How to Keep Easter Lilies
- 1). Place your Easter lily in a moderately cool room with temperatures between 60 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit, with nighttime temperatures about 10 degrees cooler. Locate the plant in bright, indirect sunlight. Avoid direct sunlight, which is too intense.
- 2). Water the Easter lily when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Water until water begins to drip through the hole in the bottom of the pot. Allow the plant to drain thoroughly, then discard water remaining in the drainage saucer. Any decorative packaging should be removed, as the packaging impedes water flow. If desired, replace the decorative packaging after the pot drains. Never allow the pot to sit in water, as soggy soil will rot the Easter lily bulb.
- 3). Pinch off blossoms when the Easter lily flowers begin to wilt, but leave the stems and leaves intact.
- 4). Plant your Easter lily plant in a well-drained spot in your garden when the blooms have all wilted and all danger of frost has passed. Easter lily thrives where the plant receives morning sunlight, but is protected from hot afternoon sun. Before planting, spade the soil to a depth of 6 to 8 inches, then dig in 2 to 3 inches of compost or mulch to improve soil drainage.
- 5). Remove the Easter lily carefully from the pot. Dig a hole two to three times wider than the root ball, to allow plenty of room for the roots to spread. Plant the Easter lily with the bottom of the bulb approximately 6 inches below the surface of the soil.
- 6). Fertilize the Easter lily at planting time and every spring thereafter, using a general purpose, timed-release fertilizer. Apply the fertilizer in accordance with the instructions on the label.
- 7). Water the Easter lily after planting, then water whenever the top of the soil feels dry. Provide enough water to saturate the roots, then avoid watering again until the top of the soil feels dry.
- 8). Spread 2 inches of mulch, such as shredded bark, pine needles or dry grass clippings, around the plant to keep the soil cool and moist. You should notice new growth soon, but don't expect blooms until the following summer.
- 9). Cut the Easter lily stem down to the ground after the foliage dies and turns yellow in autumn. Cover the plant with 3 to 4 inches of protective mulch such as straw to protect the bulb during the winter. Rake the mulch away from the plant as soon as new shoots appear in spring.