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85 comments to Stargazer lilies

• Kris

  October 5th, 2006 at 7:12 am · Reply

  I bought a pack of stargazer bulb that consist 2 bulbs and planted each of it 6″ deep in a flower pot. I put the flower pot outdoor and water it whenever the soil is dry. It’s been 2 weeks now and there is nothing appear. Could you guide me how to care for the bulbs? Thanks.

  Part of the problem could be that you planted it too deep. Dig down and see if there is anything coming up, otherwise, knock the bulb out of the pot, check for soft spots and root development. If you have any soft spots throw the bulb out because it may have a rot and is not worth the effort. If the bulb is firm and is developing roots replant it with the tip up, 2 inches below the soil line. Water when dry and care for it the same way you would an Easter lily. I am assuming that the bulbs have been pre-cooler for forcing. The forcing time for stargazer lilies will vary depending on temperature & light intensity.

• Kris

  October 5th, 2006 at 7:13 am · Reply

  Reblooming
  I bought a stargazer lily in the spring, planted it in a pot to keep indoors, it started to bloom but soon appeared to be dying. The flower fell off and the tips of the leaves turned brown. I don’t know if it’s the natural progression of the plant’s life cycle or if it has something wrong with it. Can you advise me? I really would like to have it indoors but if it won’t work I will plant it outdoors. I love the scent. I live in Vermont, if that helps. Thanks!

  It sounds as if the plant died prematurely but continued the natural progression of life. They bloom for around two weeks and then the leaves slowly die back. If it had the opportunity to rebuild itself, then the best place for your stargazer lily is outdoors in the garden. Plant it in a sunny, well drained spot 4-6 inches deep. It is hardy in zone 4-9. Hopefully, it will have enough time to develop a root system to carry it over the winter. Be sure to mulch it when the soil freezes.

• Kris

  October 5th, 2006 at 7:31 am · Reply

  Stevie
  I bought a beautiful mango lily in May it bloomed for about a week and then the petals just fell off. Is it supposed to bloom again? Its still green and looks healthy – just no blooms.

  Asiatic lilies and hybrids bloom once per season about 2 – 4 wks. Only daylilies will bloom for an extended summer season. It suspect your lily is done for the year. Keep the foliage growing for next year

  .

• James McCune

  November 10th, 2006 at 8:21 am · Reply

  Hello. I am trying to reproduce my asian/oriental lilies. I pollinated the flowers and they took off very well. I just don’t know when I am supposed to remove the seed pods growing. I am new at this stuff and would appreciate the help. Thank you.

  Start lilies from seed.
  When the green seed pods turns soft and brown, clip it off the stem. Bring it indoors or keep it in a dry place for 2-3 weeks. Once dry, shake the seeds from the pods. The seeds are viable for 9-10 mo. when stored @ room temperature. For longer storage keep in them in an air tight container in the freezer.

  Please help with the process to start planting my stargazer lily seeds. I do have plant light so I could start early. I live in West Tennessee. Thanks.

  Growing Stargazer lilies from seed is a long process and require some patience. It takes 3 years from seed to bloom. Oriental lily seeds are delayed hypogeal that germinate slowly in two stages. First stage: Warm period: place the seeds in a clear plastic bag with spaghnum moss, peat moss , vermiculite or coarse potting soil mixed w/ granite grit. Seal, label and store in a warm spot (60-70F) for 3-4 months at which time seeds will form small bulblets with delicate roots. Second stage Cool period: Take the bag with the swollen bulblets and place it in the refrigerator (34-40F) for 10-12 weeks. After cooling period plant tiny bulblets in loose potting soil mix 1/4 inch deep. Place under lights or window or if weather permits (frost free) outdoors in a protected area. The true leaves should show in 1-2 wks.. Water, feed with diluted fertilizer every two wks. You should get 3-5 leaves the 1st growing season. Keep seedling potted the first season and transplant outdoors the second spring. You should have bloom in the 3rd season. Hybrid cross seeds will not produce true clones of the parent plant but you may get some interesting new possibilities. source: lilies.org, lilyseeds.com

• Sue A. Bulakli

  November 21st, 2006 at 3:38 pm · Reply

  STORING LILY BULBS

  I bought some asian and oriental lily bulbs . Unfortunately I have not planted them. I need to store the bulbs between november and june. How should I store them. Thanks.

  It’s always best to plant lilies 10 days after you get them. Buying them late and not knowing how the bulbs were handled in the store can raise quality issues of the bulb itself. To store lily bulbs for a prolonged amount of time, place them in a mesh bag with damp(not wet) peat or spagnum moss. The bulb and roots must not dry out or it will die. Store this bag in a refrigerator. Keep away from fruit and veggetables as the ethylene gas they emit can damage the flower inside the bulb. Periodically check for molding or shriveling. You can also store them longer in the freezer but most home freezer won’t work because the temperature has to be above 32-35F. Plant in the spring or as soon as you can.

  I know stargazer lilies are supposed to be outdoors, but I live in an apartment complex n with all the activities around that’s not possible for me. How can I keep them alive and growing in an apt. I just love these plants they are beautiful, and really the only ones I like. Thank You, Patricia

  Hi Pat,
  Stargazer are bulb plants that go through a growth cycle. After blooming, the plants may stay green for a while but eventually will die back nautrally. They do not grow year round and need a dormant period to rebuild the bulb for the next bloom. Typically, the leaves will turn yellow/brown, fall off. If you plan to store them indoors, keep the bulb in the pot or plastic bag in a dark place at around 35 degrees (frig) for at least 6-8 wks after which you can repot the bulb and start all over.

  2007-10-14
  Angel Feliciano
  Hi should i cut of the yellow/brown stem when it dies out? and what should i do with the plant during its dormant/resting period? should i still water it? i live in a condominium but i have a balcony for it to get sun for a bit.i should store it away from sun during its dormant period right?

  Typically, the leaves will turn yellow/brown, fall off and you will have brown stalks which you can cut off. Leave the bulb in the pot or plastic bag and keep it moist-not wet. The bulb and roots must not dry out or it will die. Store this pot or bag in a refrigerator. Keep away from fruit and vegetables as the ethylene gas they emit can damage the flower inside the bulb. Periodically check for molding or shriveling. You can also store them longer in the freezer but most home freezers won’t work because the temperature has to be no cooler than 32-35F. Store for at least 6-8 wks after which you can repot and grow again. If you see the bulb sprouting take it out of the frig and place it in a sunny window or on your balcony in spring.

  2008-3-17
  Mike Reffalt
  We live in Tacoma, Washington about 2 miles and 200 in elevation off Puget Sound. My wife has half a dozen planters of Stargazers averaging about 18-24 inches in height and diameter some are metal and others are ceramic. In the past I have dragged the planters into the garage in the winter (which we normally keep around 50 in the winter). This year I built a cold box on the side of the house ( I really needed the floorspace in the garage it also functions as my woodshop). My question is what care do stargazers in planters really need in the winter?

  Hi Mike
  You can leave your planters outdoors as long as you don’t get freezing temperatures below 32F during the winter or place them in the cold box you built. If the temps drop below 32F for a short period the insulating value of the soil will still protect them. You can also wrap the container in some insulating material to protect them from cracking. Stargazer lilies can also be stored in the frig at temp of 32- 35F in peat moss.

• Mary Slusher

  February 20th, 2007 at 8:59 am · Reply

  We love the Stargazers but our grandchildren are allergic to the sweet smell. Is there a way to diminish their fragrance so it does not spread all over the house?

  People experience fragrant smells in different ways. Where some find it intoxicating others get a headache. Stargazers are popular because of their fragrance. If you remove the inside (pistils and stamens) of the flower, it should diminish the smell. Try the Asiatic lilies, which are fragrance free.

