Category Archives: Lily Care

Late Lily Division

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This question was asked by
– Christina – 

Good morning.

I was meant to divide my pot grown oriental lilies in late autumn but I was unwell and the weather has been very wet where I live so couldn’t do it recently. I am wondering if I can still lift and divide them in December or early January or is this too late? They have been growing in the same pot for a number of years and they really do need separated. I also had to leave them uncovered through these last few weeks due to my illness and they have been getting rained on and wondered if this would affect them.at all as I know they don’t really like being overly wet in winter. Hopefully you can help as don’t want them.to be left much longer and for them to go to waste.

Kind regards.

split lily bulbs

Thank you for your message. I hope you’re feeling better now!

You can still lift and divide your pot-grown oriental lilies in early January, even if it’s later than usual. At this stage, they will be dormant, which actually makes it a good time to separate the bulbs carefully without causing too much stress. Just take care when handling them so as not to damage the roots or bulbs.

Regarding the wet weather and exposure to rain: while oriental lilies prefer well-drained soil and don’t like sitting in waterlogged conditions, a few weeks of rain while dormant isn’t usually a major problem. Just make sure when you lift them to let them dry off slightly and remove any bulbs that show signs of rot before replanting or dividing.

Once divided, you can repot them into fresh, well-draining compost and give them a sheltered spot until growth resumes in spring. This should help them recover and thrive for the coming season.

I hope that helps!
The Hart Family

Lilies and the pesky beetles

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This question was asked by
– Julia Holden – 

We have quite a large number of Lilies and are plagued by lily beetle. We’ve tried picking them off but it’s impossible to keep up with them all and they seem to overwinter in the soil. We’ve tried grazers and pro anti spray but with limited success. We’ve reached the pointed of giving up and removing the plants but don’t want to. Is there anything else we can do?

Lily beetle

Thank you for your message — we really feel for you. Dealing with lily beetles, especially in a large collection, can be incredibly frustrating. You’re not alone — many gardeners are facing the same battle right now, particularly after the mild winters which have helped these pests survive in greater numbers.

We completely understand why you’re feeling disheartened, but don’t give up just yet — there are still a few things you can try that may improve the situation:

1. Neem Oil Treatment:
If you haven’t already, we highly recommend trying Neem Oil. It’s an organic solution that acts as both a deterrent and an insect growth regulator, disrupting the beetles’ lifecycle. It’s safe to use even when your lilies are in bloom and can help reduce the population over time.

2. Early Season Prevention:
Next season, start applying a prevention spray (such as Grazers or a garlic-based spray) as soon as the lily shoots emerge. This is key — once the foliage absorbs the treatment early on, it can make the leaves taste bitter and discourage beetles from feeding or laying eggs.

3. Improve Winter Hygiene:
After flowering, make sure to clear away all old foliage and any mulch or soil where beetles could overwinter. You might also try lifting and inspecting the bulbs in autumn if the infestation has been especially severe.

4. Companion Planting:
Some gardeners find that planting strongly scented herbs or companion plants (such as garlic or mint) nearby can help mask the scent of the lilies and deter beetles.

5. Encourage Natural Predators:
Birds such as starlings, blackbirds and robins will feed on lily beetles and their larvae. Creating a bird-friendly environment can offer some natural control.

We know you’ve worked hard on your lilies, and it would be such a shame to lose them. With a more aggressive multi-step approach next season, it’s very possible to turn things around.

The Hart Family

Lily beetles

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This question was asked by
– Linda Swales – 

I bought some large lily bulbs from you a couple of years ago at Harrogate flower show. They are fantastic!
Can you tell me how to control Lily Beetles, I must have “removed” over 30 of them this year. I have also the black eggs covered in their excrement.
Regards
Mrs Swales

Good afternoon,

Thank you so much for getting in touch — we’re delighted to hear your lilies from Harrogate are still going strong and looking fantastic!

Lily beetles are unfortunately a persistent nuisance for lily growers, and it sounds like you’ve done a great job already spotting and removing both the beetles and their rather unpleasant-looking larvae.

Here are our top tips for keeping them under control:

1. Early Prevention:
Start checking your lilies regularly from early spring as soon as growth appears — the earlier you catch the beetles, the better. Daily checks are ideal, especially in warm weather.

