How to Grow Oriental Lilies

The large, fragrant blossoms of Oriental lilies are the late-summer centerpiece of many gardens. They can grow up to 6-feet tall, depending on the variety, and tolerate part to full sun conditions, making them a versatile showpiece plant. They are, however, slightly more difficult to care for than their Asiatic cousins.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Buying and Preparation

1. Buy Oriental lily bulbs from an online retailer that specializes in lilies such as The Lily Garden (see Resources below) for the best variety. Alternatively, buy bulbs from a local retailer or nursery, which generally carry bulbs in early spring and late summer or fall. Stargazer is one of the most beautiful Oriental lilies.
2. Test your soil with a home-testing kit, which you can purchase at your local home and garden store. Soils with a pH of higher than 7.0 are alkaline, while soils with a pH less than 7.0 are acidic. Alternatively, take a sample to your local garden center or extension office, which can provide you with a more thorough analysis.
3. Add sulfur to your soil and mix well to make it more acidic, if needed. To only slightly lower the pH, add sawdust. Oriental lilies prefer a slightly acidic soil.
4. Mix compost into your soil to add nutrients, as Oriental lilies do best in an enriched soil.
5. Plant your bulbs in early spring, after the ground thaws, or fall before the ground freezes.
6. Dig holes about 12 inches apart for each bulb. The top of your bulb should be 4 to 6 inches below the soil surface.

Growing Oriental Lilies

7. Fertilize lightly in the spring to ensure that there are plenty of nutrients in the soil for your lilies to feed on.
8. Water regularly throughout the spring and summer, as Oriental lilies grow best in a slightly moist environment.
9. Provide shade for your lilies if they receive several hours of hot, intense sun per day.
10. Spray your lilies carefully with a garden hose to remove insects such as aphids.
11. Stake the lilies if they grow very tall and cannot support their own weight. Buy stakes from a garden center or use sturdy sticks. Place the stake firmly into the ground next to the plant. Attach the plant to the stake using string, coated wire or specially made plant ties.
12. Remove spent blossoms to promote additional flowering, but allow the stems and foliage to die back to the ground naturally. This will allow the bulb to store food for the winter.

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