How to Grow Daylilies Inside During the Winter

Beautiful yellow daylilies.

Daylilies, also known by their Latin name Hemerocallis, are beautiful and simple-to-grow perennials named for their colorful blooms that open in the morning and die just before sunset. When grown outdoors, blooms cover the daylily from the beginning of summer to the end of fall. If you want to keep your daylilies blooming through the winter you can take them inside and grow them as a houseplant. Indoor daylily care is very similar to the outdoor requirements for growing daylilies.

Things You'll Need

• Planting container
• Potting soil
• Peat moss
• Perlite
• Watering can
• Water-soluble fertilizer

Instructions

1. Plant your daylilies in a planting container that is large enough to comfortably house its root system. Use a rich and well-draining growing medium composed of potting compost, peat moss and perlite.

2. Position your daylilies near an east, south or west exposure window where they will receive a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight each day. Make sure that the location you choose is away from cold drafts or heaters.

3. Water your daylilies every two to three days, or as often as is necessary to keep the growing medium moist to the touch. Avoid pouring water directly on the stems of your daylilies or the excess moisture may cause the plant to rot.

4. Fertilize your daylilies only once during the winter. Apply a half-strength application of a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer, like Miracle Grow, Grow More or Blooms Plus, according to the directions on the package.

5. Keep the temperature of your home between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit during the day to ensure that the climate will allow your daylilies to thrive. Lower the temperature to between 55 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit at night to mimic the cooler nighttime temperatures that your daylilies would experience if grown outdoors.

Tips & Warnings

• Deadhead your daylilies by pinching or snipping off spent blossoms as necessary.

• Avoid fertilizing your daylilies too often or your plant will produce too much foliage and not enough blooms. Additionally, over-fertilization can burn or damage your daylilies.

References

• Purdue University: Indoor Plant Care
• University of Florida: Hemerocallis
• Alabama Cooperative Extension: Daylilies
• University of Minnesota: Growing Daylilies

Resources

• American Daylily Society