Has it been chilly there? Many daylilies don't open well without enough warmth.

Joy

Hi Joy,
I live in Florida. It has not been at all chilly here. (at least for people) Some nights it's a little chilly-highs only in the high 50s. But it goes up to mid to high seventies to low eighties during the day.
Any other ideas?
Lin

Well, I thought it might be unlikely sense you're in Florida but the weather has been pretty goofy lately, so you never know.
That's the only reason I know of for a flower not opening. Doesn't mean there aren't other reasons, just none I'm aware of yet. Will be interesting to learn some of the other causes. :-)
Sorry I can't help more.

Joy

I was wondering about the weather too. Figgured it could not be cold there in zone 9 Florida but that's the common cause of non opening.

New York Rita,
I was counting on you having an answer! Betty is my largest and healthiest looking daylily plant right now. They are opening, but not nearly all the way. I would say at most half way. Could she need more water? Fertilizer? Kisses and hugs? And while I have your attention, I forgot to fertilize some of my daylilies last month. Is to too late to give them anything? Thanks NYR.
Lin

HI Everyone,
Gene Wynn emailed me back and said April is not a great month for daylilies and that it should open nicely in May.

I'm glad you got an answer from someone that knows about growing daylilies in your part of the country Lin.

Joy

Most of my early blooms have not opened well. Erratic weather, too cold at night still. Plus a few aphids and thrips complicating things. Give them some water and as it warms up, the blooms will start to open well.

I have grown 'Betty Warren Woods' for some time and love it. It is one of the best daylilies, but it does have an opening problem. There will usually be a flawed tepal in every bloom. But unless you enter it in the flower show, you won't mind.
Ed

I do not think water, fertilizer or love have anything to do with why they will not open Your nights must be cold enough to give them problems and some daylilies just need it very warm (and humid) to open.

Who knows, everyones garden conditions are slightly different. I got rid of FRANCOIS VERHART last fall because only two flowers opened all the way. Yet it was plenty hot and humid last summer. Yet it opens perfectly at a fellow daylily club members garden not 20 minutes from me. WONDER OF IT ALL hardly ever opens for me either, it gets hung up on those crinkly edges. I never have tried Betty Warren Woods so don't know about that one.

I don't know if your supposed to fertilize when they are blooming and it sounds as if thats the case. You could always throw some alfalfa pellets around, they make a good tonic and give the daylilies a nice jump.

You need to ask someone from your region about the fertilizing now, I just don't know about conditions in Florida.

If it's getting down into the 50's at night that is probably the problem. I know when it is cold here, they take longer to open, and some don't open fully. The same plants are fine when it is warmer.

I am having the same problem. I live in zone 9A some on the stem will open and others try to open, but they're stuck at the top and then if you try to help them they never really open up. They bloomed in May and are still blooming and it's June. I think it's a fifth maybe six I don't know what day it is. Some get full sun and some get parts on part shade and the problems the same in both places. They all get the same treatment. It's been a beautiful spring here the evenings of cool the days are in the '80s. We've had a few days in the 90s but now we're getting rain and it's cooled off some. Prettiest and driest spring I've seen in years. Just noticed your post for 12 years ago so I guess this post is worthless since this is 2021.

If you are not having low night temps, it may be insect damage. With mine, it's usually thrips. They are small and black and look like the top part of an ! Insect spray for roses will take care of thrips, if that is what you have.

Debra