• Lauren

  June 15th, 2007 at 1:23 am · Reply

  I bought a pot with 6 seperate stargazer lily plants,(all in same pot) and each one has about 2-4 buds on it. They are already blooming and it seems like they don’t have enough room to bloom. COuld it be that they are too close together? If so what’s the best way to transfer them into another pot without ruining them. I also have them indoors.. I’ve never had potted lilies before and I am trying my best! Would appreciate any advice!!

  The only way to transplant them at this time is to carefully remove the whole root ball (all 6 plants) without breaking it up and planting it in a slightly larger pot. Chances are the roots are intertwined and if you tried to separate them you will do more damage. I would leave them as they are and enjoy the flowers. Separate them after the stems die back and you’re ready to plant them outdoors.

• Linda

  August 2nd, 2007 at 3:54 pm · Reply

  Removing anthers
  What is the best way to remove the anthers from the lilies? I say cut it off and my friend says to pull it off with a tissue. Or does it even matter!? Thanks.

  It really doesn’t matter, whatever method works best for you. I just pull them off with my fingers, if there is a lot of plants to de-pollinate, I use latex gloves to keep my hands from staining. The important thing is not to get the pollen on your clothes or it will stain yellow.

• Corinne

  September 26th, 2007 at 2:45 pm · Reply

  Planting lily outdoors
  Hi, I just received a Hybrid Lily for a gift, it has finished flowering and I have pinched off all the dead flowers. It is mid-October here in Calgary, AB – is it safe for me to transplant outdoors with our crazy weather and is there anything special I need to do or just dig a hole and put it in?? I’m pretty sure my dirt insn’t all that great, should I get some sort of special soil or fertilizer?? As you can tell I know absolutely nothing about gardening but would really like to learn. Please if you can I would appreciate any help I could get. Thanks in advance!!

  You mean it’s mid-September. Knock the lily out of the pot and plant it outdoors about 8-10 inches deep or up to 3x the size of the bulb. Don’t disturb the roots or cut the leaves and stem off. If you need to amend the soil for good drainage make the hole larger (12-18″) and mix compost or potting soil to loosen the soil. Add some bone meal in the bottom of the hole. Let the leaves and stem die back (the cold weather may do the job). To protect them from freezing heap 3-4 inches of soil above the soil level to insulate the bulb. Additional snow will also help. Fertilize with a 20-20-20 formula in the spring when new growth emerges.

• Cindy

  October 27th, 2007 at 9:51 am · Reply

  Hi,
  I bought some stargazer lilies and need to get them planted before the first frost right? Can I plant them in huge pots on my deck and leave them? Do I need to keep them watered until a certain time? I have some already in my back yard I planted 2 yrs ago and they rebloom every year. I love them but wondered if it was too late to plant them now? Thanks for your help..

  You can still plant them in the ground before the ground freezes. If you plant them in large pots the bulbs may freeze as containers don’t have as much insulation as when planted in the ground. Be sure to add a few inches of mulch to protect the bulbs from winter heaving.

• mary

  March 1st, 2008 at 6:55 pm · Reply

  Mailing lilies
  My friend in San Bernardino, CA wants me to send some of the bulbs I have growing of my Stargazer Lillies. How do I dig them up and send them? I live in Camas, WA and this is March 1, 2008. Mary

  As soon as the weather allows, dig up your bulbs, clean them off and dry them. Pack them in slightly moistened peat moss or spagnum moss. Place in a plastic bag and pack it in a box and ship it out. Don’t wait too long to mail them. You don’t want the bulbs to dry out. Most bulb companies are shipping in March.

• Marge

  March 20th, 2008 at 6:01 am · Reply

  How much water
  I want to plant it outside now in Las Vegas, NV. How much water, when and what type of amenities for our awful soil.

  Stargazer lilies require a well-drained soil. They will not tolerate wet clay soil. Before planting, amend the soil by adding 1 part of compost, or rich potting soil to 4 parts of your soil. Plant at a depth of 3x the height of the bulb in an area that has morning sun and afternoon shade. Water in well and mulch to conserve soil moisture. Watering will depend on the type of soil and temperatures. Generally, growing plants need 1 inch of water per week.

• DEE

  March 24th, 2008 at 2:37 pm · Reply

  CAN I PLANT STARGAZER BULBS IN POTS IN MARCH AND TRANSFER TO GARDEN WHEN THE SHOOTS APPEAR ABOVE THE SOIL

  Yes you can. It will give them a head start. Just make sure when after you transfer them into the garden that you protect the new shoots from any freezing temperatures

  .

• Tamara

  March 27th, 2008 at 12:18 am · Reply

  Hi,
  My mother has bought some potted Stargazer Lilies about a couple of days ago from a green house and the petals are starting to turn brown and wither. Im not sure if there supposed to or not! Whats the best thing I can do? Oh and when’s the best time to replant them? I live in Edmonton, Alberta.
  Thanks.

  The plant is showing signs of stress such as overwatering or just aging. They bloom for around two weeks and then the leaves slowly turn brown and die back which is their natural progression. Remove any wilting flowers and let the leaves die back at which time it will rebuild itself for next year. Water lightly and don’t let the pot sit in water. Plant it in a sunny, well drained spot 4-6 inches deep when the soil is workable. If the bulb was healthy it will rebloom the next year. It is hardy in USDA zone 4-9. If you cannot plant it outdoors see above post for indoor storage.

• Didi Orallo

  April 25th, 2008 at 10:52 pm · Reply

  Reblooming lilies
  Hi I bought the stargazer Lilies already bloom in the pot and transplanted it in the shady ground. After 1 week, flowers dried and the leaves and stem became yellow, i cut the stem just an inch above the ground. What should i do next. One thing more , i bought bulbs from store and planted it bec it says in california it can still be planted in late spring and will bloom in mid summer. do i have to water the soil everyday? Its been two weeks already and i dont see any results yet. thank you

  I don’t know at what stage of maturity you bought the plant but it sounds like the plant died back very quickly. It’s all about rebuilding the bulb. Now that it has done its job blooming, it needs an 8 week cold treatment at 35-36F. before it can rebloom again. If you don’t see new growth in the next month you may have to wait till next year. You can plant fresh (unforced lilies) in spring and have them bloom in summer but when they are forced in a container, they use up so much energy that they don’t readily rebloom until they have a chance to restore nutrients in the bulb.

• Laurie

  May 21st, 2008 at 8:38 am · Reply

  Stargazer for a wedding
  I am planning to have stargazer lilies for a wedding on June 14, 2008. I will be picking up the flowers on Wednesday and the wedding is on Saturday. I need to know how to force open the bloom if they are not open.. Do you have any suggestions?
  Thanks for your assistance.
  Laurie

  Hi Laurie,
  It’s a good idea to pick them up a few days before the wedding. If the buds are tight, recut the stems and place them in lukewarm water with cut flower food. Warmer water will open then faster. Also another trick used in flower shops is to place a plastic bag over the whole bucket of stems to increase the humidity and warmth-that may not be necessary in June. When the flowers start to open, remove the pollen from the stamens. This will keep the flowers longer and avoid any pollen stains. If the lilies start to open too fast place them in a cooler environment away from light. Congratulations and good luck. Hope your flowers will be fabulous.

• Erica

  June 4th, 2008 at 2:45 pm · Reply

  So… let me see if I have this straight. (first time trying to grow a houseplant). I have 3 stalks of stargazers in a pot indoors. They have all bloomed. One of them has turned brown and the leaves have fallen off, and the other two are on their way. Should I cut the stalks back to soil-level? Then should I place the pot in a cool place and keep it moist, or plant them outside for the summer? If I plant them outside, can I then replant them in a pot and bring them back in next season? I’d really like to keep them as houseplants. Thanks!

