My Stargazers stay in the ground. I've had them for probably 10 years. I would plant them in the ground. If you're cocerned, mulch them well. The difficulty with growing orientals in zone 4 is not so much that the bulbs aren't hardy, as that our growing season is usually to short to allow the foliage to ripen naturally and feed the bulb for the following season. Stargazers are one of the earlier blooming orientals and that usually gives them sufficient time for the foliage to feed the bulb.

Orientals need at least slightly acidic soil to survive our winters. (Neutral or high pH soil is just another hardship that makes them less hardy.) A pH of 6.0 is probably ideal, but my orientals do fine with a pH of about 6.8. They tend to be the most picky, among the common lilies, for needing excellent drainage.

Good quality potting soil is usually about pH 6.8. But if you have been watering with high pH water all season, start using a quarter to half teaspoon of vinegar per gallon of water to bring the pH down.

I am getting ready to store my first set of stargazer lilies for the winter. I was looking for any information on what is the best way to store them and get them ready for next year. I planted about 12 blulbs and only 2 of them flowered either with 2 or 3 blooms for the whole blooming season. I will take anyones advice that will help me out for storing and then transplanting them again in the spring.

These are my favorite lilies, I used them in a bridal bouquet entry for a horticulture entry at the state farm show while in high school and fell in love with them.

So any advice will be greatly appreciated.