Many of us gardeners are constrained by space. Your flower beds may already be overflowing if you live in an apartment with no yard. The allure of lilies may compel you to inquire, “Can you grow lily plants in pots? “. Yes, it is correct. To cultivate potted lilies, you’ll need at least a medium-sized space on your patio, balcony, or porch.
The greatest time to grow lilies (Lilium spp.) is spring, summer, and fall when they bloom. Lilies can be decimated by gophers, so growing them in containers rather than a garden bed keeps them safe. Potted Oriental hardy garden lilies thrive, but you can grow just about any garden lily successfully in a container. Plant hardiness zones 4 through 9 are ideal for most lilies, regardless of how they’re grown.
Potting soil and perlite should be mixed together in equal amounts. The drainage properties of a soilless potting mixture are enhanced by the addition of perlite. Using the recommended fertilizer amount for the size of your lily pot on the fertilizer product label, combine the resulting potting mixture with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer. Nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium are all present in equal amounts in a balanced fertilizer.
Two-thirds of the pot should be filled with fertilized potting soil. To improve drainage, the pot’s bottom should include a drainage hole surrounded by two inches of small rocks or gravel. The potting mix should be moistened to the point where water drips out of the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot.
Lily Bulbs can be planted at any time of year.
Lilies can be found in pots at garden centers during the spring. Lilies are more commonly sold in the form of bulbs for spring or fall planting. There are two types of lilies: those grown in containers and those cultivated in the ground. The milder soil temperatures make some people believe that October is the best time to plant lilies. It’s typical to grow lilies in spring, and it’s proven to be effective.
Planting lilies in the spring is easiest when the soil is cool, but not too cold or wet. What time of year should you plant your lilies depends on the warmth of the spring. Planting lilies in the south and warm climates is best done in the months of March and April. The optimal time to grow lilies in spring is in April and May for those who live in temperate areas. When it comes to growing lilies, May and the beginning of June are favorable months in northern climates. Lily bulbs can be planted this spring and anticipate seeing blooms this summer!!
Choosing a location
Soil drainage is essential for lily bulbs. The bulbs may decay if the soil they are put in is excessively wet. Plant your lily bulbs in full light for the largest and most beautiful blooms. Gardeners in hot areas, such as those in hardiness zones 9 and up, will benefit from planting in an area with some afternoon shade. Lilies can be grown in the ground or in containers, depending on the variety.
Lilies are grown in containers
Potted lilies can be grown with just a few items:
Bulbs of lilies in good health –
Lily bulbs are widely available. Lily bulbs can be purchased in bundles from mail-order catalogs, home improvement stores, garden centers, and plant nurseries. It’s critical that you sort through these bulbs once you get them home. Throw out any mushy or rotten bulbs. Only plant bulbs that appear to be in good health.
A pot that is medium to large and has a good amount of drainage
For lilies, proper drainage is critical. The bulbs will rot if the soil is too damp; they prefer a slightly moist environment. Choose a container with holes in the bottom for drainage. Rocks can be used to improve drainage in the pot’s bottom. If you are growing tall lilies, this rock layer will help stability the pot, but it will make the pot heavy to move around. Select a pot large enough to hold the number of lilies you intend to grow. Plant the bulbs about 5 cm (2 inches) apart. Taller lilies benefit from larger, deeper containers.
Sand for planting –
Partially sandy soils are ideal for lilies. Peat-based potting mixes will remain overly damp, resulting in bulb rot. You can, however, just add sand to any potting mix you purchase. Mix 2 parts potting soil with 1 part sand to get a sand and soil mixture. However, as the amount of sand increases, so does the pot’s weight.
Fertilizer that releases slowly —
Lilies require a lot of water and nutrients to thrive. Osmocote, a slow-release fertilizer, can be added as a top layer to the soil when you plant them. During the growing season, give your lilies a monthly dosage of potassium-rich tomato fertilizer.
Lilies can be grown in containers.
You can begin planting lilies in containers once you have all the supplies you need. The sandy potting mix should be poured into the container to a third of its capacity and patted down a bit. The earth should not be compacted by pressing it down too firmly.
Placing the bulbs with their root ends down and their bulb tips facing up is the best way to get the look you desire for your lilies. Be sure to leave a 2-inch (5-cm) gap between each bulb for air circulation. My favorite way to plant them is in a bullseye pattern based on their height. One large lily is placed in the center, with a ring of medium-sized lilies surrounding it, followed by a final band of smaller ones.
Cover the bulbs with enough potting mix so that their tops protrude slightly above the surface of the soil. Fertilize and water thoroughly.
In order to produce stunning blooms, most lilies necessitate a chilly time. Early spring is the ideal time to pot them up and store them in a frost-free, cool greenhouse or cold frame until the weather outside warms and stabilizes. In the absence of a greenhouse or cold frame, a cool garden shed, garage or basement can suffice.
When the weather permits, move your potted lilies outside into a sunny or partly sunny spot. It’s best to keep your potted lilies indoors when there is a risk of frost.
What You Need to Know About Potted Lilies
Add extra potting soil to your container-grown lilies as soon as the bulb tips begin to sprout. It’s best to keep the soil level at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) below the pot’s lip for watering purposes. When the top layer of soil appears to be dry, you should only water. You can always tell if the soil is dry or wet by sticking your finger right into it. When it’s dried, I give it a good soak. I check the next day if it’s wet.
During the months of June and August, Asian and Oriental lilies will blossom. In order to encourage fresh flowers and bulb growth rather than seed formation, remove the spent blooms. Once a month, give your tomatoes a dosage of tomato fertilizer. In August, you should stop using fertilizer.
When lilies are done blooming, what should I do?
