How to Grow Easter Lilies

The Easter holiday tradition includes the white trumpet-shaped flowers of the Easter lily (Lilium longiflorian). These potted plants begin in greenhouses, timed for springtime blossoms and readied for sale before the holiday. In the garden, these perennials grow their flowers in early summer. Re-cycle your next potted Easter lily to a favorite garden spot for years of enjoyment.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Knife
• Garden shear
• Garden shovel
• Peat
• Perlite
• Compost
• Potting soil
• Fertilizer

Transplant Potted Lilies

1. Cut off only the withered flowers with a knife or garden shear and place the pot in a sunny location with cool temperatures.

2. Water the Easter lily less after removal of flowers.

3. Take the plant outside after the last frost, when the soil warms.

4. Snip away remaining brown leaves and stem with a knife or garden shears.

5. Locate a sunny area with good drainage. Using a small garden shovel, dig a hole 4 to 6 inches deep. Mix 1 to 2 inches of peat, perlite or compost into the removed dirt or potting soil.

6. Remove the root ball from the pot, place it in the hole then cover with the soil mixture. Space more than one lily 12 to 18 inches apart.

7. Fertilize with a complete fertilizer when the new lilies push 2 to 4 inches high. Water as needed during the growing season.

Plant Lily Bulbs

8. Dig up the Easter lilies bulbs in autumn after the killing frost and separate the baby bulbs. You also can purchase new bulbs from your home and garden shop.

9. Prepare a sunny area 12 to 18 inches between each bulb. Clear away weeds.

10. Place each bulb 3 inches below the surface, pointed end facing up. Use a small garden shovel.

11. Spread root growth out at the bottom of the hole.

12. Work the soil mixture back into the hole pressing down with your shovel or hand to remove air pockets. Peat moss mixed with perlite and potting soil works well.

13. Form a mound of added soil 3 inches above ground level. Tap the mound firmly to help drainage.

14. Water thoroughly after planting.

Tips & Warnings

• Mulch the plants with grass clippings during the summer for weed control.
• After a killing frost cut each plant even to the ground and cover with 2 inches of mulch for the winter.
• Transplanted lilies usually flower the second year after placed in soil while bulbs take up to 3 years.
• Grow Easter lily seeds. After the flowers fade, a seedpod forms. Remove the pod for the seeds. Dry and plant inside during the winter.
• Avoid excessive watering. Easter lilies don't survive in standing water or in soil that doesn't drain well.