How to extend the flowering period of potted lilies and fertilize after blooming

  On a spring morning, push open the terrace door, sunlight pours in, and lilies glimmer one after another among the slender leaves. Green leaves, white flowers, yellow stamens, clear and elegant, like a poetic watercolor painting. Lilies are like a graceful young girl dancing lightly, intoxicating, and lilies come in various colors, including pink, white, yellow…… Lilies are suitable both for potted ornamental display and for ground planting as cut flowers, and the underground bulbs can also be used for food and medicine, with effects of moistening the lungs, relieving cough, clearing the heart, and calming the mind.

  Whether it is lilies grown yourself for cut flowers or lily cut flowers bought from the market, gardening enthusiasts all want to know how to extend the lily flowering period. As long as we handle them properly, we can still extend the flowering period somewhat. Below we have compiled a few points for gardening enthusiasts' reference!

  First, we need to remove the pollen, because pollen is not easy to clean off once it gets on your body, so when removing the pollen, be a little careful. The removal method is very simple, just pull it off directly. To some extent, removing the pollen can extend the flowering period, because the purpose of a plant flowering is to reproduce seeds. If the pollen lands on the stigma, the flower will quickly wither, preserving nutrients for the seeds.

  Now let's look at a few other methods that help extend the flowering period:

  1. During the journey from the flower shop to home, lilies should be especially protected and kept out of direct sunlight.

  2. Before putting them in a vase, cut the stems to help the flower stems absorb water. The best way to cut the stems is to soak the flower branches in warm water 6 inches deep, and use a sharp knife to cut a 45-degree angled cut surface. This can reduce the air drawn in and maximize water absorption.

  3. When placing them in a vase, all flower leaves that would be submerged in water need to be cut off to prevent bacteria from multiplying in the water via the flower leaves.

  4. Add cut flower nutrients (available at flower shops). The nutrients lilies need are only half the usual dose.

  5. Lilies prefer shade and fear the sun, so choose a cool place away from direct sunlight. Change the water every two or three days (and cut a new opening) to keep the water fresh and clean.

  Sufficient light plays a decisive role in the flowering ability of lilies. Except that Oriental lilies need appropriate shading during the hottest summer season, other lilies can successfully pass the summer in the north. To extend the flowering period, you can remove the middle pistil or the six surrounding stamens as soon as the flowers first open. As long as the pollination work has not been completed, it will keep blooming. Supplementing potassium fertilizer during the flowering period will make the flower color more brilliant and the flowers larger. After flowering, remove the spent flowers in time to prevent excessive consumption of nutrients.