2. Physical Removal:
As you’ve already been doing, hand-picking the bright red adults and squashing or disposing of them is effective. Keep an eye on the undersides of leaves for the orangey-red eggs and remove those too.

3. Neem Oil Spray:
Neem oil is a natural, organic deterrent that interferes with the beetle’s feeding and breeding cycle. Spray it onto the foliage, paying special attention to leaf undersides. This can be especially helpful if your lilies are already blooming and you want to avoid chemicals.

4. Lily Beetle Prevention Spray:
We also recommend using a dedicated lily beetle prevention spray early in the season, ideally when the first shoots appear. Spraying early allows the solution to be absorbed into the plant, making the foliage taste bitter to beetles. Lily Beetle Prevention Spray (SKU17972)

5. Clean-Up After Flowering:
Once your lilies have finished blooming, remove any dead foliage and debris from around the base of the plant. This reduces overwintering spots for beetles and larvae.

Despite their best efforts, many gardeners have to repeat treatments every year — but with your vigilance, your lilies should continue to thrive!

The Hart Family

Reusing lily bulbs that suffered badly with red lily beetle last year

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This question was asked by
– Dawn L

Pots were left to winter outside as they were infested with red lily beetle. Can I still take the bulbs out wash and air dry in greenhouse to reuse this year? Many thanks.

Yes, you can likely reuse the lily bulbs if they were only infested with red lily beetles and not other issues. First, thoroughly clean the bulbs by removing any visible debris and washing them gently under water. Then, allow them to air dry in a greenhouse or other protected, warm environment. Once dry, you can plant them as usual.

Tips for Preventing Future Infestations:

    • Inspect lilies early for red lily beetle larvae and adults during the growing season.

Reusing your bulbs after a beetle infestation is possible as long as you take these steps to ensure they’re clean and healthy. Hopefully, this will help you enjoy a beautiful lily display again this year!

Lily Beetle Black mess

Damaged caused by Red Lily beetle

Red Scarlet lily Beetle on Plant. Lilioceris lilii

Soil requirements

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This question was asked by
– Barbara K – 

I have alkaline clay soil, what would be suitable to order and plant?

Hi there,
If you have alkaline clay soil, you’ll want to choose summer-flowering bulbs that are tolerant of less acidic, heavier soil. While some bulbs prefer slightly acidic conditions, there are plenty of summer bulbs that thrive in alkaline clay soil. Here are some great options for your garden:

Suitable Summer Flowering Bulbs for Alkaline Clay Soil:

  • Lilies (Lilium) – Many lilies, especially Asiatic and Oriental hybrids, will do well in alkaline soil. They need well-drained but moist soil, and they’ll grow beautifully in clay with added organic matter to improve drainage.

  • Gladiolus – These thrive in a variety of soil types, including alkaline and clay. Their bright, spiky blooms are perfect for adding drama and height to borders.

  • Alliums – Alliums (such as Giant Allium and Purple Sensation) are perfect for alkaline soils and will add striking, globe-shaped flower heads to your garden.

  • Dahlias – Dahlias are very adaptable and can grow well in clay soil if it’s enriched with organic matter. They thrive in alkaline conditions and will produce vibrant, large blooms throughout summer.

  • Canna Lilies – These tropical beauties love a rich, moist soil and will thrive in your alkaline clay soil with a bit of organic matter to improve drainage.

  • Crocosmia – Known for their bright orange or red flowers, Crocosmia (also called Montbretia) thrives in alkaline soils and will add a pop of colour to your garden.

  • Begonias – Tuberous begonias prefer slightly acidic to neutral soil but can grow well in alkaline soils with added organic matter. They are perfect for pots or hanging baskets.

  • Eucomis (Pineapple Lily) – These unique, tropical-looking plants are perfectly suited to alkaline soils and add a fun, vertical element to your garden.

Oriental Trumpet Lily Conca D’Or will be happy in any well-drained soil.

Tips for Improving Your Clay Soil:

  • Amend with organic matter like well-rotted manure, compost, or leaf mould to improve soil structure and drainage.

