Care of Easter Flowers

The traditional Easter flower, Easter lily, is a large-bloomed flower in pure white for which it is prized as a symbol of joy, peace, hope and the promise of spring as a reflection of renewal in life. With a display of trumpet-shaped flowers measuring up to 8 inches in length, the large blossoms and pleasing fragrance offer both holiday appeal as well as year-round interest. Easter lilies will reach approximately 18 to 24 inches in height and need only moderate care for healthy growth.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You’ll Need:

• Mulch
• Gardening gloves
• Pruning shears
• Fast-release 8-8-8 fertilizer

1. Determine whether your region’s temperatures are well-suited to Easter lilies. Aim for daytime temperatures that remain below 68 degrees Fahrenheit and nighttime temperatures at a range of 40 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the University of Illinois Extension. Grow your Easter flowers in an indoor, controlled environment like your home or a greenhouse if necessary.

2. Grow Easter flowers in a location that provides bright, indirect sunlight like a curtain-covered window, if grown as a houseplant. Avoid direct sun exposure that can injure plants.

3. Care for Easter lilies by planting them in well-drained soil with a pH level of 6.5 to 7.0 for best development.

4. Add a 2-inch layer of mulch to the area surrounding your Easter lilies using leaves or pine needles, suggests the Clemson University Extension. Employ the use of mulch to keep weeds at bay that can compete for nutrients with your lilies while attracting pests into your home garden.

5. Deadhead flowers with pruning shears once they lose their luster to promote new growth and bloom and to keep the plant looking healthy.

6. Water for moist soil only when the top layer of soil is dry to the touch but wait between each irrigation as excessive water can lead to root rot problems.

7. Apply fast-release 8-8-8 fertilizer once winter is over and new growth appears. Reapply fertilizer once a month until first bloom, suggests the Clemson University Extension.