  Hi Erica
  Cut off the stems to the soil line when it is brown. Be sure the plant dies back naturally and not from too wet soil. It would be better and easier to plant them outdoors if you can as many bulb type of plants may not preform as well the following year. If you do, you can dig it up after summer and replant. It will need to be stored in the frig for 8 wks. Be sure to mark the area where you put the bulb, it may be difficult to find later on.
  If you prefer to save it in the pot keep it in a cool place, barely moist during their dormant period and when ready, repot in fresh soil and then store it in the frig for 8 wks. Another option is to remove the bulb from the pot, wash off the soil and place it in slightly damp peat moss or wood shavings and store in the frig. Stargazer lilies don’t have an outer protective coating so they should be kept slightly moist or they will dry up. They also need a cold dormant period called vernalization (8 wks @ 35-36F) before they start to grow again-that’s why the frig. If it was left in the ground over winter, then mother nature does the job.

• Kim

  June 22nd, 2008 at 7:35 pm · Reply

  I just planted two Stargazer lilies a month ago. Both plants bloomed and now all the leaves have turned brown and fallen off. The flowers have fallen off too. At first, I thought some animal or insect was eating the plant b/c the leaves fell off so very quickly. Is it possible for these Stargazers to have already fully bloomed until next year? I thought they would last a lot longer than this. I live in O’Fallon, Missouri. Please help!

  HI Kim
  Did you buy them in a container already blooming? When Stargazer lilies bloom the fragrance and flower are spectacular. Unfortunately, the bloom only lasts about 2 weeks or a bit longer in cooler temperatures. The foliage on the plant should continue to stay green and grow in order to produce more nutrients for next years bloom. It’s possible that there was a problem with the growing conditions such as hot sun, poor soil drainage or too much rain resulting in soggy soil that caused the leaves to drop so quickly. They only bloom once a year. All you can hope for is that the bulb is healthy enough (no rotten) to return next year.

• Kris Kohn

  July 14th, 2008 at 4:56 pm · Reply

  I have been growing a varietly of asiatic/oriental hybrids for a couple of years. This year I had one of the lilies turn yellow and die. Now I have a couple of lilies starting to turn yellow before they have bloomed. They get full sun almost the whole day, I only water in the morning and I have sprayed for aphids. I am purplexed as to what is happening. Any help is greatly appreciated!

  Have you had a lot of rain in the spring/summer or is it dry? It sounds like there’s a bulb/root problem. If the roots get too wet then they will rot. On the other hand, lilies like their heads in the sun and roots nice and cool.

• Angela Totel

  July 16th, 2008 at 6:52 am · Reply

  Botrytis
  My oriental lillies are getting brown tips before they even open and once the do open they look yucky because of the brown tips. What am I doing wrong?

  Hi Angela
  Are you overhead watering? Spraying the buds? They are susceptible to a gray mold (Botrytis) fungus in wet humid weather.

• debra

  July 21st, 2008 at 12:59 am · Reply

  Cut flowers
  How many years do SG lily last? Does cutting bouquets hurt them or reduce the amount for the next year?
  Also does cutting off the anthers ( pollen) reduce the scent and if it does How?

  HI Debra
  Stargazer lilies can last for several years. They may decline (like tulips) after a few years of bloom. After a few years the bulbs form deeper in the soil and need to be dug up and replanted higher so that they don’t spend most of their energy pushing their way up the soil.
  Cutting them for bouquets may reduce their rebloom slightly but you can make up for that by fertilizing the plants when they start to grow again. Generally, cutting off less than 1/3 of the stem should be fine. By removing the anthers help keep the flower longer because it eliminates the possibility of pollination. If the flower is not pollinated it will last longer and will not produce seeds. Anthers do not affect the smell of the flower.

• debra

  July 24th, 2008 at 5:03 am · Reply

  Thanks for your answers but they raised a few more questions.
  I planted well over 35 SG about 6 years ago. I never cut them for bouquets for the first 4 years. That’s when I noticed a sharp decline in production. I assumed planting 35 would bring back 35.
  But thats the fun of gardening, you never know what to expect, and I should have never assumed.
  I think I cut the stems far too long and didn’t leave enough for re-germination. Also many of the stems that came back in the same place are now only 6″-8″ tall, instead of the 3 1/2 feet they usually are.
  I was told to NEVER let the seed pods grow as it steals nutrients from the main bulb.
  I did it one year and saved the seeds for seed exchange. Many people really want to start these from seed.
  I got the idea of scent removal by anther removal from YOUR column! Read above, its one of your answers, lol!
  So, I guess spring would be the best time to pull up the bulbs for re-planting higher? I live in Zone7 and am afraid there isn’t time for regrowth before we get a deep freeze.
  Love this site, thanks for being there for all of us ‘needy’ questioning gardeners,
  Debra

• Jody

  July 27th, 2008 at 1:49 pm · Reply

  My husband bought me a stargazer lily back in March. After reading the comments on this site I let it die back after it flowered and then stored the bulb in the fridge in the original pot and soil that it came in. I just noticed today that there is a 2″ shoot coming out of the soil. I’m wondering what I should do now. Is it safe to repot it now in a larger pot with fresh soil or my yard or should I leave it be. I do have access to a yard that receives morning sun and afternoon shade (I live in southeast Wisconsin) that I could plant it in, although I may prefer keeping it in a pot on the balcony. What are my best options?
  Thanks!

  Hi Jody
  Your stargazer liliy has come out of dormancy and wants to grow. You can repot it in fresh soil and grow it indoors or plant it in the garden in morning sun. I think your best option is to plant it outdoors, sometimes when bulbs are pot forced, they don’t bloom as well because of all the energy they use to bloom. It may not bloom again this year but should bloom next year in July.

• Jodi

  July 28th, 2008 at 10:31 am · Reply

  Cut flowers
  I have read all the above submissions and I have a lingering question. We have, for years, been saving fully matured, but unopened peony buds wrapped in newspaper and stored in the fridge for blooms as late as late-July. I was wondering if there was a way to similarly preserve mature, but unopened Stargazer buds for a few blooms after my plants have finished? Thanks so much!

  Hi Jodi
  I have not tried it but I think it would work the same way you do your peony buds. Growers pick lilies in the closed bud stage and by the time the florist gets them a week or more may have passed and they are in still in the bud stage waiting for water. Keep them in a cool, humid environment, wrapped in newsplaper or breathable plastic sleeve, away from any ethylene gases and it should work. Let me know what happens.

• Laura

  July 29th, 2008 at 5:09 am · Reply

  My father recently over the weekend bought me a stargazer Lilly. I planted it in my flower garden with my other perennials. I noticed this morning that three petals have fallen off and the other petals are turning brown. I planted it with top soil mixed with manure. I Love this flower and hope that it is not dying, any help would be helpful.

  Hi Laura
  It’s better to leave the flowering plants in the container until they are finished blooming. Plants should not be disturbed when they are in bloom or the first thing to go is the flowers. The leaves will die back (leaves will turn brown) and put new reserves into the bulb for next year.

• Nicole

  October 4th, 2008 at 5:13 pm · Reply

  Hi! I just got a Stargazer lily as a gift. We had an unusually warm Sept. and so it was in full bloom. Now it is starting to die. I have it indoors right now as the weather is raining and terrible and I don’t know if that will kill it because it needs a lot of sunlight. There are still 3 flowers left, but the rest have died. What is the best step to take. I live in Victoria, and if I were to plant it it’s have to be in a pot outside because I live in an Apartment. Thanks!

  Hi Nicole
  The rest of the stargazer lilies should open. Best you can do is to keep it in a sunny window and let it die back on its own. Store the bulb and replant in the spring in fresh soil outdoors. Forced bulbs may not bloom the following year in a container as too much energy is used up when they are forced in a pot.

