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Saving Your Easter lily

Filed under: — kris @ 3:08 pm


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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18 Comments on Saving Your Easter lily»

  1. 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.

    Comment by LINDA STEARNS — 4/15/2005 @ 9:55 am

  2. I have had good luck with my Easter Lily, now coming up for the second year in a row. I found making sure that there is enough mulch in my northern climate is the key. I had a Stargazer Lily that I did not mulch as well and it did not make it this year.

    Comment by Dana — 4/28/2005 @ 3:10 pm

  3. I just wanted to say thank you for the straight forward answers to caring for my Easter Lilly, I searched other sites and found they used a lot of complicated language! I am new to all that grows green and appreciate the “plain language” approach!

    Comment by Dawn — 5/13/2005 @ 5:14 pm

  4. i have a easter lily that when it died off back in may we put the bulb in the basement to keep it safe but now it seems to be coming back and i do not know what to do. we want to keep this as a inside plant any help that you can give would be great

    Your lily is growing because it has satisfied its dormant period and now thinks it should start growing again. You can keep it from growing by storing it in a very cold place such as a refrigerator (not freezer).

    Comment by andy martell — 10/25/2005 @ 3:35 pm

  5. 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.

    Comment by Michele — 2/28/2006 @ 7:43 pm

  6. 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.

    Comment by Stephanie — 4/4/2006 @ 3:47 pm

  7. 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.

    Comment by Joy — 4/17/2006 @ 6:44 am

  8. 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.

    Comment by Barbara — 4/18/2006 @ 1:29 pm

  9. 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.

    Comment by Ms. Missy williams — 4/19/2006 @ 6:58 am

  10. I live in south west Florida and if I have understood everything…..I need to wait til my easter lily has died back (brown stem) then keep it cold for 6-8 weeks then I can bring it back to sprout again?

    Yes, that’s what normally happens.They need a cold resting period to start up again. BUT sometimes the lily will continue to grow in the container or garden that it will send up a new shoot and rebloom for you later that same year. This happened last year when I planted my lily in the ground.

    Comment by Chuck — 4/24/2006 @ 1:15 pm

  11. 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.

    Comment by Anne — 7/2/2006 @ 4:18 pm

  12. 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.

    Comment by Lily Newbie, Houston, TX — 8/31/2006 @ 2:12 pm

  13. 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.

    Comment by Ariel Corrado, FL — 11/2/2006 @ 11:02 pm

  14. 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.

    Comment by Kennie — 4/18/2007 @ 7:51 pm

  15. I would like to heard your coments and advises about growing Easter Lily from seeds.
    Actually, need all your knowledge and expiriences 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.

    Comment by jaime — 6/13/2007 @ 9:54 am

  16. 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.

    Comment by ron maracle — 4/2/2008 @ 12:11 am

  17. 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.

    Comment by Uncle Jake — 4/4/2008 @ 5:34 am

  18. 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.

    Comment by ivor simmonds — 4/16/2008 @ 11:39 am

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