How to Grow Amazing Lilies

Your dream of growing lilies could wither away without proper knowledge of planting and caring for lilies. With over 30 years of gardening experience, I help gardeners plant beautiful blooms and nurture a thriving garden. With these simple steps and tips, you can learn how to grow lilies to transform your garden into a showcase of fragrant blooms.

How to Grow Lilies

Growing magnificent lilies begins with planting bulbs in well-decomposed soil under full sun, keeping them spaced 2 to 3 times their size apart with tips pointing upward. It also helps to maintain consistent moisture levels during the initial planting phase. Throughout the growing season, provide regular water, appropriate fertilization, and vigilant pest control to protect their stunning blooms.

From exotic-looking lilies to elegant white lilies, this comprehensive guide walks you through each critical step of growing lilies. I'm breaking down complex gardening techniques into simple, actionable steps to help you produce this bulbous plant.

How to Plant Lilies?

Lilies make show-stopping cut flower arrangements. Before you can do that, you need to have a thriving garden of lilies. Here's a step-by-step guide to planting lily bulbs correctly to produce spectacular blooms.

1. Prepare Well-Decomposed Garden Soil and a Sunny Area

In order to grow lilies successfully it is important to match your soil and site conditions to that of the lilies' preferred growing conditions. 

• Lilies don't tolerate soggy soil. Most lilies prefer neutral to slightly acidic soil. However, if your garden has alkaline conditions, then martagon lilies will feel at home and thrive for you.

• Lilies love the sun and some will do very well in part sunny conditions. They grow deep roots to help find moisture and nutrients. 

• Lilies thrive in almost every USDA climate, with some lilies handling zones 4 to 8 pretty easily. Some can even grow beautifully in zone 3.

• When it's time to plant, combine shredded leaves or other organic matter to keep the soil slightly moist. If your area has a dry climate, mulch the soil surface to keep the soil cooler and minimize moisture loss.

• In case you want to try container planting, prepare a container with ample drainage holes. The container should also be large enough to accommodate a lily's mature size.

• A little bit of compost goes a long way and can help the roots grow more quickly, helping to establish stronger bulbs which means bigger and more numerous blooms. 

2. Dig Holes for the Bulbs and Plant the Bulbs

Lily bulbs should be planted 4 to 6 inches deep. Plant lilies at a minimum of 4 inches deep for frost protection and to keep them from drying out.

• I generally dig 7 inches down and then add 1 to 3 inches of compost into the hole. I also like planting bulbs 2 to 3 times deeper than their height. Place the bulb roots side down and pointed side up in the hole.

• The planting process requires careful attention to spacing, with bulbs positioned 2 to 3 times their size apart from each other and planted in groups to create visually appealing garden displays.

• If you are planting in a container, plant lilies roughly 12 to 15 inches apart. Place them 4 to 6 inches deep into the soil with the bulbs' pointy part facing upwards.

• Stake lilies to help support them, especially new lilies if you have windy conditions often.

3. Fill Loose Soil and Follow Watering Guidelines

Proper watering practices are fundamental to successfully growing lilies. These steps directly impact bulb establishment and root development.

• After filling in loose soil, soak the soil to eliminate air pockets. This promotes proper bulb-to-soil contact and moisture maintenance throughout the growing season without waterlogging.

• Once lilies reach their blooming stage, reduce the watering to allow natural foliage yellowing. This also marks the transition to the plant's dormant phase.

• For fall watering, water within plant cells and surrounding soil to insulate bulbs from freezing temperatures during winter months.

• In regions without regular snowfall, consistently water lilies to maintain adequate moisture levels and protect the bulbs from potential frost damage.

4. Continue Providing Water and Nutrients

Lilies are very easy to grow as they need little attention. Individual lily flowers maintain their beauty for two weeks or more, making them excellent long-lasting blooms in the garden or as cut flowers. However, they still need nutrients and water for current growth and future flowering.

• Lillies want regular moisture. Water as needed during the active growth periods. A good rule of thumb is around 1 inch of moisture every week.

• Provide a high-potassium organic fertilizer every two weeks during the active growing season. Continue doing this until 5 to 6 weeks after the flowers have finished blooming.

• Give compost when planting new ones and each year in the spring when their leaves are just starting to pop through the soil. Top dressing most lily plants with good quality compost in spring is a good idea. 

