GrowSabzHow to grow lily in pots
Also called Lilium, lilium, lilies · Lilium spp.
للی
- ☀️ Sunlight
- 6–8hours daily
- 💧 Water
- 0.9 Levery 3 days, 10 L pot
- 🌡️ Ideal temp
- 18–24°C
- 🪴 Min pot
- 10 L25 cm deep
- 🧺 Harvest
- 70–90days from sowing
- ⚖️ Yield
- 1 kgper 20 L pot
Lily is a long game. From seed it takes 2-3 years before you see a harvest, which is why most growers start from a nursery plant. Container growing is entirely possible, but the container has to be sized for a plant that will live in it for years.
Short answer
Grow lily in a 10 litre container at least 25 cm deep, watering about 700 ml per 10 litres of soil every 3 days, and keep temperatures between 18 and 24 °C. First harvest comes 70–90 days after sowing.
Where to plant it
What size pot does lily need?
10 litres and 25 cm deep is the realistic minimum for a single plant. Pick a container below to see what changes.
| Container | Minimum size | Depth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pot | 10 L | 25 cm | Ensure good drainage to prevent bulb rot. |
| Grow bag | 10 L | 25 cm | Fabric bags provide excellent aeration. |
| Open ground | — | 30 cm | Plant bulbs at appropriate depth and spacing. |
| Raised bed | 20 L | 30 cm | Allows for custom soil mix and good drainage. |
Watering
How often should you water lily?
Every 3 days through the growing season, at about 700 ml per 10 litres of soil — every 2 days in hot weather, every 5 days when it turns cool. Water in the early morning. Base of plant works best.
Too little water
- wilting leaves
- stunted growth
- flower bud drop
Too much water
- yellowing leaves
- soft bulbs
- root rot
- fungal growth
Avoid: water on leaves; standing water; shallow frequent watering.
Climate
Can you grow lily where you live?
No hardiness zone needed — compare your actual temperatures against the plant's own limits.
| Ideal range | 18 – 24 °C |
|---|---|
| Survives | -10 – 30 °C |
| Germinates above | 15 °C — best at 20 °C, about 30 days |
| Flowers drop | above 28 °C, or below 10 °C |
| Sunlight | 6–10 hrs/day, best 8 |
| Frost | Medium sensitivity |
The flower-drop thresholds matter more than the survival ones. A plant can be perfectly alive at 30 °C and still give you nothing.
How cold is too cold for lily? Check your temperaturesEnter your night low and day high — see if it survives, and if it will cropTimeline
Lily growing stages, day by day
Click any stage to see what's happening. Durations shift with temperature — a warm season runs roughly a quarter faster than a cool one.
Feeding
Fertiliser schedule for lily
Feed on the interval below, changing what you give as the plant shifts from making leaves to making fruit.
| Stage | What to use | Per 10 L | Every |
|---|
How to prepare each feed
Common mistakes
Why lily fails, and how to avoid it
- A container that is too small
Below 10 litres the root run is too shallow. The plant grows, flowers late, and drops whatever it sets because it cannot support the crop.
- Watering too lightly
A daily splash wets the top few centimetres and nothing else. Lily wants about 700 ml per 10 litres of soil — one deep soak beats three shallow ones.
- Wetting the leaves
Overhead watering in the evening leaves foliage damp overnight, which is exactly the condition fungal disease needs. Water the soil, early in the day.
- Ignoring the flower-drop threshold
Above 28 °C, or below 10 °C, flowers fall before setting. The plant can look perfectly healthy and still give you nothing — shade it through the hottest hours.
- Planting it beside Walnut
Walnut trees release juglone, a chemical toxic to many plants, including some lily varieties, causing stunted growth or death.
Companions
What to plant with lily
Good neighbours
Lilies and roses complement each other aesthetically and can share similar light requirements, creating a beautiful garden display.
Their broad leaves provide ground cover, keeping the soil cool and moist around lily bulbs, and suppressing weeds.
Offer similar benefits to hostas, providing shade for lily roots and adding a lush, contrasting texture to the garden.
Known to deter common lily pests like aphids and voles with their strong scent.
Plants like Impatiens or Lobelia provide excellent ground cover, keeping lily roots cool and moist, and adding color at the base.
Keep apart from
Walnut trees release juglone, a chemical toxic to many plants, including some lily varieties, causing stunted growth or death.
Vigorous groundcovers like ivy can aggressively compete for nutrients and water, potentially smothering young lily shoots.
Large, dense shrubs can create too much shade, hindering lily growth and flowering, and compete heavily for resources.
Planting lilies near other bulb plants susceptible to the same diseases (e.g., Fusarium basal rot) can increase disease spread.
Problems
Lily pests and diseases
Each lists the weather that brings it on, so you know when to start checking rather than reacting once it's established.
Lily Beetle humidity any · temp 10-25
Bright red beetles and their slug-like larvae (often covered in black frass) feed voraciously on leaves, stems, and buds, causing severe defoliation.
Aphids humidity any · temp 15-25
Small, soft-bodied insects that cluster on new growth and undersides of leaves, sucking sap and potentially transmitting viruses. Leaves may curl or distort.
Botrytis Blight humidity >80% · temp 15-20
Also known as lily blight, causes small, reddish-brown spots on leaves, which enlarge and merge, leading to leaf and bud rot, especially in cool, wet conditions.
Fusarium Basal Rot humidity any · temp >20
A fungal disease that causes the base of the bulb to rot, turning it soft and brown. Infected plants may yellow, wilt, and eventually collapse. Often due to poor drainage or damaged bulbs.
Mosaic Virus humidity any · temp any
Causes mottled, streaked, or distorted leaves, stunted growth, and reduced flower quality. Spread by aphids or contaminated tools. No cure, remove infected plants.
Slugs Snails humidity >70% · temp 10-20
These mollusks chew irregular holes in leaves and young shoots, especially during damp conditions. Look for slime trails.
Voles Mice humidity any · temp any
Rodents like voles and mice can eat lily bulbs underground, leading to sudden plant collapse or failure to emerge. Protect bulbs with wire cages.
Harvest
When to harvest lily
First picking falls between day 70 and day 90, and the plant then keeps producing for about 20 days. Pick often — what you leave on the plant signals it to stop making more.
How to tell it's ready
- Buds are plump and showing color, but not fully open (for cut flowers)
How much to expect
Storing it: Place cut stems in water immediately and store in a cool, dark place for extended vase life.
Questions
Lily: common questions
How long does lily take to grow?
About 90 days from sowing to the first harvest, with picking usually starting between day 70 and day 90. It then keeps producing for roughly 20 more days. Warm weather pulls that forward; cool weather pushes it back.
What size pot does lily need?
At least 10 litres and 25 cm deep for one plant. A raised bed wants 20 litres of soil and 30 cm of depth.
How often should I water lily?
About 700 ml per 10 litres of soil, every 3 days in normal weather — every 2 days when it is hot and every 5 days when cool. Water in the early morning.
What temperature does lily need?
It does best between 18 °C and 24 °C and survives from -10 °C to 30 °C. Seed needs soil above 15 °C to germinate, ideally around 20 °C.
Can I grow lily in winter?
It tolerates cold better than most, down to about -10 °C, so a sheltered spot or a cold frame will often carry it through.
How do I know when lily is ready to harvest?
Buds are plump and showing color, but not fully open (for cut flowers). Once picked: place cut stems in water immediately and store in a cool, dark place for extended vase life.
How much does one lily plant produce?
Roughly 1 kg from a 20 litre container, or about 2 kg in open ground. Larger containers give proportionally more, up to a point.