Lilies are prized in gardens and floral arrangements for their elegant, showy blooms. But sometimes those blooms can be frustratingly slow to open up fully If you want to speed up the process of getting tight lily buds to burst open, there are several simple tricks you can try
In this article, we’ll explore the best ways to encourage lily flowers to open up quickly, whether they are still on the plant or have been cut for bouquets With the right care, you can have those stubborn buds blooming their heads off
Why Lily Buds Stay Closed
Before looking at how to make lily blooms open faster, it helps to understand why they stay closed in the first place. Here are some key reasons tight buds are reluctant to open:
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Cold temperatures – Lilies prefer warm conditions. Cool temps will delay opening.
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Lack of light – With insufficient light exposure, buds see no reason to open fully.
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Not enough water – Dehydration signals to the plant it should conserve resources by keeping flowers closed.
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Age of buds – The younger the buds, the longer they tend to stay closed up. Older buds open more quickly.
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Variety – Some lily types and cultivars simply open slower than others.
So if you provide warmth, adequate hydration and bright light, those buds should release their petals without delay.
Tips to Open Lilies on the Plant
Getting lily blooms to open while still attached to the plant involves meeting the plant’s basic needs. Here are some tips:
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Site in full sun. Give lilies at least 6 hours of direct sun if possible for the fastest opening.
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Pinch off older flowers. This encourages new, younger buds which generally open quicker.
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Don’t let plants dry out. Water thoroughly anytime the top few inches of soil become dry.
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Apply fertilizer. Use a balanced liquid fertilizer to nurture flowers.
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Remove pollen. Wipe pollen-loaded anthers daily so they don’t stain petals as they open.
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Provide support. Stake tall lilies to prevent damage from toppling stems in rain or wind.
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Monitor pests. Watch for aphids, mites and other pests which can slow growth.
With proper lily care in the garden, those flower buds should burst open readily.
Quick Tricks for Cut Lily Blooms
Getting cut lilies to open their petals quickly involves manipulating the temperature and water conditions. Here are some tricks to try with cut stems:
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Use warm water. Place stems in 85-100°F water and keep water warm by changing it out at least daily.
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Provide bottom heat. Set the vase on a heating pad set to low or a warm surface like a refrigerator top.
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Keep in a warm spot. Ideal air temperature is 70-80°F. Keep out of air conditioning vents.
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Recut stems. Trim 1-2 inches off stems and remove leaves and pollen. Recut every few days.
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Use commercial flower foods. These contain sugars and anti-bacterial agents to enhance water uptake.
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Keep in low light. Bright light stresses cut blooms. Keep arrangements in moderate indirect light.
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Mist blooms. Use a spray bottle to mist unopened buds a few times a day to hydrate them.
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Tent the vase. Covering the vase traps warmth and humidity which hastens opening.
With a little TLC and ideal conditions, those stubborn lily buds should release their petals in no time.
Which Lilies Open the Fastest?
While all lilies can be coaxed into opening up quickly, some varieties are faster than others by nature. Here are some top picks for fast-opening lily blooms:
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Asiatic lilies – Early to bloom and open quickly. ‘Tiny Padhye’ and ‘Ceb Dazzle’ are speedy.
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LA hybrids – Known for good bud count and reasonably quick opening.
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Oriental lilies – Typically open faster than fragrant hybrids. ‘Sorbonne’ is a good bet.
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Trumpet lilies – Big showy blooms open faster than many hybrids.
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Longiflorum lilies – Popular Easter lilies open earlier than most hybrids.
For the most impatience-friendly lilies, focus on these types and cultivars known for their tendency to open up their blooms faster.
Should You Force Lilies to Open?
While you can speed up lily flowering, don’t force buds open before they are ready. Pulling apart petals or manipulating unopened buds can damage them. Be patient and allow proper conditions to work their magic naturally. The results will be longer lasting flowers.
Enjoy Watching Lilies Burst Into Bloom
Don’t settle for tight lily buds that fail to open fully. Whether on the plant or cut for bouquets, lily blooms can be encouraged to unfold sooner with warm temperatures, adequate hydration and bright indirect light. Pay attention to variety selection as well, focusing on those known for fast opening. With the right care, you’ll be rewarded with gorgeous blooms to enjoy indoors or out.
Lily meanings can change depending on the colour:
- White lilies: Purity and virtue
- Orange lilies: Confidence, pride and wealth
- Red lilies: Passion
- Yellow lilies: Purity, innocence
- Pink lilies: Propperity and abundance
Trumpet and Aurelian Lilies
These lilies love to be in full sunlight and bloom from July to August. As their name suggests, they have long petals that look like the top of a trumpet. They also have a strong scent.
These lilies have very large blooms and can grow to be 5ft tall. They bloom in late summer and tend to look their best in August. They have a very strong scent making them a popular cut flower.
These lilies come from crossing varieties. Longiflorum crossed with asiatic produces a slight fragrance, whereas oriental with trumpet / aurelian produces heavily scented blooms.
There is only one group of lilies in this section. The other eight groups came from wild parents in this section. They are found in Europe, North America and most commonly Asia.
A note on day lilies and water lilies
They have the same name as the other lilies on this list, but these flowers are not from the same lilium genus. This means they are not real lilies.
When looked after properly, lilies have one of the longest vase lives of all cut flowers. Heres how to look after yours:
- Lilies have a vase life of around 10-14 days. To get your lilies ready, cut the stems diagonally by about an inch.
- Remove any leaves that will fall below the water line. The water will not get as full of bacteria, and your lily flowers will stay fresh longer.
- To keep the flower from staining, take off the stamens, which are the orange or yellow fluffy parts that carry the pollen. This doesn’t affect the longevity of the flowers. Sticky tape can be used to dab the stain away or a soft brush can be used to get it off. Do not use water as this will make it worse.
- Add the flower food and fill the vase two thirds of the way up with room temperature water.
- Keep the vase topped up with water daily.
- Every few days, change the water and cut the stems again to make the vase last longer.
Note: Hay fever sufferers should opt for unscented varieties as the pollen count is much lower. Oriental lilies are the most heavily scented so avoid these if you have allergies.
Tips for Putting Flowers Together: Lilies look best with taller flowers, like roses, sunflowers, or gladioli.
Warning: Keep lilies away from animals (especially cats and dogs) and children as they can be toxic.
How to get Lillies to open faster
FAQ
How do you force lilies to open?
Why are my lilies not opening?
Do lilies need light to open?
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.
When do lilies open?
Start bulbs indoors about 60 days before you’ll want to bring them into flower. Turn the vase daily so the flowers open up evenly. 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.
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
Can you harvest lilies before they open?
Certain flowers, like lilies, can be harvested before they open to extend their lives as cut flowers. Once in the water, the buds will open over the next week. But if you need the cut flowers for a special occasion, you can’t always wait for Mother Nature to get around to it.