• After lilies bloom, you can cut the spent bloom off which helps to put nutrients back into their bulbs versus putting energy into the developing seed pod. 

• When the stalks turn brown or yellow, you can cut them completely level to the ground. Leaving the stalk green can help the lily bulb grow bigger as it produces the energy it needs from photosynthesis. 

5. Prevent Pest Infestation

Lastly, in caring for your lilies, you need to recognize pests that can bother them. Lily beetles are common lily pests and left unmanaged, your entire lily collection can be destroyed. The larvae of these pests eat the stems, leaves, and blossoms, ultimately weakening them to the point of death.

• Clean debris from your lily beds to make sure pests don’t have places to hide in the winter.

• Visit your lilies during the growing season and look for signs of pests or diseases.

• Use organic pest control to avoid polluting your soil and water sources and harsh chemical residues on your plants.

What Is a Lily?

True lilies belong to the botanical genus Lilium. They exude beauty and intensely fragrant aroma at the same time. When in full bloom, there is hardly a flower that can rival them.

True lilies are often sold by bulbs or by plants. The stem will sprout from the center of the lily bulb and flowers will eventually develop. 

Each bulb is covered with overlapping scales. Bulbs do not have skins like tulips or daffodils because bulbs can dry out very quickly.

Recommended Lily Varieties to Grow 

It is hard to go wrong with any lilies. I recommend planting a few different types of lilies and paying attention to lily height. Usually, short lilies bloom first while taller lilies bloom later in the season. 

• Short Asiatic lilies: Tiny Shadow and Tiny Bee.

• Taller lilies: Tiger Lily, Casa Blanca Oriental Lily, or Claude Shride Martagon Lily. 

• Trumpet lilies: Honeymoon or Golden Splendour.

Ways to Divide Lilies

After a few seasons, you may notice your lily stems multiplying, which means your bulbs are growing bigger and multiplying. Some lilies require you to propagate them from one of the scales. However, most grow new bulbs and will produce their own lily stems after a couple of years.

• I like to lift lilies in early spring once they peak out or right after the stalks turn yellow or brown. This allows me to not hurt the stem. 

• To lift your bulbs, carefully dig about 8 to 12 inches from your lily stem and remove the soil as you dig deeper. You can remove some soil closer to the stem as well. If the lily is actively growing you do not want to hurt the stem so great care is needed to get under the bulbs.

• Lift the bulb up and gently knock away any soil around the bulbs. At this point, you should see other bulbs that are close to your original bulb or may even be attached. 

• Most of the time lilies are easily split. You can pull them apart with your hands or use shears or a garden knife. Then, simply replant the bulbs in your landscapes. 

Best Time to Plant Lily Flowers

It's best to plant lily bulbs in either fall or spring, with most commercial bulbs available for spring planting. Most commercial bulbs from Holland are harvested late in the growing season, making timely fall planting challenging. Growers typically store harvested bulbs in coolers through winter before shipping them for spring planting opportunities.

• Aim to plant in early spring to have workable and well-drained soil. Enrich it with compost and leaf mold for optimal growth conditions.

• For fall planting, keep the bulbs in the ground at least four weeks before the first frost to encourage strong root development before winter freezing.

• Spring-planted lilies will produce lovely lily blooms in mid to late summer, offering gardeners reliable flowering timeframes.

• Consider early summer and late spring for planting lilies in containers.

Related Questions

How to Prune Lilies?

To prune lilies, "deadhead" the yellow stalks just after the first frost. When cutting lilies, cut the flower stalk at the base of the plant to let the foliage dry out completely.

Should I Start My Lilies From Seeds or From Bulbs?

Lilies can be started from seed, although most lilies are hybrids and you will get a lily that may not look like its parent. However, the most common way to grow lilies is by planting lily bulbs.

Do Lilies Grow Better in Pots or on the Ground?

While lilies can grow well in pots and on the ground, they tend to grow better when planted directly in the ground. Grounded soil provides more space for the roots. Despite that, it's still a good option to use pots, particularly if you have a limited garden space or your place has poor soil quality. 

Conclusion

With this step-by-step guide on growing lilies, you'll enjoy months of spectacular lily blooms, creating an enchanting display that brings joy and beauty to your outdoor space. Visit Firefly Farm and Mercantile today to get started with premium lily bulbs and expert guidance that will set you on the path to growing the majestic lily garden you've always wanted.