Can I plant my Easter Lily outside after Easter?

Easter Lilies, with their large, white, trumpet-shaped flowers and wonderful fragrance are a traditional Easter treat. More than likely your Easter Lily was grown by one of a handful of growers located along the border of California and Oregon, an area labeled the “Easter Lily Capital of the World”. Ninety-five percent of the 11.5 million Easter Lilies grown and sold originate in this region. Lilies have been found as far north as the Arctic Circle, and as far south as the Philippine Islands.

We’re all tempted to buy plants that are already in full bloom, but immediate gratification won’t translate into long-term enjoyment. Here are some tips for selecting lily plants that will last through the holiday season and beyond.

Choose a plant with flowers and buds in various stages of development. Make sure the foliage is dense and extends all the way down the stem to the soil line. Check the plants for signs of insects (eggs, webbing, chewed leaves) and disease (dark spots, crinkling, wilting). Finally, select a plant that is about two-times as tall as the pot.

Keep your Easter Lilies blooming by taking a few easy precautions. Display your plant in bright, but indirect sunlight & protect your Easter Lily from drafts and heat sources. Remove the yellow anthers from the flower centers. This helps prolong the life of the blossoms and prevents the pollen on the anthers from staining the flowers, your hands, clothing, tablecloths, rugs and anything else it can finds its way to. Water the plant only when the soil becomes dry to the touch. Finally, remove flowers as they fade.

The lily does not survive as a houseplant, but it can be planted outdoors where it should bloom again. Until it is safe to plant outdoors, keep the plant in a sunny window and water thoroughly when slightly dry.

After the plant has dried off in spring, leave it in the pot but put it in a good growing situation so that it will resume growth. Water lightly until new shoots appear; then water more freely. Feed every 2 weeks with a complete fertilizer. The plant will usually re-flower about August, with smaller but fairly satisfactory blooms. After this second flowering, discard the bulb. Do not attempt to force it again as a potted plant, its strength has been severely sapped.