How to Care for a Voodoo Lily

The voodoo lily is an exotic-looking plant that is easy to care for. Give it some water and sun and it will sprout a distinctive "flower"--a long, fleshy spike. The voodoo lily goes by several names, including "stink lily" for its unpleasant smell when it blooms.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Voodoo lily tuber Pot Potting soil Plant food

1. 
   Voodoo lily tuber

   Choose a pot that is at least 4 inches wider than the tuber. Plant small tubers about 3 inches deep and larger ones 6 to 10 inches deep.

2. Use a rich potting soil that will stay moist and drain well. An African violet potting mix is a good choice.

3. Place the pot in indirect sunlight and water when the soil feels dry. Voodoo lilies prefer temperatures between 50 and 75 degrees F.

4. Feed your voodoo lily a liquid fertilizer every 2 weeks during the spring and summer.

5. Watch for the flower to bloom. If the odor is too strong, move your voodoo lily outside, but protect it from cold and intense sunlight.

6. Store your voodoo lily tuber for the winter after the leaves die off, usually in the fall. You can repot it in spring.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure you plant the tuber with the tuber shoot facing up.
• Watch for spider mites and apply an insecticide if necessary.

References

• Voodoo lily

Resources

• Voodoo lily