If you love flowers, chances are lilies have caught your eye at some point. With their large, showy blossoms and sweet fragrance, lilies are a popular choice for gardens, patios, and indoor pots. But how do you keep them looking healthy and blooming year after year?
In this guide, we’re going to walk you through exactly how to take care of a lily plant—whether you’re planting it in your backyard or keeping it as a houseplant. You’ll learn when to water, how much sun they need, and what to do when the flowers fade. It’s easier than you think once you understand the basics!
Why Choose Lily Plants for Your Garden or Home?
Before we dive into care tips, let’s talk about why so many people love lilies.
- Striking beauty: Lilies come in many colors and patterns—from deep reds to pure whites, with petals often streaked or speckled.
- Long-lasting: With proper care, lilies can bloom for several weeks during the growing season.
- Easy to grow: Once you know how to take care of a lily plant, they’re fairly low maintenance.
- Versatile: Lilies can grow in beds, containers, or indoors with the right conditions.
Sound good? Let’s get into what your lily needs to thrive.
Understanding Your Lily Plant
There’s not just one kind of lily. In fact, true lilies belong to the genus Lilium. These include Asiatic lilies, Oriental lilies, Easter lilies, and tiger lilies—all of which need similar care but vary slightly in appearance and bloom time.
Knowing your variety can help you better understand its specific needs, but most lily plants require the same basic care: sunlight, well-draining soil, water, and seasonal maintenance.
Indoor vs. Outdoor Lilies
You can grow lilies both indoors and outdoors, but each comes with its own set of requirements:
- Outdoor lilies prefer full sun or partial shade and do great in garden beds with good drainage.
- Indoor lilies need bright, indirect light and a pot with holes in the bottom so excess water doesn’t stay trapped in the soil.
Wherever you grow them, here’s how to take care of a lily plant properly, from planting to pruning.
Planting Your Lily the Right Way
Taking care of a lily plant starts the moment you plant it. Whether you’re planting bulbs or potting an existing plant, follow these simple steps.
Choose the Right Location
Lilies love sunlight. Try to pick a spot that gets at least 6 hours of sunlight daily. However, if you live in a very hot climate, choose a place with light afternoon shade to avoid overheating the plant.
Prepare the Soil
Lilies don’t like soggy soil. To keep your lilies happy:
- Make sure the soil drains well.
- Mix in compost or sand to improve drainage if needed.
- Keep it slightly acidic to neutral—a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 is ideal.
Planting the Bulbs
If you’re starting with bulbs rather than an already growing plant, be sure to:
- Plant bulbs 6 to 8 inches deep with the pointed end facing up.
- Space them about 8 to 12 inches apart.
- Water well after planting and keep the soil slightly moist.
Bulbs planted in the fall usually bloom in the spring or early summer, depending on the variety.
Watering and Sunlight—Finding the Right Balance
Wondering how often to water your lily plant or how much sun it really needs? You’re not alone! These are the most common questions when people ask how to take care of a lily plant.
Watering Tips
Lilies like their soil moist, but not wet. Think of it like a damp sponge—hydrated, but not dripping.
- Outdoor lilies: Water about once a week. Increase frequency during dry spells.
- Indoor lilies: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Make sure the pot drains well to avoid root rot.
Sunlight Needs
Most lilies do great in full sun. If you’re growing yours indoors, place them near a window that gets lots of bright, indirect light. A south-facing window is ideal.
Feeding Your Lily
Just like people need food to grow strong, so do plants! Fertilizing can help your lily bloom more beautifully and stay healthy.
- Use a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring as new growth starts.
- You can also apply a liquid fertilizer every 4 to 6 weeks during the growing season.
Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers, which can lead to lots of leafy growth but fewer flowers.
Pruning and Deadheading
Here’s a key step in learning how to take care of a lily plant: knowing when and how to prune. This helps your plant put energy into healthy growth and future blooms.
Deadheading Lilies
Deadheading just means removing spent flowers. Once a bloom has faded, snip it off to:
- Encourage new blooms (for some varieties).
- Keep the plant looking neat and tidy.
Pruning the Stems
After your lily has finished blooming for the season, let the stem and leaves stay in place until they turn yellow or brown. This helps the bulb gather energy for next year.
Once the foliage has died back naturally, trim the stem down to the base.
Overwintering Lily Plants
In colder climates, lilies need some help surviving winter.
- For outdoor lilies, apply mulch over the soil to protect the bulbs from freezing temperatures.
- For potted lilies, move the pot to a sheltered spot like a garage or basement if you’re expecting frost.
You don’t need to water them much during winter—once every few weeks is enough to keep the soil from going bone dry.
Common Lily Problems and Solutions
Even with the best care, problems can pop up. But don’t worry—we’re here to help you troubleshoot.
Yellowing Leaves
This can be caused by:
- Overwatering
- Too little sunlight
- Poor drainage
Make sure your lily is getting enough light and the soil is not staying soggy.
Pests
Keep an eye out for red lily beetles, aphids, and spider mites.
- Solution: Use insecticidal soap or neem oil spray. Remove pests by hand if you see them early.
Flower Buds Not Opening
This usually means your lily is stressed. Possible causes include:
- Too little light
- Lack of water or nutrients
- Sudden temperature changes
Reassess your care routine and adjust as needed.
Tips for Extending Lily Bloom Time
Want those pretty flowers to last longer? Try these tricks:
- Water regularly, especially during bloom time.
- Keep potted lilies out of drafty or overly hot spaces.
- Cut flowers early in the morning if you’re bringing them indoors—they’ll last longer in a vase.
And don’t forget to fertilize during the growing season!
Final Thoughts on How to Take Care of a Lily Plant
Learning how to take care of a lily plant doesn’t have to be complicated. With the right amount of light, water, and care, your lilies can reward you with spectacular blooms year after year.
Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, lilies offer a perfect mix of low effort and high reward.
