Everybody asks about Easter lilies! Can they go outside; can I
plant them in my garden? And to this I reply, “Why not?” Like other bulbs,there
are two options if you plant your leftover Easter lily bulbs -
either they will live and flower for many years (it is perfectly
hardy into zone 4) or they will immediately die. If you don’t
plant the bulb, it will definitely die. So you have nothing to
lose by planting. Once the Easter lily bloom has faded in the
house, cut the stem back as far as you can. Grow the plant in a
sunny windowsill, keeping it moist (not sopping) and feed weekly
with houseplant food. After all danger of frost has passed
wherever you live, you can plant it outdoors. Planting outdoors
is as easy as digging a hole and planting so that the top of the
bulb will be three inches below the surface. Add a shovel of
compost and a shovel of peat moss to the planting hole and
ensure the soil is well loosened. Remember it is necessary to
dig a large enough hole to spread the lily roots out and to
ensure it is at least eighteen inches from another plant. Place
the bulb in the bottom of the planting hole and backfill the
soil up to the neck of the bulb - do not cover the green leaves.
Covering the green leaves at this time could rot them. Wait
until the leaves have turned yellow and faded before totally
filling in the hole. After you’ve planted the bulb, water it
thoroughly. Carefully water and turn the area into a mudhole so
no air spaces are left around the bulb. The original foliage may
die back immediately after planting. If this happens, cut the
foliage right back to the bulb and then backfill the hole. Do
not be surprised to see a new set of leaves emerge from the
hole. Water thoroughly after backfilling. The key to success
with growing Easter lilies is to give the tops full sun but to
shade the roots. Hot tops and cold feet would describe this
growing condition. Also, excellent drainage is essential for
bulb success. Poor drainage or clay soils will rot the bulb over
winter because of excessive moisture. Remember the normal time
for the lily to bloom is mid-summer. The first planting year you
may see a bloom in mid-summer but the likelihood is that the
bulb will wait for next year to bloom again. Your job is to grow
the bulb. Do not cut off leaves until they are well faded and
quite yellow. Do not pin them up so other plants can grow next
to the lily. You want those leaves to stretch out and absorb as
much sunlight as possible because they are feeding the bulb and
making next year’s flower bud. And next year’s Easter lily bulb
is what you’re looking for, and the one after that, and the one
after that too. If you’re looking for other bulb
information, check out this website.