Lilies- My Wedding

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This question was asked by
– Gill M – 

Hi!
I’ve got lots of lilies in my garden, purchased from you online or at shows over the years & apart from the dreaded lily beetle, have always had beautiful blooms.
I bought 20 ‘’My Wedding’ white lilies from you in April & they have grown well, split into 4 large pots each stem having 4or 5 buds. But they are now dying in the bud just as they are about to open. They are not short of water & not in direct sun for more than a couple of hours- what have I done wrong? Is it the heat? I live on the top of the Pennines between Yorkshire & Lancashire so it’s not exactly tropical. The leaves are still green & show no sign of wilt but the buds are just not thriving. I know it’s too late to do anything this year but any advice/ help for future years would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Gill

Lily My Wedding

 

Likely Causes of Buds Failing

Bud Blast / Bud Abortion

  • Common in lilies when conditions suddenly change (temperature swings, cold winds, or fluctuating watering).
  • The plant keeps its leaves healthy but “sacrifices” the buds.
  • More likely in exposed areas like the Pennines where weather changes quickly.

Temperature Stress

  • You’re right — not “tropical” up there! But lilies don’t like extremes either way.
  • A sudden hot spell followed by cooler nights can shock developing buds.
  • If the buds form in cooler weather, then hit heat/dry winds, they may shrivel.

Overwatering / Poor Drainage in Pots

  • Lilies hate sitting in soggy compost — roots and bulbs stay green-leafed but buds can rot from the inside.
  • Large pots need excellent drainage (lots of holes + grit).

Fungal Disease (Botrytis)

  • Sometimes affects buds only, turning them brown before opening.
  • Leaves usually show spotting if botrytis is bad, so maybe less likely here.

Nutrient Imbalance

  • Lilies are heavy feeders. If fed too much nitrogen-rich feed, you get lush green leaves but weaker buds.
  • They prefer a tomato-type feed (high potash) once stems are growing strongly, which strengthens buds and blooms.

Leave them to do their thing this year and they try again next year giving them some fresh compost and a diluted tomato feed when you start to see signs of growth.

The Hart Family