Lilies are prized for their showy, fragrant blooms that add beauty and elegance to any garden. Getting lilies to bloom abundantly requires providing the right growing conditions. With some planning and proper care, you can enjoy a continuous display of lily flowers from late spring through fall.
Why Aren’t My Lilies Blooming?
If your lilies aren’t blooming there are a few key factors to check
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Sunlight – Lilies need full sun, which means at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Insufficient light will result in reduced flowering.
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Overcrowding – Congested lily plants compete for resources and don’t bloom well. Dividing mature plants every 2-3 years prevents overcrowding.
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Improper Planting Depth – Planting too shallowly makes bulbs prone to frost damage. Plant 4 times as deep as the bulb’s diameter.
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Lack of Cold Exposure – Lilies require a cold period to initiate flowering Warm winter climates may prevent blooming
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Under or Over Watering – Soil that is too wet or too dry impedes growth and flowering.
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Pests and Diseases – Aphids, beetles, viruses, and fungi can all reduce flowering.
How to Get Lilies to Bloom: 5 Key Tips
Follow these tips to maximize blooms from your lily garden:
1. Provide Full Sun
Lilies thrive in full sun, which means at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. Morning sun is ideal. Insufficient sunlight will result in sparse flowering. When siting lilies, choose an open, unshaded spot in your landscape.
2. Plant at the Proper Depth
Proper planting depth is key to protect bulbs from temperature extremes. Plant lily bulbs at a depth 4 times the height of the bulb. For example, a 3 inch tall bulb should be planted 12 inches deep. Deep planting keeps bulbs cool and prevents frost heave.
3. Give Lilies Nutrients
Fertilize lilies in early spring as growth emerges and again after initial flowering. Use a balanced fertilizer with an NPK ratio like 10-10-10 or 5-10-5. Fertilizing replenishes nutrients required for vigorous growth and abundant blooms.
4. Provide Even Moisture
Consistent moisture is vital for lush lily growth. Water lilies deeply after planting and provide 1-2 inches of water per week during the growing season if rainfall is lacking. Avoid saturated soil, which can cause bulbs to rot.
5. Divide Congested Clumps
Mature lily plantings become crowded over time, resulting in smaller blooms. Divide congested clumps every 2-3 years in fall. Gently pry bulbs apart and replant 8-12 inches apart in enriched soil. Dividing reinvigorates plants for maximum flowering.
Achieving Continuous Lily Blooms
With smart plant selection and timing, you can enjoy lilies over a long bloom season:
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Early Bloomers – Plant early blooming Asiatic and Orientals for flowers from late spring through early summer.
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Midseason Bloomers – Try Orientals, Orientpets and Trumpet lilies for midsummer flowers.
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Late Bloomers – Rely on late Orientals, Tiger lilies and Turk’s cap lilies for blooms until fall.
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Stagger Planting – Plant bulbs over a period of several weeks to extend the bloom period. Early, mid, and late season varieties can overlap for months of color.
Caring for Lilies After Blooming
Proper care after flowering is key to maximize next year’s bloom:
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Deadhead spent flowers but leave the foliage intact until it dies down naturally in fall. The leaves produce energy for future growth.
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Cut back dead stems and foliage after it turns completely yellow in late fall. Dispose of debris to prevent disease.
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Protect the lily bed with 4-6 inches of mulch after the ground freezes to prevent frost heave. Remove gradually in spring.
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Fertilize plants again in early spring to provide nutrients needed for the season’s growth and flowering.
Troubleshooting Lily Problems
Lilies can encounter problems that affect flowering. Here are solutions for common issues:
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Aphids – Control with insecticidal soap or neem oil applied when pests are first seen.
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Beetles – Handpick adult beetles. Apply insecticides labeled for lily beetles as needed.
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Virus diseases – Destroy severely infected plants. Control aphids to limit spread. Select resistant lily varieties.
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Fungal issues – Improve air circulation. Remove affected foliage and flowers. Apply fungicides as a last resort only.
Achieve Abundant Lily Blooms!
With a sunny location, proper planting techniques, good moisture and nutrients, lilies will reward you with an abundance of elegant blooms. Dividing, staggering planting times, and selecting early, mid and late varieties will provide months of floral delight in the garden. Follow these tips for success growing and getting lilies to bloom profusely.
Pruning Lillies To Help Them Bloom
Pruning lilies too early can prevent the plant from producing enough energy to support blooming the following year. Avoid cutting back the foliage until it has completely died back at the end of the summer. By deadheading, or getting rid of spent flowers, you can keep the plant from making seeds, which use more energy. To prune lilies, remove all spent growth at the end of the season. You can remove diseased or damaged growth at any time. Use clean, sharp pruning shears to avoid damaging the plant. If you see that rabbits or deer have “pruned” your lilies, you may need to fence them off or use a spray repellent. Lilies can stay healthy and bloom more if they are pruned once a year, but make sure you do it at the right time and in the right way so you don’t hurt the plant.
Common Reasons Why Lilies Aren’t Blooming
There are a number of reasons lilies might not be blooming, and it is important to find the main cause in order to fix the issue. One common reason is improper pruning. Prune lilies after flowering and only remove dead foliage. Taking off the plant’s leaves before they die back can stop it from storing the energy it needs to bloom again next year. Small bulbs may not bloom the first year because they have not stored enough energy before winter. Select bulbs that are large and healthy to ensure the best blooms.
Another reason may be a lack of fertilization and overcrowding. Lilies need nutrients to grow and flower, but if the bulbs are crowded, the lilies might not be able to get to them. Also, the plant might not be able to bloom if the pot is too small or its roots are crowded together.
It’s also important to know how deep you plant; bulbs that are planted too shallow can be damaged by freezing and wet weather. If you live somewhere cold, make sure to plant your lilies 4 times deeper than the bulb’s diameter. On the flip side, lilies need a period of cold exposure to bloom well. Your lilies may not bloom if you live in a climate with warm winters. Finally, the weather can also play a role in blooming. Extreme heat or drought can cause the plant to go dormant or prevent it from blooming.
Do THIS to Get Your Peace Lily to Flower Again
FAQ
Why are my lilies not blooming?
What helps lilies bloom?
How do you force a lily to bloom?
How to make a lily plant bloom?
How do you get lilies to bloom?
Apply a high-potassium liquid fertilizer every 2 weeks from planting until 6 weeks after flowering. Apply a thin layer of compost each spring, followed by a 2-inch layer of mulch. Stake tall lilies. Lilies do not bloom more than once per season, but you can remove the faded flowers so that the plants don’t waste energy making seeds.
How do you open a lilies Bud?
Cut lilies should start opening once they come indoors and are placed in water. To hasten bud opening, make a new cut 1 inch or more up the stem to open new capillaries to carry water upward. Plunge the stems immediately into lukewarm water — 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit — and keep the vase at least one-half full at all times.
How do you grow lilies?
To grow lilies, start by choosing varieties you like, such as either dormant bulbs or potted plants, at the garden center. Plant them in a sunny area where water drains from the soil easily, and mulch the soil surface with organic compost. Snip the flower heads off after they bloom, and then cut down the whole plant in late fall or early spring.
How do you open lilies faster?
Here’s a Trick to Help Open Lilies Faster Take the Bunch and cut it using a bunchcutter or flower knifeThen LAY the bunch on a Table at RoomTemperature after cutting