  • Consider adding grit or sand to increase the drainage for bulbs that need it.

  • Mulch around plants to help maintain moisture levels and keep the roots cool.

What do I do after my lily has flowered?

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This question was asked by
– Sandra S

We followed all directions for taking care of the plant but now after all original giant beautiful flowers have finished blooming and all large petals have fallen off, the dark green large healthy leaves are turning brown. Will they bloom again? Not sure what to do!

Once your lilies have finished flowering, you can stop watering them and then cut just the flower heads off leaving plenty of stem on. Allow the stem and foliage to die back naturally until it has turned yellow and hollow. (This is usually towards the Autumn time.) You can then remove the stem and foliage at this point. Leaving it all to die back naturally will then feed the bulbs, allowing them to flower again the following year.

Leave the bulbs where they are (outside) over winter as they like a cold dormant phase, they just don’t like to get waterlogged as they will rot.

You can then give them a fresh layer of compost in the Spring and feed them with a diluted tomato feed during active growth periods.

Deadheading Lilies

Hope this helps.
The Hart Family

Planting Lilly bulbs in containers

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This question was asked by
– Jake

Hello,

Yesterday I bought 5x Viva-La-Vida Lilly bulbs at the Gardeners World Live exhibition. Please can you advise on the following?

1. What size pot should I use?
2. How many bulbs per pot?
3. Soil/compost potting mix requirements for container growing?
4. Should they be planted now, or wait until a more appropriate time of the year?
5. Planting requirements such as bulb depth/ spacing/ etc.
6. Watering requirements.
7. Over wintering requirements.

Thank you.

Jake.

Plant your bulbs straight away and they will flower this year still, usually in 10 to 12 weeks. They will be just a little later this year but return to their usual flowering cycle next year.

Planting Advice for Lilies:

 

    • Simply plant with the growing tip pointing upwards and the roots below and cover the top of the bulb with 4-6” (10-15cm) of soil (see each variety for which soil type to use).

 

    • If planting in pots, plant 3 bulbs in a 10-14” (25-35cm) ‘patio type’ pot. You can plant more in a larger pot or less in a smaller pot. It really depends on the display you would like to achieve. You can also stagger the planting, using different lilies to achieve different heights.

 

    • Lilies can tolerate very cold conditions but they do not like to get wet so ensure the pot has adequate drainage holes. You can horticultural grit/sand to your soil to encourage good drainage.

 

    • Most lilies prefer to be planted in a location with at least half a day’s full sunshine, if it’s a bit too shady they will lean their stems towards the sun. Unless you have Martagon lilies, as these actually like their head in the sun but feet in the shade.

 

    • Lilies are generally happy in a good-quality, peat-free, multi-purpose compost.

 

 

Overwintering

 

    • 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 become hollow and brown.

 

    • Believe it or not, lilies like a cold-dormant phase and like to be left where they are during winter, just ensure there is adequate drainage so they can’t get waterlogged. Lilies are very hardy and can tolerate up to -20°c.

 

    • Many people have lilies for a cut flower garden, if you do wish to cut lilies for indoor arrangements, then ensure to leave 50cm of stem to allow for another season of flower the following year.

 

 

Care Guide

 

    • To prevent Lily Beetles from damaging your lilies, we recommend using the Lily Beetle Prevention Spray or you can make up your own with the Concentrate. This Spray (Grazers G4) will also stimulate growth of your lilies.

 

    • You can feed your lilies with a diluted 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.

The Hart Family

Lily feed

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This question was asked by
– Mr William j V – 

I bought some Lilies from you and put in pots what should I feed them with as they come up?

Thanks

Hi there,

We would recommend using a diluted tomato feed to help your lilies on their way.

The Hart Family

How to store lily bulbs if I can’t plant them straight away

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This question was asked by
– Georgina – 

My lily bulbs have arrived today. I can’t plant for few days. What do I do with them please? Do I take them out of the plastic bags?

Yes, you can remove your lily bulbs from their packaging and keep them somewhere cool and dark until you are ready to plant them. Even the fridge will be fine. I would advise planting them within the next week or so of receiving your bulbs as they are keen to get growing.

Storing Lily Bulbs

The Hart Family