Easter lilies fill our homes with bright blooms and fragrant aromas. Here are some guidelines that may extend the life of your lily, as well as a few easy steps to follow if you choose to plant it outdoors.
Caring for your Easter Lily
Once you get your Easter Lily home, it is best to place it where it will get bright, indirect light. Lilies grow from bulbs and are planted in well-draining soil so they don’t rot. It’s critical that you do not let the plant sit in standing water. Wet the soil thoroughly once or twice a week, letting the excess water drain out the bottom of the pot into a kitchen sink. If the lily is in a decorative foil wrapper, be sure water is not accumulating under the pot. More plants die from over watering than under watering. Remove the foil wrapper, water and then place your lily back into the foil once the water has all drained out.
When your flowers opens, we recommend that you reach into the flower and remove the anthers. The anthers are the 6 yellow pieces that surround the sticky, bulb-like pistil in the center of the flower. This will help prolong the life of the blossoms and prevents the pollen on the anthers from staining the flowers, your hands, clothing, tablecloths, rugs and anything else it may contact. Remove flowers as they fade and wither.
Planting outside
When all danger of frost has passed, you can plant your lily outside. Choose a sunny spot where the roots can stay cool. They require well-draining soil. It might be wise to plant them among perennial or annual flowers, as they do not bloom over a long period. But they are always spectacular in appearance and fragrance, and require very little care. Once planted in the garden, they will bloom in early summer, not at Easter time. After lilies bloom outside, remove the spent flowers, but save the foliage. Once it turns completely yellow, you can remove (by cutting) the entire stem.