• Marquita

  November 6th, 2008 at 1:34 pm · Reply

  Stargazers on wedding cake
  Are Stargazer lilies poisonous to humans? If not could they be placed Wedding Cakes?

  Hi Marquita
  Some lilies(Easter lily) are listed as being poisonous to animals if ingested. The deer eat my stargazer lily flowers, so they must be ok for some animals. If you want to use them on you wedding cake you will need to make sure the flowers were not sprayed with chemicals. In order to safely use the flowers on your wedding cake, be sure to wash off any chemical residue and place a barrier on the cake before you place the flowers on it.

• Miho Bearnson

  November 23rd, 2008 at 10:54 pm · Reply

  I am thinking about growing stargazer lilies in my back yard. I live in Arizona and USDA 9. Do Stargazer lilies grow where I live? I love this flower and I ‘d like to try, but my area gets very hot and dry in summer (May-Oct). Will you tell me when I need to get the bulbs and how to store in the fridge and for how long. When should I plant if I want them to bloom before it gets too hot (early spring-March or April). I’d like to plant in the north side of the house (in the shade and no direct sun light in winter, but spring to summer we have morning sun light and afternoon shade.) I ‘d like to know when is the best time to dig out and keep in the fridge. Now it is late Nov. Is it too late to start?

  Hi Miho
  Stargazer lilies are hardy in zones 3-10 some sources say 4-9 so you should have no problem growing them. You can plant the bulbs now or as soon as you get them. You don’t need to store them in the fridge as long as you plant them right away. The bulbs should not be allowed to dry out. Storing is recommended for folks that live in colder climates and cannot plant the bulbs because the ground is frozen or for some other reason cannot be planted immediately. Morning sun and afternoon shade is best and make sure the soil has good drainage.

• molly g

  December 13th, 2008 at 5:40 pm · Reply

  Im in hawaii and I had planted 26 Stargazer lilies in my flopwers bed in Oct and its been raining for a month straight and I only saw 1 blub spouted…what happen to the rest? what should I do? thank you

  HI Molly
  Dig up one of the bulbs and see what is happening. There’s a good chance that they are rotting from too much water. They do not tolerate wet conditions.

• Molly G

  February 1st, 2009 at 11:21 pm · Reply

  Wet soil
  hi. I dug it up and its rotted… from 26 to 15 left. so I replanted on a new lilies bed. how deep should I put it? I have other lilies which I took out from the frige.I soak it in water and drain it. it took me a week before I get to plant it.. will it grow? and how long will it take??

  Hi Molly
  Plant the bulbs 3 times the depth of the bulb- 6-8″ deep. Make sure your flower bed has good drainage. You may need to make a raised bed (6-8″ high) to allow for good drainage.

• LiSaV

  February 7th, 2009 at 3:37 pm · Reply

  When I cut back my stargazer lilies in the fall, there seemed to be a few new sprouts growing toward the bottom of the stalk. They kind of look like new bulbs. Is that what they are? How do I care for them?

  Second question: I broke up a bulb by breaking off its parts (part of it was rotting), put it in the fridge for a few months, then, when I took it out and placed them in a wet paper towel, each piece started growing what looks like a new bulb. How do I care for these?
  Thanks!

  HI Lisa
  They are stem bulblets, (baby bulbs)growing from the base of the stems and scales bulblets. The latter requires 6-12 wks of refrigeration (which you did) . You can replant both in separate containers until spring and then in your flower bed. It takes 2-3 years to get them to bloom.

• Alfredo

  February 13th, 2009 at 8:41 am · Reply

  Cut flowers
  Hi I bought some stargazer lilies for my wife for valentine’s day and I bought them a couple of days early. I left them out of water for about a day. They do not look so great. Any suggestions?

  HI Alfredo,
  Re-cut 1/2 inch off the bottom of the stem and place in lukewarm water with some floral preservative in it. Place the Stargazer bouquet in a cool, dark area for a few hours so it has time to drink.

• Molly

  February 28th, 2009 at 12:02 am · Reply

  Hi. my bulbs started to sprouted but my big dog walk over it and snapped the lilies. I tried to put dirt under it so it will stay up…will it make it?

  hi molly
  It depends on how far along the stargazer lilies sprouted. If the main sprout was broken off then there is a chance that it will not survive. I would wait and see what happens.

• Dorian

  March 2nd, 2009 at 9:42 am · Reply

  Hello – great site!

  I am a total gardening novice and I just bought six stargazer lily bulbs from a flower show. I live in south Jersey and its still cold here. The instructions that came with the lillies said to plant the bulbs within two weeks or as soon as possible. Should I be planting the bulbs outside, or do I need to plant them in pots first and keep them inside until it warms up? Also, do you have any suggestions for a book or website with really basic information on how to garden (I totally don’t know what I’m doing!).
  thank you so much for your help!

  Hi Dorian
  Welcome to the world of gardening. Be careful, you might get hooked.
  It’s always best to plant stargazer lilies 10 days after you get them. To store lily bulbs for a short amount of time, place them in a mesh bag with damp (not wet) peat, moistened shredded newspaper or spagnum moss. The bulb and roots must not dry out or it will die. You don’t want to keep them too wet or that will rot the bulb. Store this bag in a refrigerator or garage. Keep away from fruits and veggetables as the ethylene gas they emit can damage the flower inside the bulb. The other option is to plant them in pots until the soil outdoors is dry enough to dig.
  There are lots of basic gardening books out there. The “Big book of Gardening Skills” by Garden way publishing m is one. Page through some of the many books available and see which one gives you the best information for your needs. You can also click on the many topics (right column) we have on our site for more information. Have fun gardening!

• Agaelicgirl

  April 2nd, 2009 at 11:22 pm · Reply

  i was given a potted stargazer and i transplanted it cuz it was root bound. now all the petals are falling off and the leaves…..did i kill it? it was doing fine

  Hi
  You should have left well enough alone. Next time transplant after the stargazer lily is done blooming.

• Amery

  April 11th, 2009 at 5:38 pm · Reply

  I just bought some stargazer lilies and I was wondering if i could start them inside and then treansplant them in my garden in may? I live in Wyoming and it really doesnt get warm here until end of april and sometime not till the middle of may

  Hi Amery
  You can plant them ahead of time in containers or plant them directly in the garden. Stargazer lilies bloom in July so they would have enough time to grow.

• Jackie

  April 15th, 2009 at 7:54 am · Reply

  My DH and I planted 3 stargazer lily bulbs last Spring, but then we must have forgotten what we planted and where, because we planted phlox real close, almost on top of them. This year the phlox has spread and my DH thought that the 2 lilies that were sprouting were keeping the phlox from blooming well, so he dug one of the bulbs up and pulled the stem before he had the bulb completely dug. So, the stem broke off from the bulb. When he replanted the bulb, he just stuck the stem back onto it and put the dirt around it. My first question is, will this lily keep growing like this? (It’s been a few days and it hasn’t died) Also, if not, will this ruin the bulb and keep it from growing back next year? My last questions are about my 3rd bulb that didn’t come back up. I’m afraid that the phlox has grown over the bulb and is now shading it. Could this be why it didn’t sprout this year? Like it’s not getting sun? Should I find it and replant it? If I do, will it still bloom this year?

  Hi Jackie
  Since the stem was removed from the bulb which is the source of nutrients for the stem will not grow. I doubt that the bulb will grow again next year. The whole life cycle was destroyed. In regards to your 3rd bulb. There can be many reasons why it did not sprout this year. Too much shade, and competition from the phlox. I you can find it, replant it in a better spot. If it had a good growing season last year then you may have a chance of it reblooming this year.

