Caring for lily bulbs over winter

This question was asked by
Merilyn Ainley –

I bought some lily bulbs from you this year. Some went in the ground some in pots.
Do I cut the ones in the ground right ground to over winter and do they need covering?
What do I do with the ones in tubs? Do they need separating and repotting now and where do I put them over the winter? Do they need watering over winter?
Thank you

Hi Merylin

You can find all planting and care instructions on every product page on our website. Here are some key tips for caring for your lily bulbs:

When the Lily has finished flowering, cut any seed heads back and allow the foliage to die back naturally. Do not be tempted to cut the stem back until stems becomes hollow and brown.
Lilies like a cold dormant phase throughout winter so they do not need lifting or protecting. Do ensure they have adequate drainage so they don’t get waterlogged as this will cause the bulbs to rot.
If planting in pots, it may be an idea to tilt the pots on their side in the winter to prevent waterlog.
After a few years of flowering, you may find your lilies produce less blooms, it may be time to lift your bulbs and divide them by breaking off the bulblets. All the bulbs will then need replanting.

You can feed your lilies with a Tomato Feed to stimulate and strengthen your lilies when you start to see signs of growth. Make up your tomato feed with half the recommended dilution (written on the instructions on the bottle) and feed once every 3 weeks.

LILIES

The Hart Family