Software
Houzz Logo Print
boothbay_gw

Its March and I have growth

9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago

I have kept my Lilies ( 2 ) in a container down in my basement here in the NYC area, and noticed in a 50 to 60 degree laundry room, it has shown growth. Obviously, its too early to put outside, so my question is, would this kill the plant? Or would it last like the picture shows until the warmer months of April or May? Maybe, even bloom indoors under those conditions?

Comments (6)

  • 9 years ago

    Needs a lot more light than is available indoors to bloom. If you can't get outside soon, a gro-lite could help. Preferably, as soon as temps moderate a bit, get the container outside. Lilies in containers can easily tolerate cold temperatures, even with growth showing - once you get back to the upper 30's and 40's you can move it outside. Better yet, plant the lilies in the ground.

  • 9 years ago

    Well, I don't have the option to grow it in the ground, that is why its in a container. Are you saying that 30 to 40 degrees is bearable for this plant? Of course it won't be that at night time, and its too heavy to move in and out according to the weather. BTW, do you see the photo that i enclosed with this post, cause i do not see it here?

  • 9 years ago

    Lilies can easily tolerate those temps. What you want to avoid is leaving it out when it is cold enough so that the soil in the container could freeze solid. That is usually after an extended period of below 30F - say more than two or three days.

    Lilies take up very little room in the garden.......really no space to plant? The problem with containers of hardy plants attempting to be wintered over is providing the right conditions. Indoors anywhere in a heated house is too warm. Even attached garages (unheated) are often too warm. Somewhere that stays around 40F is ideal, lower is OK as long as above freezing. Light is not an issue with anything herbaceous or deciduous.

    Sorry, no photo.

  • 9 years ago

    Well we are having a cold wave here in the east and today's high was 28, so u can imagine what tonites temp would be. How then could u judge my situation if you did not see the picture? Here, I will try again.


  • 9 years ago

    All the photo does is illustrate that the container has been kept too long indoors under too high a temperature. And I already figured that out without a photo just by your narrative. Part of that growth is etiolation but it also due to warmth. Even in mild winter climates, lilies are not showing that much growth at this time of year!!

    Yes, that much top growth will be damaged at those temperatures. All you can do now is provide as much light as possible indoors and hope for the best. And maybe figure out a better way of overwintering these bulbs for next year, if they can't be planted in the ground.

  • 9 years ago

    Thank you.

Sponsored