure if any ethylene gas would leak into the other compartment. Try one of those “green” plastic bags that claim to keep ethylene gas out of vegetables. You can leave it outdoors provided the Easter lily bulb does not freeze (32F). Maybe a styrofoam cooler would work. It needs 40-50F. You can repot it in fresh soil after cooling.

  • Ray
    October 17th, 2008 at 3:47 pm · Reply

    Thanks for your advice. But I need more help, b’cos I noticed the bulb has started reblooming! It’s barely 1/2cm above the soil & green- I have not chilled it at all, & was planning to place the pot in the crisper today! What do I do next??
    Thanks!

    Hi Ray
    Cover the tip with soil and put it in the crisper. The cool temperatures will keep it from growing. The bulbs should be chilled in temperatures of 40-50 degrees for 4-6 weeks and then planted in pots late Nov./early Dec. for Easter bloom.

  • Ray
    December 10th, 2008 at 10:59 am · Reply

    Once again, thank you for your timely advice! I took the pot out of the crisper today & from the looks of it, the plants seem to be doing ok. There are 2 in the same pot- one is about an inch tall, light green, while the other is white. I have placed the pot near a bright window & hoping for the plants to keep growing! Is there anything else to do for healthy plants & subsequent blooms?

    Hi Ray
    Keep the potted bulbs around 65F and slightly warmer (70F) after Feb. 5. Keep it moist but not wet-don’t let it sit in water . Once the root system is well developed start fertilizing with a 15-0-15 or 20-10-20, if those are not available use a balanced (10-10-10) with micronutrients every 2 weeks up to bud formation. To be on the safe side, I would use 1/2 strength of the recommended dose to avoid over feeding. Here’s a source for more greenhouse growing info.

  • Ray
    January 21st, 2009 at 8:31 am · Reply

    I’ve faithfully followed all yr advice on re-blooming Easter Lillies & am quite pleased with their growth so far! The plants are now a foot tall, green & healthy from the looks of it. I’ve noticed 4 shoots/single leaves sprouting around the 2 main plants- should I just leave them alone? Or do I separate them? Also, I was wondering when I should hope to see the blooms on the 2 main plants? I’ve used Miracle Gro plant feed just once a week ago – was that too soon?? Thanks again for your helpful hints with all my plants!

    Hi Ray,
    Leave the single leaves, they are most likely bulblets sending out leaves, you can separte them after the plant is done blooming. As the plant continues to matures, you should see some buds forming in the near future.

  • Wendy
    February 1st, 2009 at 10:42 am · Reply

    I live in Michigan (zone 5). I have some lillies planted that are of sentimental value. They are in memory of my late 11 year old daughter.

    I am moving (same area). Is there any way to dig up the bulbs and take them with me? If so, should I keep in refrigerator till spring, or put in ground?
    Thank you very much.

    HI Wendy
    Dig them out in spring when the soil is workable. A lily bulb needs to be stored slightly moist- too wet will rot the bulb. It cannot be allowed to dry out as that will kill the bulb. To store the bulb wrap it in moist paper or moistened peat moss or sawdust and place in a ventilated bag-like the mesh bags they use for oranges or onions and keep it in a cool dark place. Periodically, check the bag to make sure it doesn’t dry out. The other alternative is to put them in potts and replant them when you move. See stargazer lily storage Q for additional info

    .

  • Ray
    February 24th, 2009 at 1:43 pm · Reply

    What a wonderful new design! Not that the earlier one was not attractive, but this looks quite savvy!
    Just wanted to let you know that my Lillies are growing furiously, almost at 2ft now. Which means I have to constantly turn the pot so that they don’t completely keel over. I continue to water once a week & fertilise monthly – have yet to see any blooms, but from what I’ve read this may not occur till Summer. Is that right? How tall are these going to get? Should I be staking the plants at some point? As always, I appreciate your advice, which is very helpful.
    Thanks!

  • Ray
    February 25th, 2009 at 10:47 am · Reply

    Hi Kris,
    I have a question about Bromeliads but could not find a page to post it, so am using this page!
    I have 2 Bromeliads; one is the mother plant with an additional baby that is barely 2″ in growth. The other is a pup I separated & repotted, which has grown to almost 4″ in height. It shows no signs of blooming & I was hoping you could advise on how to speed things up. It has a tank which I make sure always has water. Plus I moisten the soil every week or so depending on how dry it looks. I have used Miracle Gro once a month on the soil & was wondering what else I could do to get some beautiful blooms.
    Also, the mother plant seems to be slowly “dying”, with leaves every so often turning yellow & limp. Is there anyway it will re-bloom? Or should I discard it once the pup is large enough to be re-potted.
    Thanks!

