How To Care For Easter Lily Indoors

Easter lilies (Lilium longiflorum) are popular flowering plants that are often given as gifts around Easter. While they are typically grown outdoors, it is possible to keep an Easter lily as a houseplant and enjoy its beautiful blooms all year round. To care for an Easter lily indoors, provide it with bright, indirect light and keep it in a cool location with temperatures between 60 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

Water the plant regularly, keeping the soil evenly moist but not soggy. Fertilize the plant with a balanced fertilizer every two weeks. After the plant has bloomed, you can encourage it to rebloom by cutting off the spent flowers and allowing the foliage to grow.

Then, place the pot in a cool, dark location for at least six weeks before returning it to the light and resuming watering and fertilizing. With proper care, an Easter lily can thrive as a houseplant and bring a touch of spring to your home all year.

About Easter Lilies

Easter lilies are a type of white flowering plant that is native to the Pacific Islands. They are often associated with Easter and are popular gifts during the holiday season. Easter lilies have long, narrow leaves and large, white trumpet-shaped flowers. They are easy to care for and make a beautiful addition to any home or garden. Easter lilies are toxic to cats, so it is important to keep them out of reach of pets if you have them in your home. With proper care, Easter lilies can continue to bloom for several weeks.

How Long Do Easter Lilies Last?

Easter lilies typically last several weeks, but the exact length will depend on how well they are cared for. Proper care, such as providing the right amount of water and sunlight, can help extend the plant’s life. Generally, it is best to keep Easter lilies in a cool, well-ventilated location away from drafts and direct sunlight. They should be watered regularly, but be careful not to over-water them as this can cause the roots to rot. If the plant starts to wilt or the flowers begin to fade, it is usually a sign that it is past its prime and should be disposed of.

Do Easter Lilies Rebloom Indoors?

Easter lilies (Lilium longiflorum) are typically grown annually and are not meant to be re-planted and re-grown after they have finished blooming. However, it is possible to force Easter lilies to rebloom indoors by following a specific care regimen.

To encourage an Easter lily to rebloom, you’ll need to provide it with the right growing conditions. Easter lilies prefer bright, indirect light and cool temperatures (between 60 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit). Water the plant regularly, keeping the soil evenly moist but not soggy. Fertilize the plant with a balanced fertilizer every two weeks.

After the plant has finished blooming, cut off the spent flowers and allow the foliage to continue growing. When the foliage begins to yellow and die back, cut it off and stop watering the plant. Place the pot in a cool, dark location for at least six weeks. This simulates the winter dormancy period that Easter lilies naturally experience.

After the dormancy period, bring the pot out of storage and place it in a sunny location. Water the plant and fertilize it as you did before. With proper care, the Easter lily should begin to rebloom in about three to four months. Keep in mind that reblooming an Easter lily is not a guarantee and may take several attempts before it is successful.

Can You Keep Easter Lilies in Pots?

Yes, it is possible to keep Easter lilies in pots. In fact, most Easter lilies that are sold as potted plants are grown in pots. When choosing a pot for your Easter lily, ensure it is large enough to accommodate the plant’s root system and has drainage holes to prevent excess moisture from accumulating in the soil. Use a well-draining potting mix specifically formulated for bulbs, or mix your own using equal parts perlite, peat moss, and potting soil.

To care for an Easter lily in a pot, provide it with bright, indirect light and keep it in a cool location with temperatures between 60 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Water the plant regularly, keeping the soil evenly moist but not soggy. Fertilize the plant with a balanced fertilizer every two weeks.

After the plant has finished blooming, you can encourage it to rebloom by cutting off the spent flowers and allowing the foliage to continue growing. Then, place the pot in a cool, dark location for at least six weeks before returning it to the light and resuming watering and fertilizing.

If you live in an area where Easter lilies can survive outdoors, you can also transplant the lily from its pot into your garden after it has bloomed. Choose a location with well-draining soil and partial to full shade, and water the plant regularly. Remember that Easter lilies are typically grown as annuals, so they may not survive the winter in colder climates.

What Do I Do with My Easter Lily After it Blooms?

After an Easter lily has finished blooming, you have a few options for what to do with it. Here are some options to consider:

1. Dispose of the plant: If you do not wish to encourage the plant to rebloom or keep it as a houseplant, you can simply dispose of it.
2. Keep it as a houseplant: If you’d like to keep it as a houseplant, continue caring for it as you normally would. Water it regularly, fertilize it every two weeks and provide it with bright, indirect light.
3. Try to rebloom it: It is possible to rebloom an Easter lily by following a specific care regimen. Cut off the spent flowers, allow the foliage to grow, and then place the pot in a cool, dark location for at least six weeks. After the dormancy period, bring the pot out into the light and resume watering and fertilizing it. With proper care, the plant may begin to rebloom in about three to four months.
4. Plant it outdoors: If you live in an area where Easter lilies can survive outdoors, you can try planting the lily in your garden. Choose a location with well-draining soil and partial to full shade. Water the plant regularly and fertilize it every two weeks. Remember that Easter lilies are typically grown as annuals, so they may not survive the winter in colder climates.

Do You Cut Off Dead Easter Lily Flowers?

It is recommended to cut off dead Easter lily flowers to help the plant conserve energy and promote new growth. To remove the dead flowers, use sharp scissors or pruning shears to cut off the spent flowers at the base of the stem. Be careful not to damage the foliage or other plant parts while cutting.

After the dead flowers have been removed, allow the foliage to continue growing until it begins to yellow and die back. At this point, you can cut off the foliage and stop watering the plant. If you want to rebloom the Easter lily, place the pot in a cool, dark location for at least six weeks to simulate the plant’s natural winter dormancy period. After the dormancy period, bring the pot out into the light and resume watering and fertilizing the plant. With proper care, the Easter lily may begin to rebloom in about three to four months.

How Do I Get my Easter Lily to Bloom Again?

To encourage an Easter lily (Lilium longiflorum) to rebloom, you’ll need to provide it with the right growing conditions and follow a specific care regimen. Here’s how to do it:

1. Cut off the spent flowers: After the Easter lily has finished blooming, use a pair of sharp scissors or pruning shears to cut off the dead flowers at the base of the stem. Be careful not to damage the foliage or other plant parts while cutting.
2. Allow the foliage to continue growing: Leave the foliage on the plant and continue to care for it as you normally would. Water the plant regularly, keeping the soil evenly moist but not soggy. Fertilize the plant with a balanced fertilizer every two weeks.
3. Place the pot in a cool, dark location: When the foliage begins to yellow and die back, cut it off and stop watering the plant. Place the pot in a cool, dark location for at least six weeks. This simulates the winter dormancy period that Easter lilies naturally experience.
4. Bring the pot back into the light: After the dormancy period, bring the pot out of storage and place it in a sunny location. Water the plant and fertilize it as you did before. With proper care, the Easter lily should begin to rebloom in about three to four months.

Remember that reblooming an Easter lily is not guaranteed and may take several attempts before it is successful.

Conclusion

In conclusion, indoors caring for an Easter lily requires providing the plant with bright, indirect light, cool temperatures, and regular watering and fertilizing. After the plant has finished blooming, it can be encouraged to rebloom by simulating its natural winter dormancy period. With proper care, an Easter lily can thrive as a houseplant and bring a touch of spring to your home all year.

Remember to dispose of the plant or transplant it outdoors if it becomes too large or unmanageable as a houseplant. By following these care tips, you can enjoy the beauty of an Easter lily in your home for years to come.