• Hurdon Hastings

  May 2nd, 2009 at 9:46 am · Reply

  Hello. We planted some Asiatic lilies about 3 years ago. We need to thin them back some and pull off any bulblets. What season is the best time to do this? I have read sources that say either Spring or Autumn. Will doing this in the Spring hurt the bulbs/plants? Thank you.

  HI Hurdon
  Yes, you can thin them in the spring but do it before they get too far along. The sooner the better.

• Dorian

  May 9th, 2009 at 6:03 am · Reply

  Hi! Well, I successfully planted my lily bulbs and they have grown beautifully in their sunny spot on the edge of our flower bed. And then my husband ran over one with the lawn mower – totally decapitated the the top of what had been about 8-inch stalk. Will it continue to grow this season? Is there any chance it will bloom?

  Hi Dorian
  Sorry, it’s done for the season. It may or may not come back next year-once the growth is removed there is nothing to replenish the bulb for next year.

• Anne

  May 13th, 2009 at 3:14 pm · Reply

  I planted stargazer lilies into my garden from pots two years ago and the plant comes up very healthy and full of leaves, but never has blooms. What should I be doing to make it have flowers? I did fertilize it this year also.

  HI Anne
  Some of the reason why they fail to bloom is 1. too much shade 2. soil is too rich with nitrogen fertilizer. Since yours is healthy and growing vigorously I would suspect too much fertilizer.

• Nancy

  May 17th, 2009 at 10:01 am · Reply

  Cut flowers
  I am new to this lily thing. I purchased some stargazer lilies from the greenhouse and replanted them in a raised bed on the side of my house. I love the lilys and want to be able to enjoy them inside. Is this possible, to cut the blooms and enjoy them indoors and can I do this without hurting the plant? How and when should I cut the blooms; before they are opened or after and where on the plant do I cut? Each plant has about 10 blooms on them, some have opened and others haven’t yet. Thanks for the help.

  HI Nancy
  When cutting lilies to bring inside leave 1/2 to 2/3 of the stem of the plant so it can rebuild the bulb. For miximum enjoyment, cut them when they are just about to open .
  Place your cut flowers in cool water with some floral preservative. To keep stargazer lilies longer you should remove the anther(male part of the plant)with the yellow pollen on it. Leaving it on shortens the life span of the flower. This is done with most lilies. Take care not to get the pollen on your clothes as it will stain. If you do, brush it off with a dry paper towel, that should remove most of it.

• Tracy

  May 17th, 2009 at 4:00 pm · Reply

  Planting potted lilies
  The church just gave our graduates a luncheon and had potted Stargazer lilies on the tables. Each graduate was allowed to take his/her lily home. Of course, my stepson could care less. I, however, LOVE this flower. There are two stalks…one has two blooms and 3 buds that are going to bloom…the other has three blooms and 3 buds that are going to bloom. It is May in central Mississippi. Should I transplant them to the yard now? Should I leave them inside for a while? I don’t want to lose them. Please advise. Thanks!!

  HI Tracy
  I would leave them inside and enjoy the flowers. Once they are done blooming, plant them in your yard in well-drained soil and let the leaves continue to grow for the season. They will not bloom again this year but look for them next year.

• Sidney

  May 28th, 2009 at 4:37 pm · Reply

  I have a pot of stargazer lilies that are just coming up. something is eating on them during the night. any ideas for pests and pest control?

  Hi Sidney
  It’s hard to say what could be eating your lilies. Are they eating the leaves, flower buds? It could be large critter like deer or insects like slugs, earwigs. My guess is deer. They love new emerging foliage-spray the plant with a deer repellant. Here’s a recipe

• Alice Hayworth

  June 4th, 2009 at 8:56 am · Reply

  how do you get rid of poison ivy growing in my lilies

  Hi Alice
  You can’t use any herbicide around your lilies so the only thing I can think of is good rubber gloves and digging out the poison ivy, then discarding the gloves and being careful when changing your gardening clothes. Dress appropriately,wear loose fitting clothes that are easy to take off, you don’t want to contanimate your skin while you are removing your clothes. Don’t wear shorts and sleeveless shirt to do this. You can try painting the herbicide directly on the leaves of the poison ivy being careful not to drip on the lilies. Another idea is to wait till the lilies have died back to the ground and then spray them with an herbicide or Roundup. Unfortunately that will be later in the season.

• Carolyn

  June 7th, 2009 at 8:37 pm · Reply

  Broken stems
  My star gazer lilies are about 2 feet tall with buds on them. Yesterday, while mulching around them, I broke two stems almost at the base.. If I put the stems in a vase of water, will they bloom? Will the bulbs bloom again next year??

  HI Carolyn
  If the buds on the stem are developed enough, they should bloom. It may be iffy whether the bulbs will bloom next year. If the get enough nutrients back to the bulb from the leaves, then they may bloom next year. If not then you may get a leafy plant and perhaps blooms the following year.

• Mary

  June 11th, 2009 at 10:48 am · Reply

  Fix Clay soil
  Great topic. I was about to destroy my new Stargazer lily plant. So, now I’ll wait until it is done blooming, then plant it in a deer-safe location. My problem is that I have heavy clay soil and need to amend it to get “well-drained”. What do you recommend I add to the soil, and how deep should I prepare the soil?

  Hi Mary
  In heavy clay soil, it is recommended to add sand, dolomite and gypsum to the soil. Or a better way is to make a raised bed about 6′ high. This way you can fill it with compost, peat to make a good well drained soil.

• Renee

  June 15th, 2009 at 2:54 pm · Reply

  Divide lilies
  My Stargazer lillies that I planted last year multipled tremendously this year. When and how can I separate them?

  HI Renee
  You can separate them after the foliage dies back-late summer/fall or early spring.

• Barbara Mallernee

  June 22nd, 2009 at 12:35 pm · Reply

  I have two stargazer lily plant and they were both loaded with buds. Something has eaten them down to the ground. I am not quite sure if it would be a squirl, chipmunk or a rabbit.

  Deer could also be a problem. Hopefully, there’s enough of a stem left to help replenish the bulb. If not then there’s a good chance that it will not grow or bloom next year. In the future spray your lilies with a repellant.

• Tracy

  June 22nd, 2009 at 3:34 pm · Reply

  Botrytis
  Hello,

  I moved last year into a house that has lilies growing in a small garden area. This year, when they came up, many of the buds rotted on the stem before they opened, and the remaining flowers have brown spots on the petals.
  Does anyone know what this could be, and how to prevent it from happening next year? Thanks for any help you can give!

  Have you had a lot of rain lately? Botrytis (gray mold) may be the cause.

• Heather

  July 6th, 2009 at 5:25 pm · Reply

  Thrips
  Hello Folks!
  I’m hoping somebody here knows about Stargazer pests. I have one plant with 2 stems that I purchased last summer while it was in bloom. It didn’t last long after transplanting it into the flower bed which I think is common for greenhouse plants. It came up this spring with 3 stems and is now about 16 inches tall. I see finally one small bud, and I’m sure there will be more but something has caused a small amount of damage to the bud and the leaves. I spotted several minute critters on the tops of the leaves. It appears that the damage is only on the top surfaces of the leaves and the bud. There are no aphids or mites and these things are smaller than the tiniest aphids… long story short… I used a handheld microscope and saw that their body looks like it is made of glass with very long legs much like a grasshopper. they have a horn on their head and can jump very far for their size. To the naked eye they look like a tiny white nit but they jump. I can’t find anything on the net that looks remotely like this thing. Maybe one of you knows the name of a pest that does attack these lilies and can point me in the right direction? So far I haven’t found anything on the net that looks even remotely like it. Thank you for any help you may be able give me.

  Hi Heather
  It’s possible that you are referring to thrips which are one of the common pests that attack lilies.

