They don't bloom all the time without a little care. In contrast to other plants, lilies are undemanding and easy to care for. But is it really like that? What care do you need?

Lilies like moist soil

How often and with what should you fertilize lilies?

From the second year in the garden, lilies should be fertilized at least once a year. The fertilizer can be given to the plants more frequently and at regular intervals.

During flowering, the fertilizer is used to prolong it. At the end of the flowering period, a moderate application of fertilizer is also useful. The bulbs can absorb and collect the nutrients they need for the coming year.

Various organic and mineral fertilizers are suitable for fertilizing lilies. Humus, horn shavings, (32.93€) rock flour, (14.13€) nettle manure and blue grain have proven themselves. Lilies in pots should be supplied with a liquid fertilizer.

Do lilies need to be watered?

Lilies need a moist substrate. Therefore, they should be watered regularly when there is no rain or when they are in the pot. The water is particularly important during the flowering period. Good drainage should be ensured beforehand.

How are lilies propagated?

The easiest way to propagate lilies is by dividing the roots. This procedure should be done after flowering, no later than autumn. The plants can then be overwintered. The second method of propagating lilies is by seed. But the germination period of the seeds can be up to three years.

Are overwintering measures negligible?

Not necessarily. Note the following points when wintering:

  • Quarter lilies in the pot
  • Cover lilies outdoors in rough layers with brushwood
  • alternatively: dig up onions and overwinter in sand, earth or sawdust
  • before hibernation: cut down
  • Allow onions to dry out before overwintering
  • move out from May

Which disease and pest are most common?

The disease that often occurs in lilies is stem rot. The cause is a fungal pathogen. This is lured in when the plants are waterlogged. The stems turn brown at the base and break off. The result is the death of the lily. Viral and bacterial diseases occur less frequently in lilies.

In terms of pests, it is above all the lily beetle that can cause nibbled leaves. This is a red colored beetle. It lays its eggs on the leaves. The hatched larvae are gray in color and eat the lily. This pest can be rinsed off with the help of a shower. Spraying the lilies with tea made from horsetail helps preventively.

Should you prune lilies?

  • Cut off faded flowers (extend flowering time)
  • if necessary, cut off seed heads to store the seeds
  • cut down to the ground in autumn
  • wait until all parts of the plant have turned yellow before pruning in the fall

tips and tricks

Mulch your lilies and plant ground covers over their root area. This often eliminates the need for fertilizer and watering less often or not at all.

Category:

Vegetable garden