Lilies are super popular types of flowers that many people like to give out as gifts. Sometimes you might receive a bouquet of lilies for a special occasion, but you might also receive potted lilies.
These flowers can look incredibly beautiful when they’re in bloom, and they can bright up any room that they’re placed in. For this reason, you might be interested in making the lilies bloom as long as they can.
Is there a way that you can keep lilies blooming for longer periods of time? Or will lilies just die when it’s time for them to go?
Keep reading to learn a bit more about how you can care for lilies to keep them looking vibrant for as long as possible. This should help you to enjoy your lilies for a little bit longer than usual.
Prepare the Lilies Right Away
When you’ve received cut lilies, it’s going to be important to take the right actions to help them last longer. Before you put the flowers in a vase filled with water, it’s going to be a good idea to cut the stems.
You should cut the stems at a 45-degree angle because it will make it easier for the lilies to drink the water. This can make the lilies look a lot fresher, and it’ll go a long way toward keeping the lilies looking nice.
If you don’t do this, then you’ll likely notice that the cut lilies will start to look dull before too long. It’s so easy to cut the stems at a 45-degree angle this way that there is no real reason not to do it.
Keep Cut Lilies Away From Sunlight
Planted lilies are going to do fantastically well in sunlight, but cut lilies will be a different story entirely. When the lilies have been cut, it’s going to be better to keep them in a cool environment.
You want the blooms to stay fresh for as long as they can, and this means keeping them in the right environment. Try to find a spot for the lilies where they will be away from direct sunlight and fairly cool.
Some rooms in your house might be better for the lilies than others. You don’t need to keep them in a completely darkened room or anything such as that, but you should be very mindful of direct sunlight and the impact that it can have on the cut lilies.
Give the Cut Lilies Fresh Water
When you want the lilies to keep looking nice, it’s going to be imperative to give them fresh water. If you fail to replace the water in the vase that you’ve put the lilies in, then they’re not going to last too long.
Try to remember to regularly replace the water in the vase to get the best results. Failure to do so will cause the water to go stagnant after some time has passed.
Most people don’t think to do this and only wind up putting water in the vase at the beginning of the process. Giving the lilies fresh water really will make a difference and can keep the blooms around.
Get Rid of the Pollen
Getting rid of the pollen might seem like an odd thing to do, but it can help the blooms to last longer. You see, when the pollen touches the petals, it’s going to eat away at them over time.
If you take the time to remove pollen from the stamens, then you’ll be protecting the blooms. They’ll stay looking nice for longer periods of time and you won’t have to worry so much.
Some types of lilies are going to be easier to remove the pollen from than others, though. Stargazer lilies are very easy to remove the pollen from, but calla lilies might prove to be a bit tougher.
How Long Can You Expect the Blooms to Last?
If you’re doing everything that you can to get good results, then you can expect the blooms to last for up to a few weeks. Doing nothing means that the blooms will only be good for a few days in all likelihood.
Getting the best results is really about putting a bit more effort in. If you cut the stems and give the lilies fresh water, then they can stick around and look nice for quite some time.
However, you do need to understand that the lilies will die eventually. It’s not possible for them to bloom forever.
Advice for When Lilies Stop Flowering
What if you have lilies that are potted and not cut? Well, it’s best to let lilies die naturally, and this means not cutting away any leaves until they have started to turn dark brown.
You can cut away the stem, but you need to wait to do anything to the leaves until it’s time. Some people get good results by using types of tomato fertilizer to feed lilies during this time to keep things looking healthy for a bit longer.
You want the bulbs to remain healthy so that they will be ready for next year. Cutting lilies back prematurely is not recommended since it can hinder next year’s growth and the number of flowers that you see might be significantly less than usual.
Final Thoughts
Taking the right actions can help you to keep cut lilies looking great for longer periods of time. You just need to remember to cut the stems at a 45-degree angle before placing them in a vase.
Simple actions such as replacing the water in the vase every so often can keep the lilies looking fresh. If you’re mindful of the need to keep the cut lilies out of direct sunlight, then you’re probably going to be able to enjoy the lilies for weeks.
Planted lilies should be allowed to die naturally so that they can get ready for the next year. You just want to care for the lilies as normal, and giving them some tomato fertilizer can help the blooms to be healthier going into next year.
Use the advice above to ensure that you’re able to enjoy lilies to the fullest. They’re great flowers that can bring a lot of joy to your life, but don’t be sad when the blooms eventually fade since you can enjoy more next year.
Growing up with a mom who filled her home (inside and out) with all sorts of plants, Lisa got her start in gardening at a young age. Living now on her own with a home and yard full of plants (including an indoor greenhouse), she shares all the gardening tips she’s gained over the years.