• Kara

  July 10th, 2009 at 8:01 am · Reply

  I have 2 stargazer lily plants that I have had for over 3 years now. There are tons of buds on them that seem to keep growing. This year, it seesms as if the leaves have this black clumpy mess growing under them and that is “eating” them and turning them brown. I live in Massachusetts and our May/June has been VERY rainy. Is this some sort of mold and what can I do? Will this wreck the plant for future years? I typically just cut back the stalks when they turn brown and they have faithfully been coming back every year….stronger and taller. And advice would be helpful. Thanks!

• Amery

  July 12th, 2009 at 10:03 pm · Reply

  I have a stargazer lily and it has bloomed beautifully! But what I was wondering was how does it propagate or how do you get more seeds or bulbs from it? I love the three that I have and I want more, and I would love to give them as gifts. Please help!

  Hi Amery
  Stargazer lilies can be grown from seeds, if your plant produces a seed pod, from bublets along the underground stem or bulbils that are produced on the stem. The bulbs can also be divided by scaling. http://www.lilies.org/propagation.html has detailed info

• cj

  July 14th, 2009 at 9:00 am · Reply

  I bought several pink stargazers that bloomed beautifully the first year. The second year they all bloomed apricot instead of pink. This year they are pure white. My friend’s have done the same thing ! What’s up??

  HI Cj
  Sometimes the dominant gene takes over (white). Color change can also be due to change in soil ph.

• Lisa

  July 22nd, 2009 at 12:10 pm · Reply

  BOTRYTIS
  Hi!
  I have a garden with a mix of oriental and asiatic lillies. The asiatic lillies came up beautifully this year, but the oriental ones look terrible. The stalks look ok, but the flower bud never opens…they even seem to be rotting right on the stem. This happened to several that I had and others dont have any buds on them at all.
  Any ideas?

  Hi LIsa
  One possibility is that a fungus is affecting the buds. In wet, humid conditions Botrytis can attack the stem, leaves, flowers and buds. Some plants are more resistant to the disease. Provide more air circulation,-if the plants are crowded remove any dying leaves and separate them in the fall. Avoid overhead watering-lmoisture on the leaves can spread the disease. A good rule to remember is not to work among the plants when they are wet or have dew on them, this can also spread the disease. Sanitation is important – remove any plant debris so it doesn’t get a chance to winterover and re-infect next year.

• Bobbi

  July 27th, 2009 at 5:44 pm · Reply

  Please help. After my Star Gazer blooms and the blooms fall off should it be trimmed back or should the stems be allowed to turn brown and die back before trimming. I have a mature plant that has numerous blooms on it each year just beautiful but someone cut the tops of the plants and I am concerned if it will survive. Also I started with one and now have 5 stems , should I separate ? If so how? Thanks so much for any help. This was my mothers plant and it means a lot to me

  Hi Bobbi
  You can trim off the flower heads but let the foliage dieback naturally, so it can replenish the bulb. You can separate your bulbs in the fall, after the foliage dies back or early spring.

• lily

  July 27th, 2009 at 6:38 pm · Reply

  what plant would complement the stargazer lilies in the garden?

  Any low growing perennial that likes sun such as campanula.

• Cor

  August 14th, 2009 at 12:36 am · Reply

  My sister have a asiatic and oriental lily.Is it ok to cut the stem so that I could get bulbs? Or any way I could make it more faster to die down so that I can cut the foliage.They already done blooming. I was planning to bring it back home to at asia. How can I pack the bulbs for transport? I just want to grow the plant at my place.

  Hi Cor
  No, you should not cut the green stem and leaves until it turns yellow, otherwise you may not get a flower next year. There is no shortcut. Check with customs whether you can bring the bullbs into the country. Pack them in moistened newspaper or peat moss. The bulb should be kept slightly moist so that it doesn’t dry out.

• Chris

  August 17th, 2009 at 2:38 pm · Reply

  Separating and dividing bulbs
  Hi Folks,
  I have several clumps of the asiatic lilies and would like to separate them and transplant them to another garden. My question is…when should I split them and is there a special way I should split the bulbs.

  Hi Chris
  Fall is a great time to separate your asiatic lilies. You can separte any smaller bulblets that are attached to the mother bulb. A mature bulb can also split (offsets) and be divided. Close growing stems are usually and indicator that the bulb has split.

• Tara

  August 19th, 2009 at 10:11 am · Reply

  Hi There,
  I recieved my first lily last month, from The Lily Festival in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
  It had 4 buds on it and 2 fell off, there is however one that is HUGE and it looks like it will bloom any day.
  Do I have to put it outside? Should I wait until spring? The winters are quite cold in Alberta so it has me concerned.

  Hi Tara
  Fall is a great time to plant your lily in the garden. Stargazer lilies are hardy. If you are concerned plant it a little deeper and mulch after the ground freezes. You can also keep it indoors but will have to store the bulb in the frig because it needs a dormant period to grow again.

• Gayle

  August 22nd, 2009 at 3:41 pm · Reply

  I have had my stargazer in a pot for three years and it has successfully bloomed beautifully every year…getting larger and larger!! It is 5 foot tall this year, but, the blooms are pure white? Why? Have I done something wrong?
  Thanx!!

  HI Gayle
  Sometimes the dominant color gene takes over and changes the color of the flower. Color change can also be due to change in soil ph or mutation.

• Gail

  August 24th, 2009 at 8:57 am · Reply

  I’ve been buying stargazer lily bulbs in pots with blooms on them for about 5 years. I plant them within 5-14 days and have never had a problem with them. But I have never had any extra shoots come up from them, I’d love to. Can you give me step by step directions of what to do. Also what will happen if I cross pollinate the plants?
  I just found this website and am very impressed.
  Thank you.
  Gail

  Hi Gail
  What part of the country do you live in?

• Gayle

  August 26th, 2009 at 10:08 am · Reply

  I previously stated my stargazer lily has turned pure white. If I should dig up the bulb, and let it rest for a week or so……could that possibly bring back the color?
  If not, what should the ph level be in the soil?
  Thanx!!

  HI Gayle
  Stargazer lily is a hybrid lily-a combination of a white and red gene. The white gene seems to be dominant over a weaker red gene reverting the color to white. The fading color seems to be a common problem. We cannot always tell why the color changes just that there are some factors that can effect it, sun, temperature, ph, and age . The ph level should be 6.5-6.8, if your lily has been in a container then the ph can easily change just from watering. Once the color changes, I don’t think it will revert back to the original pink.

• Jane

  August 28th, 2009 at 9:12 pm · Reply

  Bulblets on lilies
  I dug up my lilies to move to another location, should I separate the little “cloves” or keep them as the clump that I dug up? Will the “cloves” make their own plant and will it flower? thanks for your answer

  Hi Jane
  The little “cloves” are bulblets which can be separated from the main bulb and replanted. Plant them in moist potting soil twice the depth of their size. They will make their own plant and eventually bloom (3-4 years).

• matt

  September 2nd, 2009 at 6:08 am · Reply

  I would like to grow stargazers in the winter inside my house. is this a good idea? i love there scent and would like to growth them for my wife year round. any suggestions?

  Hi Matt
  Stargazer lilies can be forced indoors but it isn’t always easy. A greenhouse would help. You need lots of sun and temperatures in the low 50’s at times. Between bloom, stargazers require a dormant period for at least 6-8 wks at around 35 degrees (frig) before they can be forced again.

• Moyra

  September 23rd, 2009 at 7:21 pm · Reply

  Winter storage in warm climates
  Aloha,
  My mother in law bought me a pot of beautiful and in bloom stargazer lilies! I transplanted the plant immediately into a bigger pot and kept it indoors, moving it to a well lighted spot indoors during the day and occasionally moving it outdoors in indirect sunlight. The petals have all fallen off and now the leaves have yellowed and are falling off. After reading the posts, I gather I need to take care of the bulbs to ensure that I will get another set of blooms from the same plants. I’m a bit confused as to how I can do this as we live in Hawaii and therefore do not have a winter period of temperatures near what have been mentioned for the bulbs. Please help! I love my plant and would love to enjoy it for much longer.
  Aloha.