After blooming, lilies go into dormancy like most floral bulbs. After flowering for 2–4 weeks, your lilies will often go to sleep. Liliums are dependable perennials, which means they will return the next year.
Remove the stems/leaf stalks once they have finished blooming. For next year’s blossoms, it’s best to hold off on pulling off the leaves until they have turned yellow.
Plant low-growing perennials in front of your lilies to fill in the void left in the landscape by your lilies.
Colors of Lily
As long as you can name every color in the rainbow you’ve pretty well-covered lilies’ range of colors. While it’s possible to find lilies in every hue under the sun, that’s a bit of an exaggeration. Lilies are well-known for the variety of colors and patterns on their blooms, which might include spots, stripes, or more than one color. They are available in every color of the rainbow, except for green and blue, which are missing.
Oriental Lilies, for example, come in a variety of colors, including pink, yellow, white, and salmon. Asiatic lilies come in a more vibrant palette of a red, orange, yellow, purple, and hot pink than other lilies. You may find a lily to match any color scheme in your landscape.
Lily Classifications
The wide selection of lily cultivars and kinds available from shops like Holland Bulb Farms and Tulip World is a perk of planting lilies in spring. The majority of lilies have characteristics that make them easier to classify as a whole. Some, on the other hand, reach greater heights, have stronger scents, and have a wider range of colors in their blooms. In this section, we’ll explain the differences between the various lilies.
Oriental Lily
Showy and fragrant, Oriental Lilies are a favorite cut flower. Cut flower bouquets and arrangements often include Oriental Lilies. The blooms of Oriental lilies face outward from the flower stem’s position. Oriental lilies can be found in a form with two sets of pedals, known as a double flowering Oriental lily. Also fragrant are double Oriental lilies, which resemble ordinary Oriental lilies.
Pollen coats the stamens of Oriental Lilies. While Oriental Lilies are beautiful to look at, the pollen they produce can leave a lasting impression on your skin and clothing. But don’t worry if you go a little too near; pollen is easily washed away. Oriental lilies have a smaller range of hues in their blooms.
Pink, white, gold, and salmon are just some of the color options. Some Oriental Lilies, like Muscadet Oriental Lily, have a lot of dots on them. Oriental lilies don’t have any blooms that are purple or orange.
Highlights of Oriental Lily:
Fragrant, growing to a height of 36-48 inches, this plant blooms in the middle of summer with flowers in shades of pink, white, gold, and salmon.
Asiatic Lily
Asiatic lilies are well-known for their early summer blooms. Asiatic lilies have unscented, upward-facing flowers. Asian lilies can grow up to 36″ tall. Cut flower bouquets and arrangements including Asiatic Lilies are also common. The most popular colors for Asiatic Lily flowers include red, orange, yellow, white, bright pink, mild pink, deep purple, and any combination of these hues.
Highlights of Asiatic Lily
Bold red, orange, yellow, white, and pink flowers cover the medium-sized plant.
Tiger Lily
Tiger lilies are ferocious and towering. 3 to 4 feet tall, with brightly colored flowers. Tiger lilies have downward-facing flowers with petals curled backward inward. Spots on the blossoms and bright hues of red, orange, pink, and yellow have made this variety famous.
Highlights of Tiger Lily:
Petals and dots that curl downwards inward. 3 to 4 feet in height.
Orienpet Lily
Orienpet Lily is a brand-new lily to the garden world, and it’s vibrant and dramatic. OT lilies, also known as Oriental Lilies and Trumpet Lilies, are hybrids created by crossing Oriental and Trumpet lilies. Like Oriental Lilies, Orienpet Lily variants are fragrant and gorgeous. Like Trumpet Lilies, they have longer petals, are taller, and come in a wider range of colors. Orienpet Lilies can grow to a height of 6-8 feet in ideal conditions. The mature height of these magnificent giants is more likely to be 4-6 feet.
Highlights of Orienpet Lily:
Fragrant, eye-catching blossoms that can grow to a height of 8 feet.
Trumpet Lily
Easter Lilies are made from trumpet lilies, which are the most common flower in cultivation. Trumpet Lilies have trumpet-shaped flowers. They reach at least 5 feet in height and are usually 6 feet tall or more. The flowers of the trumpet lily family are both fragrant and eye-catching. Adding some Trumpet Lilies to your yard is an excellent option if you’re looking to add some height.
Trumpet Lily’s Best Features
Easter lilies have long trumpet-shaped flowers with a sweet fragrance.
Lilies for Every Garden: Stunning and Aromatic Displays
Lilies are a fantastic addition to a sunny garden if you’re looking for some stunning blooms. It’s easy to have lilies flowering from late June to the end of summer thanks to the range of bloom colors and plant heights present in lily bulbs. One of my favorite flowers to recommend to beginner gardeners is the lily, because it’s easy to cultivate as long as the soil drains well and there’s some sunlight available. Try growing some lilies if you haven’t. As a result, what are your favorites?
Grown-in-container Lilies Overwintering
With careful overwintering, your potted lily plants can remain in these containers for a few years. The stalks should be trimmed back to just above the soil line in the fall when the plants are dormant. So that the bulbs don’t decay, stop watering now.
Mothballs can be used to keep mice and other pests away from the pot. In the winter, simply store them in a frost-free structure such as a greenhouse, cold frame, outbuilding, or cellar. If you don’t have a cool place to keep the pot, you can wrap it in bubble wrap and leave it outside for the winter.
The winter storage of container-grown lilies will prevent plants from blooming the following summer.
Tip
In time, the container of lilies will get overcrowded. Every year or two, split the bulbs among the other pots to ensure that they continue to bloom.
