How Long Do Lilies Last?

If you have recently planted lilies or are looking to bring some into your home or garden, you might be wondering about the lily lifespan and how this differs from life in a greenhouse, outdoors, or in a vase.

Generally, the lifespan of the flower is up to two years and this makes the Lily a perfect flower to grow in your garden. However, it might only live as long as this with proper care and maintenance and you need to ensure you are growing them in a stable environment.

We look at how to achieve this by growing them in places such as a greenhouse, to ensure the lilies are protected from extreme climates that can be damaging and letting them live to their full potential. Let’s dive in. 

The Lifespan Of Lilies

Lilies have an exotic look and a delicate nature, and this makes them a popular choice flower for many different occasions.

Many of the flowers are also pollen-free, making them great for people with allergies and they are also very fragrant, especially the Stargazer Lily. However, only with proper maintenance will they last and reach their full potential.

As we just mentioned, you can expect your lilies to have a lifespan of up to two years. Lilies are perennial plants and this means you can expect them to last a long time, even in the wild. However, you can only expect your home-grown lilies to reach their full two years if you take care of them properly. 

You should grow your lilies in a greenhouse for best results, as this will ensure you give them a steady environment and an area that is bright with fertile and well-draining soil.

This should keep the lilies happy and thriving. For proper maintenance, you should keep the soil’s moisture and give them enough warmth when they start to get dormant in winter. 

You could also fertilize your lilies from planting and this should give your plants a boost. As time passes, you might need to split up your Lilies from each other to make sure they do not get overcrowded. This division is a great method to produce the plants and maintain healthy crowded Lilies.

The Bloom Of Lilies

The Lilies bloom will depend on the variety and the environment you are growing the plants in. Lilies can bloom from the start of summer into the fall and gardeners can expect to see the flowers last around 5-7 days from when they first start budding, to when they blossom. The blooms can then last for two weeks. 

For some Lilies, it might be beneficial to fertilize them in the Spring and the Fall, especially when it comes to their blooming period.

Keeping them hydrated should help to create much healthier flowers, but exposing them to harsh sun rays and nasty temperatures can be detrimental and will affect the blossoms. 

Lilies will also benefit from deadheading and this should help them rejuvenate themselves instead of constantly producing new seeds.

Cutting off the faded flowers will make your plants neater and much more healthy. However, you should not touch the leaves until fall and then only remove them after they have dried up.

Lilies In A Vase

Lilies also make the perfect gift for a loved one as they are known for lasting up to two weeks in a vase. For them to last this long, however, you should ensure you prepare them beforehand as this will prevent them from wilting too early.

To prepare your Lilies for a vase, you should begin by trimming the stems to an inch in a diagonal direction, before removing the leaves that touch the vase water.

By doing this, you are allowing the plant to hydrate itself comfortably, and there will be a much slower build-up of bacteria in the water. For aesthetic purposes, you should remove the stamens as the pollen can stain easily.

Next, you need to find an appropriate vase and fill it with water and flower food, both at room temperature. After you have done this, keep checking the water level and cleanliness to make sure you have healthy cut Lilies.

You might also need to trim the stems every so often to keep them looking as fresh as possible. Besides using bloomed Lilies, you could also consider forcing cut Lilies to open themselves and this will allow for a prolonged blooming lifespan. 

Planting Lilies 

To ensure your Lilies will live as long as possible, you need to know proper planting techniques. The best time to grow the flower will depend on your region, yet it is best to plant them before winter arrives so they will be established once the freezing temperatures start to occur. You could also plant your Lilies in the fall and this will give you healthy roots by the Spring. 

You should keep your Lilies in a bright area in the house, somewhere that receives at least eight hours of sunlight as this can help produce healthy blooms.

The soil should also be well-draining, fertile, and also acidic to neutral to fully support the flowers. Plant the roots deeply and amend the soil with organic matter to improve its quality. 

You might also want to plant the bulb deep enough that it is thrice the height of the plant and pointed side up. Give enough space among the plants and water them well to help them establish themselves.

Caring For Lilies

You can fertilize the Lilies for six weeks post-bloom before composting and mulching in the Spring. Whilst Lilies do not rebloom in a season, you can still choose to remove any faded flowers and this will keep your Lilies healthy and thriving. You can also cut any dead sections at the end of the fall.

If you live in a region with extreme freezing temperatures, you should always keep the Lilies in a greenhouse so you do not risk damage from frost. 

Final Thoughts

We hope after reading this article you understand the full life potential of Lilies and how with proper care and maintenance, you can enjoy the plant for up to two years.

They make a great houseplant as they can keep in a vase for up to two weeks and they will add a splash of color to any decor.

However, you must remember that Lilies will only last this long with proper care and maintenance so ensure you grow them in a suitable environment and keep them well-hydrated to watch those flowers bloom!