How to care for lilies in summer? Master these care tips

Lilies come in a wide variety of colors and varieties, with large, trumpet-shaped flowers, and are widely loved because their name carries the meaning of "a harmonious union lasting a hundred years" and "a heart in harmony with all things." Summer is the main flowering and dormancy period for lilies, and care and management during this time is very important.

Cooling and sun protection. The suitable growing temperature for lilies is 15°C to 25°C, within which they can maintain good growth and flowering. When flowering, the potted plants can be moved to a shaded spot, or a screen can be placed over the plants for shade, along with enhanced ventilation and cooling, which helps extend the flowering period. Lily bulbs cannot tolerate high temperatures, so when the intense summer heat arrives, measures should be taken to lower the soil temperature; sawdust, chopped grass, leaves and the like can be spread over the surface of the potting soil to cool it down.

Dormancy management. When the temperature rises above 30°C, lilies will gradually enter dormancy, and the stems and leaves will gradually wither and turn yellow. Once they have fully entered dormancy, the withered stems and leaves of the above-ground part should be cut off, keeping the soil on the dry side. If conditions allow, the lily bulbs can be dug out, buried in moist but somewhat dry peat soil, and stored in a cool place, then taken out for planting again in autumn.

Watering and fertilizing. Early summer is the peak season for lily growth and flowering, so watering should be increased to keep the soil moist, and at the same time apply 10-fold diluted decomposed liquid fertilizer once every 10 to 15 days, and add 1000-fold diluted potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution 1 to 2 times when buds appear. After flowering, apply 10-fold diluted decomposed liquid fertilizer mixed with an equal amount of 500-fold diluted potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution 2 to 3 times as a top dressing. When lilies begin to enter dormancy, water supply should be reduced so that the soil is only slightly moist, to encourage dormancy.

Staking to prevent breakage. Some lilies have large and numerous flowers, and their stems are rather slender, so supports made of bamboo sticks or wire can be set up to secure them and prevent the flowering stems from breaking.