    Hi Ray
    Once the mother plant is done bloooming it will not bloom again. Instead it will produce “pups”, baby plants that can be separated when they are about 1/3 the size of the mother plant. The “pups” take out nourishment from the mother plant which will gradually die. You will have better success with transplanting if the pup is 1/3 size and has some roots on it. If not be sure to firmly prop up the plant in soil so it doesn’t fall over and provide humidity to speed root development. You can improve humidity enclosing the potted pup in a plastic bag for a few weeks. Plant your bromeliad in well drained soil consisting of one part each;peat, bark, coarse sand or perlite.
    Several factors such as maturity, light, temperature can affect bromeliad blooming. Like pineapple plants, they can also be coaxed into bloom by exposing the plant to ethylene gas. Before you proceed pour out any liquid form the cup.

  • Ray
    March 26th, 2009 at 8:21 am · Reply

    Hi,
    My easter lily seems to have stopped growing taller & the leaves at the bottom of the stems have dried & fallen off. I have kept the soil moist & watering once evry 5-7days only, with fertiliser every 2nd watering. What is the general timeline for the plant to bloom? Does it bloom from the top of the plant as I’m not seeing anything there?? Is there any additional care / light / warmth I should be providing to ensure blooms around Easter? Both plants are staked as they were flopping over & I was wondering what else I should be doing. Patience is not my strongest virtue, so do excuse me for the barrage of quesns I send your way – with an apartment full of over 15 varieties of different plants, you are the one common source for all my quereies!
    Thank you for always providing me answers:)

  • Cindy
    April 5th, 2009 at 12:27 pm · Reply

    I would like to ask you a question… after the lillie blooms there is a big green bulb on the end of the stalk today i opened it up and found black soft seeds can these be planted and would they need to be dryed out?
    thank you very much
    cindy

    The green bulb should be allowed to dry out and turn brown and then the seeds will be ripe enough to plant.

  • joan
    April 12th, 2009 at 10:57 am · Reply

    after the lillie blooms there is a big green bulb on the end of the stalk today i opened it up and found black soft seeds can these be planted and would they need to be dryed out?

    Do I let them dry out on the stalk or pull them off to dry out? How long/where to dry? When can I plant them? Will this cause the main plant to not reproduce next year? What kind of lily is this, it blooms in february. I’ve had this plant for 12 years and have completely neglected it, apparently it is happy where it is planted. Since I have found something I/soil conditions haven’t managed to kill, I would like to grow more.

    HI Joan
    You need to leave the bulbous seed capsule on the plant to let it ripen. When they turn tan/brown, cut the capsule off and dry them for a few days. You can either sow the seeds fresh (right now) or store them in a paper bag at 41F and sow next spring but germination will not be as good. When a plant is allowed to go to seed it uses up some of its energy but that doesn’t mean it will not bloom again. I don’t know what kind of lily you have.

  • Jo James
    April 17th, 2009 at 12:24 pm · Reply

    After the blooms have died on my Easter lily and I have planted it outdoors, do I continue to water the plant once the stock has turned brown and cut off? We have drip lines that run year-around as we live in Arizona. We can plug the drip line to the plant if necessary.

    Hi Jo
    Let nature take care of the bulb. I don’t think you have to specially water the bulb or plug a drip line to it. If its planted in a flower bed it should get enough moisture from inccidental watering of other plants.

  • dbgrannie
    May 25th, 2009 at 10:15 pm · Reply

    I got a Lilly 6 years ago. Put it in a lg pot it has gone wild have about 12 plants. They all have flowers . Some are lg in size, some are tall and thin . What can i do with them? would like to keep all in same pot. How do i make them all thicker.

    HI
    You need to separate the bulbs, if you want fuller and larger plants. It sounds as if you have baby plants and mature plants mixed together. All in one are competing with each other for nutrients and water. After they are done blooming and the foliage has died back separate the large bulbs from the smaller ones and plant them in 2 different pots so the smaller ones will have a chance to get larger.

  • dbgrannie
    May 26th, 2009 at 10:08 am · Reply

    Thanks for letting me know what to do. I will give it a try.

  • Ray
    June 4th, 2009 at 9:51 am · Reply

    My easter lily has not re-bloomed at all. Once it grew to about a foot & half tall, it stopped growing. There are 2plants in the pot & while one is a healthy green, the others leaves have slowly wilted, browned & fallen off from the bottom up. Both stalks are green & I contniue to water once a week, fertilising every 3wks or so. Since it is still a little cool at night here in Mississauga, Ont. I have not moved the pot outdoors. Am I correct in presuming there are definitely going to be no blooms this time around? Should i just go throught the entire process again & hope for the best next time?? What else should I do to ensure the darn things bloom for sure?

