Best Ways to Care for the Asiatic Lily
Asiatic lilies (Lilium asiatic) are popular hardy perennials in a wide range of climates, all the way from USDA hardiness zones 3 to 10. They are also low maintenance, and are one of the first lilies to bloom in the late spring. There is a wide selection of colors to choose from with the Asiatic lily, and there is even a dwarf Asiatic lily for borders or containers.
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Planting
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Asiatic lily bulbs are rather large bulbs, and like all lily bulbs, they do not have a natural protective cover. This means you will have to plant them as soon as you receive the bulbs in the fall or spring. Although not at all particular about the type of soil it is planted in, the Asiatic lily demands to be in well-draining soil and will rot if planted in ground that is too moist or soggy. The Asiatic lily can grow and bloom in full sunlight to partial shade, but prefer five or six hours of sun a day. Plant the bulb 12 inches deep, with a little bone meal in the bottom of the hole. After the bulb has sprouted, you can sprinkle some general, balanced organic fertilizer, or a phosphorous-rich, slow-release formula, around the plant and water it. That is all the fertilizer the Asiatic lily needs.
Care and Maintenance
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As the blooms die off on your Asiatic lily, carefully cut them off, leaving at lease two thirds of the stem with the plant. This helps the bulb gather the needed nutrients it will store for blooming the next year. Putting a deep layer of organic mulch around the lily plant will help keep the ground cool and moist as the days warm up. Early morning water is preferred over evening or overnight watering to avoid your lily from getting botrytis blight fungus, which will affect the leaves with reddish-brown spots. Watch for slugs and rabbits, both like to feast on the new, young shoots of the plant. Allow the foliage to naturally die back so the bulb can receive all the nutrients it needs for the next year.
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