Tips To Ensure Thriving Easter Lilies Long After The Holiday
Easter lilies, also known as Lilium wallichianum, originated in Japan and produce gorgeous white flowers for this spring holiday, but you may be able to keep them blooming for longer. By giving your plant the proper amount of water and sunlight, keeping it in cooler temperatures, and removing the yellow anthers from the blooms, you may be able to enjoy your Easter lily's flowers for a little while longer. Purchasing a healthy lily will also ensure that your flowers continue to thrive, though you won't have a choice in this area if the plant was gifted.
Easter lilies that are twice as tall as their pot and have an abundance of thick, green foliage will have healthy roots and should bloom beautifully. You should also check that the plant has several buds that are still closed, so that your Easter lily will continue producing flowers for a while after you take it home. While Easter lilies are stunning and are seen as a symbol of rebirth, grace, and purity, you should never grow this houseplant in a home with pets. These lilies are highly toxic to cats, and ingesting any part of the plant can cause vomiting, kidney failure, and even death in these pets.
Keeping your Easter lily thriving after the holiday
To keep your Easter lilies blossoming for as long as possible, you'll want to ensure you're providing them with the best conditions. First, take off any decorative wrapping from around the plant, as this can force your lily to sit in excess water. If you love the look of the foil or plastic sleeve, you could also try making small holes in it for the water to drain. Place your lily in an area of your home that gets bright, indirect sunlight throughout the day and isn't near any heating vents or drafty windows. Easter lilies that are kept at temperatures between 60 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and slightly cooler nighttime temperatures are more likely to bloom for longer.
These plants should be watered when the soil begins to dry out on the surface; more than that, and they'll be waterlogged. Once the flowers appear and start to open, you'll want to pull out the yellow anthers from the center, which contain pollen. This will prevent the flower from being pollinated and will help its bloom last. Though you can keep your Easter lilies thriving for a while after the holiday, the flowers will begin to die eventually. Remove these flowers where they meet the stem to prolong the plant's life. Once your Easter lilies are done blooming, try planting the bulbs in your garden this spring.
Planting Easter lilies in your garden
While it's unfortunate that your Easter lilies will eventually die even if you take the best care of them and prolong their flowering, you can replant them in your garden to grow again. After any cold spurts are done for the year, you can place your lily's bulb in your garden. Be sure to remove any dead leaves or stems.
Plant your bulb 6 inches deep in soil that drains well and in a spot that gets no more than a little shade. It would be a good idea fertilize your Easter lily one or two times in the summer. When fall rolls around, there is a chance your lily will bloom again. The following year, your Easter lilies will likely blossom during summer. As long as your plant survives the winter, it should continue to grow every year. You can help protect the bulbs in your garden from freezing temperatures by laying mulch over the soil at the start of winter.