  Aloha Moyra
  Once the leaves turn yellow/brown, fall off and you will have brown stalks which you can cut off. To give it a winter dormant period you need to store it in the frig.
  Here’s how: leave the bulb in the pot or plastic bag in peat, or spagnum moss and keep it moist-not wet. Too wet will rot the bulb.The bulb and roots must not dry out or it will die. You need to store this pot or bag in a refrigerator. Keep away from fruits and vegetables as the ethylene gas they emit can damage the flower inside the bulb. Periodically check for molding or shriveling. The bulb needs 6-8 wks of cool dormant period after which you can repot and grow again. If you see the bulb sprouting take it out of the frig and place it in a sunny window or outdoors.
  Aloha

• Brenda

  October 4th, 2009 at 7:21 pm · Reply

  Hello, I would like to plant a stargazer lily in Brazil. I am not a native from here so I am clueless about the soil/weather. I know that summers are humid and hot and winters pours out rain like crazy. Is this a good condition for them to be outside in the garden or should I limit for the inside?

  HI Brenda
  Stargazer lilies need a cold period of 8 wks. @ 36F which I don’t think you can provide outdoors in Brazil.(Not sure) It can be grown outdoors during the summer and then you would have to dig it up and store it in the frig. Best thing you can do is to check out the neighborhood or garden centers and see if they grown them. You can also grow them in containers.

• Guille

  February 12th, 2010 at 3:37 pm · Reply

  Oriental lily in zone 11
  I bought an oriental lily plant yesterday at the supermarket and would like to keep it alive. I’ve read prevous posts for information but still have questions. What type of food should I be feeding it and how often. Also, I live in zone 11 where our summers are very hot and winter temps arrive in Dec – Feb. Do I bring potted plant inside garage for those months or dig up and place in refrigerator.

  Hi Guille
  Stargazer is hardy in zone 4-9. It lily needs an 8 week cold treatment at 35-36F before it can rebloom again. If you cannot provide a cold treatment outdoors, then you will have to store it in the frig and plant the bulb in the fall so it grows in the cooler part of the year. See comments Storing lily bulbs 11/21/06
  You can fertilize the plant after it is done blooming with a balanced 10-10-10 or a 5-10-10 once a month.

• Joy

  February 21st, 2010 at 3:02 pm · Reply

  No fragrance
  My husband purchased a vase of stargazer lilies for Valentine’s day.
  There are several. I have gotten them for years and love their sweet smell, usually they smell the whole house.
  These lilies, however, do not smell. They are beautiful and look like the lilies I have received for years, but no smell. I am so disappointed. Can you tell me why my stargazers don’t smell?
  Every bloom has an anther in it. I have never had one that does not smell. He paid 95.00 for them and we feel gyped.

  Hi Joy
  Stargazer lilies are known for their sweet fragrance. In the past I have experienced some stargazers that did not have any fragrance. Some factors that can make flowers loose their fragrance are 1. air pollution 2. ethylene gas exposure 3. genetic engeniering. Growers try to improve the size,color, longevity of the flower through hybridization and in the process they sacrifice other traits in some cases fragrance. I would complain to the company that sent you the flowers

  .

• MissPolynesia

  March 28th, 2010 at 5:06 pm · Reply

  Bloom time
  I just bought SG lily bulbs from walmart. I planted them in large planters (about 6-8inches deep) as instructed. I am just curious about how long til I see some green sprouting out? How long til I see flowers? I read somewhere that it takes 3-4 years before I see blooms? But everywhere else says they plants them and then 2 months later they see blooms. They are also indoor plants. Anything I should know?

  Hi Miss P
  It can take 13-15 weeks from planting to bloom. see http://hortchat.com/info/estimating-bloom-time-for-stargazer-lily. for more info. The 3-4 years is most likely the time required when starting lilies from seed.

• Stephanie

  April 4th, 2010 at 6:58 am · Reply

  Hello,
  I bought and oriental lilly plant, already in bloom. I transferd it to a ceramic pot. I keep in infront of the window, so it’s getting sun throughout the day, and I make sure the soil stays moist and doesn’t dry out. My question is, if I keep this plant indoors year round, will the green leaves die and fall off…or will the flowers only die off and the green leaves will stay year-round? The pot I planted the lilly in is a good size, so the roots have plenty of room.
  I live in CT as well.
  Thanks =)

  Hi Stephanie
  The leaves will continue to grow on your lily but will eventually turn yellow/brown and die. It’s the “circle of life”. The leaves feed the bulb so that it can come back the following year and produce more flowers. It is difficult to rebloom indoors but if you plant it in the ground it may come back next year.

• Zack M

  April 5th, 2010 at 4:49 am · Reply

  Cut flower care
  I just bought $30 worth of cut Stargazer Lillies at the supermarket and have them in a vase in my home – absolutely love the fragrance they produce. However, 90% of the blooms are still closed…meaning they’ve already created a full bloom (enough for the florist to sell), but the flower blooms are not open and I am afraid that they will not. They seem to want to stay closed and I would like them to open and fill my house with the wonderful fragrance. Any tips on what I can do to force them to open? How long should I expect them to sit in water before they bloom and open? It’s been two days and they are in a warm, well-lit environment. Can I clip the top part of the bloom? The outter layer off the seems too protective to allow them to open. Any help would be appreciated! I don’t want to waste $30 to end up with nothing but greenery in my vase.

  Hi Zack
  Here’s something you can try to coax the flower buds to open. Recut the bottom of the stems and place the stems in lukewarm water with floral preservative added. Cover the stems with a plastic bag to increase the humidity around the flower buds. They should start to open in a day or so. Keep the vase away from direct sun until you remove the plastic cover. If the buds don’t open, they may have been damaged from poor storage. For additional info see http://hortchat.com/info/cut-flower-tips

• Fallon

  April 25th, 2010 at 3:21 pm · Reply

  Brown leaves
  Ok so my stargazer was growing beautifully and now all of a sudden some of the leaves are turning brown. what do I do?

  Hi Fallon
  If, the lily is kept too wet, some of the roots can rot causing the leaves to turn brown and drop. Make sure when you water, it drain readily from the bottom of the pot and don’t let it sit in standing water.

• Alexis (Michigan)

  May 10th, 2010 at 10:32 pm · Reply

  My boyfriend bought me a Stargazer lily plant a few weeks ago. It already had many, many blooms on it and was doing fine but now seems to be dying. The leaves have turned brown and all of the flowers (including the unopened ones) have wilted and have begun to fall off. Is there anything I can do to save this plant and is there any hope it will bloom again this year? Currently, I keep it watered regularly and it is in a window with full sunlight.

  Unfortunately, I live in an apartment and have nowhere outdoors to plant my lily. I was hoping to replant it in a larger, more sturdy pot indoors.

  Hi Alexis
  Stargazer lilies bloom once per season, so I’m sorry to say that they will not bloom again this year. It sounds like the plant died prematurely possibly from some type of fungal disease that would cause the leaves and flowers to brown and die. Because of the sudden die back there was little chance that the bulb was replenished with nutrients and unforunately, may not bloom again next season.

• Aubree

  May 16th, 2010 at 9:51 pm · Reply

  how long does it take for a Stargazer lily to grow??