    HI Ray
    Easter lilies are difficult to rebloom in a container. You’ll have much better success when they are planted in the ground and then they may not bloom for one reason or other. You may not be getting enough light. Indoor light is much lower than the outdoor sun. Also, by fertilizing, you produced a tall healthy plant that didn’t want to bloom. It sounds like it will not bloom this year. You can continue to feed and grow the plant until it dies back and unfortunately have to go through the same process.

  • Ray
    June 17th, 2009 at 3:55 pm · Reply

    Thanks for your comments; I guess I will have to try it again! However, today I noticed some growth at the base of a few leaves halfway up the plant. What exactly are these? Considering the plant hasn’t bloomed, I am a little bemused by this new growth! Thanks!

    HI Ray,
    The new growth most likely is coming from additional bulblets that the mother bulb may be producing. Let it continue to grow.

  • Maryann
    June 21st, 2009 at 8:01 am · Reply

    Is there any chance of an Easter lily surviving the winter planted in a southern Vermont garden? Probably zone 4 although we do mulch the garden pretty well. I’ve planted two and they’re really a target for the red bug and its larvae that eat lilies. I’m wondering if this will even be worth the effort.

    Hi Maryann
    You Easter lily should survive in zone 4. In colder regions, plant the bubs 8″ deep and mulch for the winter.

  • Ray
    July 1st, 2009 at 8:58 am · Reply

    Thanks for your reply- the new growth is now along almost the entire stalk! Am happy to see the new “bulbs” growing quite happily & there are even some now on the 2nd stalk which had browned about 6″ from the top down. Should I be fertilising at all? Or just plain water every 7-10days? Do I leave the bulbs on the stems? How big are they going to grow?

  • S&J
    July 11th, 2009 at 4:39 pm · Reply

    Is there a garden bug/spider that might attack easter lilies? We have several old 4-5 foot lilies in the garden that bloomed perfectly last year with full green foliage, but this year the green foliage quickly turned brown on the bottom half of most of the stalks, and some of the buds also turned to dead brown before blossoming. We are in Zone 5 in Northern Michigan.

    Hi S&J
    I wouldn’t suspect an insect but more likely a root problem that may be weather related. Older Lily bulbs are more susceptible to rot diseases. Did you have a wet spring?

  • Eva
    July 12th, 2009 at 3:04 pm · Reply

    I received an Easter lily as a gift last Easter. I have kept it in the original pot indoors, watered it moderately, and it still has the stalk and leaves, although it isn’t as deep green. I am assuming that it will eventually brown and I can clip it down to the base/soil. I am also assuming that for 4-6 weeks, I can put the pot into the fridge and then take it out in November/December and put it in the sunny window and await a beautiful new plant?

    Hi Eva
    Keep fertilizing the plant while its still growing. If all things go well, the bulb should rebloom next year. You will get better results if it is planted in the ground in spring.

  • Amy
    July 24th, 2009 at 3:05 pm · Reply

    Cutting back lilies
    We moved into a house with lilies in the front garden. My husband recently cut back the stalks (they were dead or dying), but he cut them off nearly to the ground. Will this destroy the bulb or will it still return next summer?

    Hi Amy
    The bulbs should return next year, as long as the lily stalks were dead or yellowed, then all the nutrients were returned to the bulb for next year’s growth.

  • Ray
    July 27th, 2009 at 7:21 am · Reply

    Thanks for your reply- the new growth is now along almost the entire stalk! Am happy to see the new “bulbs” growing quite happily & there are even some now on the 2nd stalk which had browned about 6″ from the top down. Should I be fertilising at all? Or just plain water every 7-10days? Do I leave the bulbs on the stems? How big are they going to grow?
    All the leaves on the stalk are brown and I’m wondering what my next steps should be?

    Hi Ray
    The new bulbils grow in the leaf axils on the stem. You can take them off when they ripen (turn brown). They should come off easily. Root the bulbils in narrow pots (pans). Plant in moist, well-drained soil and cover with 1/2″ of sand or grit. Grow in a frostfree place through next summer and plant the following autumn. Bulbils will take 3-4 years after autumn planting to bloom.

