How to grow & care for lilies
Lilies or lilium are summer flowering bulbs with showy blooms that are often heavily fragrant. Lilies will grow in most climates of Australia - check your local nursery or garden centre for varieties that are best suited. Lilies grow from bulbs that are planted in small clusters during the cooler months.
Choose a full sun to part shade spot for your lilies, somewhere with protection from hot afternoon sun and strong winds is ideal. They prefer a moist, but free-draining soil that’s acidic. Lilies like a consistent supply of water and don’t like to dry out - so consider the need for regular watering when choosing where to grow your lilies.
Given their tall stems lilies are best grown amongst small shrubs in a garden border or grouped together in a potted display for height and support.
True lilies are members of the Lilium genus, but several other plants are commonly called lily too - including; water lilies (Nymphaea), peace lily (Spathiphyllum), day lily (Hemerocallis) and Peruvian lily (Alstroemeria) - these have different growing requirements to true lilies or liliums.
Top 5 steps to growing lilies
- Choose a full sun to part shaded spot with protection from hot afternoon sun and strong winds.
- Lilies prefer acidic soil, so use products designed for acid-loving plants such as; Scotts Osmocote® Compost Premium Soil Improver and Scotts Osmocote® Controlled Release Fertiliser: Roses, Gardenias, Azaleas & Camellias
- Plant lilies in groups of 3-5 bulbs (at a minimum) amongst other low to medium-sized plants in your garden or pots.
- Lilies will die back after flowering in autumn, you can lift and divide bulbs every few years at this stage.
- Fertilise lilies twice a year once as the foliage emerges from the ground in spring and again at the end of summer as the plants die back.
Shopping List
- Lily bulbs
- Scotts Osmocote® Compost Premium Soil Improver
- Scotts Osmocote® Controlled Release Fertiliser: Roses, Gardenias, Azaleas & Camellias
- Scotts Osmocote® Plus Organics Roses, Gardenias & Azaleas Plant Food & Soil Improver
- Garden Shovel
- If growing in pots, you’ll need Scotts Osmocote Rose, Gardenia, Azalea & Camellia Mix and a suitable pot or container
- Garden Shovel
- Mulch
- Defender™ Pyrethrum Insect Spray
Preparation
Lilies prefer a full sun to part shade spot that’s protected from hot afternoon sun and strong winds. They’ll also be happy in part shade or morning sun locations. Before planting, prepare the soil by mixing through a little Scotts Osmocote® Compost Premium Soil Improver. Add some Scotts Osmocote® Controlled Release Fertiliser: Roses, Gardenias, Azaleas & Camellias to acidify the soil (which lilies love) and give them an initial feed as they grow.
Planting in the garden
Plant lily bulbs into prepared soil in autumn or winter when they are readily available in nurseries and garden centres. Dig the hole twice as deep as the bulb is tall. Allow 10-20cm between bulbs depending on their size. Place the bulb with the tip point up into the hole and backfill around it. Water them in well and keep the soil around them moist, but not soggy. You should see growth above ground in 1-2 weeks.
Mulch around the plants to suppress weeds and keep the lilies' roots cool throughout summer.
Planting in pots
Lilies can be grown in medium to large deep pots or planters with good drainage, choose a pot that will cope with the mature height of your chosen lily.
Fill your pot or planter with Scotts Osmocote Rose, Gardenia, Azalea & Camellia Mix (lilies prefer an acidic soil, like this potting mix). Dig the hole twice as deep as the bulb is tall. Allow 7-15cm between bulbs depending on their size. Place the bulb with the tip point up into the hole and backfill around it. Water them in well and keep the potting mix moist, but not soggy. You should see growth above ground in 1-2 weeks.
Planting the bulbs closer together in pots can help support their tall stems. But you can also add a cage or stake at planting time for extra support.
Mulch around the plants to suppress weeds and keep the lilies' roots cool throughout summer.
Fertilising & Care
Fertilise lilies in early spring as they begin to shoot and again at the end of summer as they begin to die back with Scotts Osmocote® Plus Organics Roses, Gardenias & Azaleas Plant Food & Soil Improver or Scotts Osmocote® Controlled Release Fertiliser: Roses, Gardenias, Azaleas & Camellias if they are growing in pots.
When the flowers have finished (or you cut them to bring inside) cut the plants back by half. Then once the foliage has completely died off, cut them back to ground level. You can leave the bulbs in the ground for several years before they need dividing.
Pests & Diseases
Lilies are generally very pest and disease resistant, but aphids can be a problem on the soft new growth. Control any aphid infestations with Defender™ Pyrethrum Insect Spray.
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