Lilies: care

When we talk about lilies, we are actually referring to a whole genus of the Liliaceae family, which includes more than 100 varieties different. They are plants native to Europe, America and Asia, and indigenous species can be found on the three continents.

Is about bulbous species that they are sown in autumn, usually, in order to enjoy its flowering in spring, with the arrival of heat, and the flowers of the lilies are undoubtedly the most appreciated of this plant. The colors of the lilies are very varied, covering white and warm tones, with the whole range from yellow to purple, passing through pinks and oranges, some flowers with really striking and unique patterns as a result of hybridization.

Not all varieties are aromatic, but some of them are a very pleasant contribution, especially intense at night. The size of the lilies also varies greatly depending on the species, with some being able to reach up to a meter in height and others much smaller.

If you want to know other 15 plants with bulbs, do not hesitate to take a look at this article that we suggest.

When it comes to growing lilies, one of their main advantages is that these plants have a great capacity for adaptation, so they can be located practically in any location. You can grow them both as outdoor and indoor plants, but you must keep in mind that:

• lilies as outdoor plants: the ideal is to look for a semi-shaded area where the soil stays rather cool.
• lilies as indoor plants: in this case it is more advisable to find a location that is as lit as possible.

As for the temperature, the ideal is that it does not drop below 10 ºC, at least during the flowering season. The optimum temperature for the plant is eBetween 22 and 26 ºC during the dayalthough an adult plant will withstand higher temperatures in summer without problems.

As we have already mentioned, when planting the bulb the most common is plant in fall or winter to bloom in the spring, although in reality they can be planted at almost any time unless the weather is very harsh.

When planting the bulb, most species should be planted at about 10cm deep, so if it is grown in a pot, it must be of a certain depth. Also, it is not good to plant several bulbs less than 15 cm from each other, because the plant needs more space. After sowing, as is common with all plants, abundant watering should be carried out.

Watering is one of the most important points in the care of lilies, since these plants need both lighting and fresh soil. For the bulb to grow properly, it needs a certain constant level of humidityalthough always without puddleswhich would be very harmful and can cause rot.

The common thing is to provide frequent irrigations but not too abundant, between every 24 and 48 hours, depending on the climate and the specific characteristics of the soil. This applies only during the warm months, of course, being usually enough in the cold ones with one or two weekly waterings.

Since this plant needs a certain level of moisture retention, it is one of the few that appreciates slightly clay soils although, as we have already said, always away from flooding.

You can mix equal parts peat moss and worm castings to create an ideal substrate for growing the lily in a pot, or add this mixture to a hole in your garden soil if your soil doesn’t meet the right conditions. The earthworm humus or the compost will provide the soil with the humidity and aeration conditions it needs, in addition to a high nutrient load that the plant will greatly appreciate.

Regarding the pH, the ideal is to keep it at a values ​​between 6 and 7.5. If the irrigation water in your area has a lot of lime and alters this pH, you can always let it rest for 24 hours before watering with it, without rushing the container, so that the sediments settle.

The most important thing here is to contribute to the plant regularly and in the warm months a organic fertilizer in the form of earthworm humus, compost or other types such as bokashi. This organic matter will be the base of the nutrients for the plant, using chemical fertilizers only if the lily shows clear signs of nutrient deficiencies.

If you want to know more about Bokashi or Bocashi compost: what it is and how to do it, do not hesitate to visit this EcologíaVerde post that we recommend.

Lilies can unfortunately be affected by many of the most common pests and diseases, such as fungi, aphids or mites, as well as suffering from rot due to excess moisture or iron chlorosis. Treat these problems as soon as possible without waiting until it is too late, and always with ecological remedies.

Discover some home remedies to eliminate aphids on plants here.

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