  • Ray
    August 27th, 2009 at 9:59 am · Reply

    My lily seems to have a mind of its own! I noticed that not only are the ‘bulbils’ becoming larger, but now they seem to have a growth from the centre; almost like a leaf! I’m watering the plant lightly every 10days, or when the soil looks dry. The stems themselves are almost totally brown, except for these mini bulbs along the stalk.
    Would appreciate if you could advise what is happening with this very intriguing plant, since I have surfed around & can’t find anything related to the strange ongoings.
    Thanks!

    HI Ray
    Sometimes the bulbils will start to grow leaves and even roots. Once mature, they drop off and you can plant them in soil or collect the bulbils and store them in a plastic bag in the frig for a few months . See this site for more info.

  • Ray
    August 31st, 2009 at 7:46 am · Reply

    Thank you for your response. I will keep an eye on them & am quite excited about growing new plants from these!

  • Chelsea
    October 18th, 2009 at 5:19 pm · Reply

    Planting bublets
    I’m so glad I found this site. I too have noticed a ton of these little “bulblet” thingies growing on my potted easter lily and had no idea what they are. They are bright green and have a little tiny bulb and 5 inch leaves coming off of them. Some even have little roots under the bulb. None of them have turned brown, but several are falling off into the pot. What should I do with these? Just refrigerate them? Or should I plant them in a shallow soil?

    Hi Chelsea
    See above comments to Ray. If you can plant them outdoors in soil. You can also plant them in shallow soil but then you will have to keep them in a frost free place for the winter.

  • Chelsea
    October 20th, 2009 at 8:40 pm · Reply

    Thank you! I saw all of the responses saying to let them turn brown, but these suckers aren’t just like.. little bulbs anymore. They’re little bulbs (maybe an inch across) with about 8 inches of leaves coming out of them and tiny little root balls. So.. I’m supposed to let these ‘die’ (turn brown) before I repot them or should I do it now? They’re really lose. They look like little plants but if you say to wait til they turn brown I will.. sorry, I’m SUPER NEW to gardening. I just feel grateful that a plant in my care actually LIVED let alone reproduced. I want to take good care of its babies!

    Hi Chelsea
    I’m assuming that you live in a colder climate? Time is running out but you can plant them in a protected area in the ground and let mother nature take its course. The lily bulblet will turn brown when the frost hits. The young bulblets are delicate and need pampering so make sure you if you plant them outdoors that you mulch the area after the ground freezes.
    If you don’t want to plant them outdoors then grow them indoors in a sunny window and when then are done (turn brown) store them in the frig (40-45F)or cool spot covered in a plastic bag for 4-6 weeks. Growing them indoors may be the better option for this time of year (late Oct.). Just give them as much light as possible.

  • Chelsea
    October 22nd, 2009 at 6:09 pm · Reply

    Thanks for your reply. I live in Seattle (zone 8b). I also don’t have access to ground planting, only containers. Does any of that make a difference?

    Hi Chelsea
    The bulbs usually grow better outdoors but you can grow them indoors.

  • Jamie
    October 28th, 2009 at 4:57 pm · Reply

    We have an Easter Lily from this spring and it seems to be fading we live in a cold climate so it is to late to plant it in the ground. It is beginning to turn yellowish, do we need to cut it back and put it in a cool dry place? The people who aren’t really crazy on lots of indoor plants wants this one saved. Thanks for your help.

    Hi Jamie
    Once the stem turns brown, cut it off and store the bulb in soil in the cool, dark place. Be sure that the soil doesn’t totally dry out. They require a dormant period @ 40-50F for 4-6 weeks.

  • Ray
    October 31st, 2009 at 8:26 am · Reply

    Nothing further has happened with the bulbils- they are still a little green and barely 1/2 a cm in width. The entire stalk is brown and shriveled, and I’ve watered the pot once every 2-3wks. Would it be ok if I place the pot, stem & bulbils et al, in the fridge for 4-6wks right now? I would rather the original plant re-bloom, so would appreciate your urgent response. I am away for about a month and would like to place the pot in the fridge before I leave on Monday.
    Thanks!

    Hi Ray
    Yes, place the whole pot in a plastic bag in the warmest part of the frig. p.s. Cut off the brown stalks.

  • paulette
    November 1st, 2009 at 9:19 am · Reply

    lily bulbs not blooming
    I just bought my parents property, and there are some easter lilly’s growing in part shade. My mom said they have been planted for atleast 5 or 6 years with no blooms. I cut them all back a year ago. The stalks look great and healthy. Will they ever bloom or should i move them to a different area with better soil and a little more sun?

    Hi Paulette
    If they haven’t bloomed for several years, then its time to move them. They can be too deep in the ground or need more sun and better soil. Be sure to plant them in well drained soil, where “their feet are cool and heads are in the sun”

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