5. Blooming Tips
Lilies only bloom once each season. Once the plant finishes flowering, cut back the stem at the base. It’s vital not to remove any leaves from the bottom until the season finishes, and they begin to wilt and turn brown. The flowering cycle for these plants lasts until late fall, and by cutting away the leaves, you run the risk of the plant not producing enough food from sunlight to feed itself.
Lilies cut back too early have diminished flowering capacity the following season and, as a result, produce smaller flowers. Before the winter season sets in, add 6-inches of mulch to delay the ground freeze and keep the roots of your lilies growing.
If you live in an area of the United States that doesn’t experience a harsh winter that freezes the ground, keep the soil moist throughout the wintertime. As the lilies begin to shoot through the layer of mulch in the spring, remove a thin layer to assist growth in the stem.