The Easter lily, the traditional time-honored flower of Easter, is highly
regarded as a joyful symbol of beauty, hope and life. The large,
trumpet-shaped, fragrant white flowers make a meaningful gift that embodies the
very essence of the celebration of Easter. Whether you plan to give the potted
plants as a gift or use them to decorate your own home, the following tips will
help make your Easter lilies keep on giving.
Two of the greatest charms of the Easter lily are form and fragrance, so look
for high quality plants that are aesthetically pleasing from all angles. Select
medium-to-compact plants that are well-balanced and proportional in size
—not too tall and not too short.
For the longest possible period of enjoyment in your home, look for plants with
flowers in various stages of growth. The best selection would be a plant with
just one or two open or partly open blooms, and three or more puffy, unopened
buds of different sizes. The ripe puffy buds will open up within a few days,
while the tighter ones will bloom over the next several days.
As the flowers mature, remove the yellow anthers before the pollen starts to
shed. This gives longer flower life and prevents the pollen from staining the
white flowers. When a mature flower starts to wither after its prime, cut it
off to make the plant more attractive while you enjoy the fresher, newly-opened
blooms.
When selecting plants, be sure to also check out the foliage. An abundance of
dark, rich green foliage is not only attractive, but a vital sign of good plant
health. The foliage should appear dense and plentiful, all the way down to the
soil line
—a good indicator of an active, healthy root system.
Be wary of Easter lilies displayed in paper, plastic or mesh sleeves. The
protective sleeves are used for shipping and should be removed immediately upon
arrival at the store. While the packaging may seem convenient, the quality of
the plants will deteriorate if they are left sleeved too long. Also avoid
waterlogged plants, especially if the plant looks wilted. This could be a sign
of root rot.
In the home, Easter lilies prefer moderately cool temperatures, with slightly
cooler night temperatures. Avoid placing plants near drafts, and avoid exposure
to excess heat or dry air from appliances, fireplaces or heating ducts. The
lily will thrive near a window in bright, indirect natural daylight, but avoid
glaring, direct sunlight.
Easter lilies prefer moderately moist, well-drained soil. Water the plant
thoroughly when the soil surface feels dry to the touch, but avoid over
watering.
For best results, remove the plant from decorative pots or covers, take it to
the sink and water thoroughly until water seeps out of the pot
’s drain holes. Allow the plant to drain completely before returning it to its
display pot or location.
After the last bloom has withered and been cut away, you can continue to grow
your Easter lilies, and even plant them outside in your garden to enjoy them
for years to come. Once the lilies have finished flowering, place the potted
plants in a sunny location. Continue to water thoroughly as needed, and add 1
teaspoon of slow-release Osmocote fertilizer every 6 weeks. You can move the
pots to a sunny location outdoors after the danger of frost has passed.
To plant your Easter lilies outside, prepare a well-drained garden bed in a
sunny location with rich, organic matter. Use a well- drained planting mix, or
a mix of one part soil, one part peat moss and one part perlite. Good drainage
is the key for success with lilies. To ensure adequate drainage, raise the
garden bed by adding good soil to the top of the bed, thus obtaining a deeper
topsoil and a rise to the planting area.
Plant the Easter lily bulbs 3 inches below ground level, and mound up an
additional 3 inches of topsoil over the bulb. Plant bulbs at least 12 to 18
inches apart in a hole sufficiently deep so that the bulbs can be placed in it
with the roots spread out and down, as they naturally grow. Spread the roots
and work the prepared soil in around the bulbs and the roots, leaving no air
pockets. Water immediately and thoroughly after planting. Try not to allow the
soil to heave or shift after planting.
Easter lilies, which were forced to bloom under controlled greenhouse conditions
in March, bloom naturally in the summer. You may be rewarded with a second
bloom later this summer, but most likely you will have to wait until
next June or July to see your Easter lilies bloom again. The Easter lily is the
fourth largest wholesale crop in the U.S. in the potted plant market behind
poinsettias, mums and azaleas, and has the narrowest sales window, typically
only 2 weeks.
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