One
of the traditional signs of Easter is the Easter lily with its large
white flowers and its sweet aroma that fills the room. If you have one
or more lilies from Easter, you can extend the joy of your plants with
a little care.
Keep your plants away from drafts and heat sources. Keep them in bright
light, but do not place them in direct sunlight. As the flowers open,
remove the yellow structures (anthers) from the flower centers. This
will help the flower last longer and keep the yellow pollen from
discoloring the flowers or any other clothing or the tablecloth.
Lilies like to be cool, so keep the lily in a cooler room, especially
at night. During the day, 60 to 65 degrees is warm enough. As flowers
start to fade and turn brown, you should remove the blossom from the
plant.
Most lilies will come with some type of foil to decorate the pot. This
should be removed or at least the bottom covering should be removed, so
any excess water will drain from the pot. It is easy to overwater an
Easter lily. Water a lily when the soil becomes dry to the touch, but
don't let it get too dry.
Lilies can be transplanted outdoors successfully. Care for your lilies
inside until the weather has warmed and danger of frost has past. Pick
a sunny location and prepare the soil as you would for other types of
bulbs. Dig the hole deep enough so you can plant the lily at the same
depth it is in the pot. Add compost to the soil in the bottom of the
hole and to the backfill soil.
Being careful not to disturb the roots, remove your lily from the pot
and place it in the hole. Once you backfill it, add one to two inches
of organic mulch.
The original plant will start to turn brown because it has completed
its life cycle. When the foliage has yellowed and browned you can
remove it but be sure you have the location of the lily marked as new
foliage will start to grow. Fertilize the lily with bulb food and mix
it lightly into the soil over the lily.
Let the lily grow for the season and, in the fall, add a few inches of
mulch over the area for winter protection. This should be removed in
the spring to help the plant warm up. Add fertilizer over the area.
Your lily might not bloom the first year. But it will gain strength,
and it will bloom in future years. The normal blooming time for Easter
lilies is June and early July, so don't expect much in March or April.
Source: Penn State Cooperative
Extension
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