  Hi Aubrfee
  see http://hortchat.com/info/estimating-bloom-time-for-stargazer-lily

• Michelle

  May 21st, 2010 at 11:54 am · Reply

  bloom once
  My Boyfriend bought me some of these flowers on Mothers day. There were two stems in the pot and each one had a few blossoms on it that opened in the coming few weeks. Now they have all fallen off and it dosn’t seem to be getting anymore on it. Will the plant blossom anymore this year?

  Hi Michelle
  Once your stargazer plants are done blooming it’s done for the season.

• michelle

  May 28th, 2010 at 12:54 pm · Reply

  I’ve grown Stargazer and Day lilies successfully for 4 years in my yard. This is the 1st year I have noticed something is eating the leaves, holes in the middle of leaves? What could it be? I found a slug in my lawn, no where near the lilies and have noticed black Beatles flying around the lilies. I’ve never seen a deer in my yard.

  Hi Michelle
  It could be slugs that are feeding on your lily. They feed at night and therefore go unnoticed. I don’t know what the black beatles could be and deer will feed on the flower buds not on the leaves. Hope you find the culprit.

• David Smith

  May 31st, 2010 at 5:50 am · Reply

  Red lily leaf beetle
  I have red bugs that look almost like ladybugs eating the leaves on my stargazer lily how do i get rid of them?

  Hi David
  It may be a red lily leaf beetle. Neem will kill the larvae and beetle. http://www.ehow.com/how_2290701_control-red-lily-leaf-beetles.html

• Jennifer

  June 1st, 2010 at 8:56 pm · Reply

  I purchased 4 plants of StarGazer’s already in bloom from Home Depot, they have bloomed wonderfully for the last few weeks, and I cut off the wilted blooms with pruning shears just where the bloom met the stem, one plant has stopped blooming all together and some of the leaves, not all are starting to turn brown/yellow on all plants. I live in Fl. should I cut the stalks down now, or wait until temperatures cool down

  Hi Jennifer
  Wait until all the stalks turn brown and then cut them back to the soil line.

• claudette beasley

  June 10th, 2010 at 5:19 pm · Reply

  I had a stargazer plant last year which bloomed beautifully. I planted in a garden bed near my house and to my surprise I had almost two dozen tall, handsome plants which produced numerous flowers each. What a spectacular surprise! I planted the lily in the middle of the bed and the extremely tall folliage is now blocking my view for other, smaller plants I wish to enjoy. The folliage is so healthy I can not believe it intends to die any time soon. How long can I wait before cutting the stems?

  Hi Claudette
  Congratulations on your prolific Stargazers! The leaves need time to continue to grow so that they can replenish the lily bulb. You can cut them when they start to turn yellow.

• Hayley Redfern

  June 17th, 2010 at 1:59 am · Reply

  Hi, I have some Stargazer lily’s in pots and they have just budded but the buds are very small, will it be ok to cut them at the stem so I can put them in a vase? Will they still get big and flower or is it best to leave them until the buds get bigger? x.

  Hi Hayley
  It’s best to leave them so that they can get bigger. If you cut them too early they may not open.

• Hayley Redfern

  June 29th, 2010 at 3:02 am · Reply

  Hi,
  I cut the stargazer lily’s I have at the bottom of the stem as the buds got really big and are ready for opening. I put them into a vase but they are wilting and the buds are now hanging and ready for dying? What can I do or did I do anything wrong? Or what should have I done? Please help? Is there anything I can put in the water that will bring them back?

  Regards
  Hayley. x.

• NICHOLE

  July 1st, 2010 at 10:31 pm · Reply

  OKAY SO I JUST BOUGHT ORIENTAL LILLIE BULBS FROM A STORE ON SALE…IT IS JULY AND THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN PLANTED BETWEEN JULY TO AUGUST. THIS IS MY FIRST TIME DOING ANYTHING PLANTING WISE AT MY FIRST HOME. I GOT ONLY ONLINE TO RESEARCH IF THESE ARE EVEN GOOD BULBS…HOW CAN I TELL IF THE BULBS ARE STILL GOOD AND HOW SHOULD I TAKE CARE OF THEM TILL PLANT TIME FOR THE OUTSIDE. ALSO IF YOU HAVE ANY ADVISE FOR FOR THE SAME ISSUE WITH MORE BULBS PURCHASED SAME DAY THAT WOULD BE HELPFULL: GLADIOLUS, DAHLIA & FREESIA. I LIVE IN INDIANAPOLIS, IN US….THANK YOU ! ! !

  Hi Nichole
  You can plant the lilies in the ground now-July. The bulbs should be firm and free of cuts and soft spots. They should put on some growth this season and bloom next year. There’s still time to plant glads and dahlia for late season bloom but it will be close. Once they are done blooming they will have to be dug up for winter. Freesia, save to plant in pots in the fall so that you have flowers in winter.

• Alana Sisk

  July 2nd, 2010 at 2:30 pm · Reply

  Stargazers declining
  I’ve had my stargazer lilies for about 4 years and every year they produce very large and beautiful blooms for me. But this year, the blooms are very small, maybe five inches across. A few days after they bloomed, the pedals started to brown and fall off. Any ideas on what I can do for them, so I can have beautiful blooms next year?

  Hi Alana
  Lily bulbs will decline after a few years. Bulbs produce new bulbs beneath the old bulb or slightly below the side of the old bulb, so after a few years the bulbs are deeper in the ground and use up a lot of energy to push their way through. Give them a dose of fertilzer (5-10-10)or bulb booster once they are done blooming and again in spring when they emerge. After the leaves turn yellow dig up the bulbs this fall and replant plant higher up in the ground. Add some bone meal into the hole before you plant them. Another factor is that they may be overcrowded.

• Jay

  July 8th, 2010 at 9:21 am · Reply

  Botrytis
  Hello… I have several established Stargazer and Casablanca lillies in my garden. Up until this year, they have had no problems, and have had several flowers per plant. This year, as the buds have matured, the outer petals on the buds have turned brown and when the bud opens, the flower’s outer petals are brown as well. The flowers seem to be dying faster with this ‘bud browning’. This seems to be happening with all of the lillies. The Daylillies don’t seem to be affected. I will admit, this year has been much more hot and humid that in the past. Are my plants diseased? And if so, should I remove them? Thank you!

  Hi Jay
  The hot and humid weather is ideal for fungal diseases such as botrytis which will cause the bud browning. Sanitation is important. More info..http://plantlilies.com/growlilies/67-botrytis.html.

• Heather

  July 25th, 2010 at 12:03 pm · Reply

  Stargazer after bloom care
  My husband bought me a beautiful pot of Stargazer lillies for our anniversary a week ago. There are three stalks in the potted planter he got. I am nowhere near a green thumb (I’ve killed ivy before…) and I would love to preserve these flowers so they regrow and rebloom. Currently, two of the three stalks have bloomed and and the third is still in bloom. How should I care for this from here? Will the stalks rebloom? Should I replant in another planter? I live in the Seattle area and we get heavy rainfall in the fall and winter, so I’m thinking I probably shouldn’t plant it in the ground where it’s exposed to that much water. Should I cut the stalks back and store it somewhere? I’m sorry for all the questions, I’m just really new at this and need some guidance on how to best ensure I’ll be able to enjoy my beautiful flowers again. Thanks so much!

  Hi Heather
  Stargazer lilies only blooms once per season. After bloom the plants may stay green for a while. Continue to water and fertilize until the leaves start to turn yellow/brown and fall off. They do not grow year round and need a dormant period to rebuild the bulb for the next bloom. If you plan to store them indoors, cut off the brown stems, keep the bulb in the pot or plastic bag in a dark place at around 35 degrees (frig) for at least 6-8 wks after which you can repot the bulb and start all over. Better yet, plant them outdoors in well drained fertile soil. Lilies like their “heads in the sun and feet in the shade”. They should be fine even in rainy Seattle as long as the soil doesn’t get waterlogged.

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