Just planted, already dying.

9 years ago

I just planted my yellow Asiatic lilies I just bought. The person from the store said they are already hardened and ready to go right into the ground. He said to water them as soon as they are down which matched the little instruction tab that came with it.

However, yesterday there was a flower that was wilted completely. I went out today before work and another one has already dropped off too. Yet, one that wasn't opened has already opened. So two died, one bloomed.

I'm not sure what to do here. I'm very new at this as this is the first time planting. Is this to much water, not enough, bad pH, I just don't know. Any advice?

Featured Answer

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7

9 years ago

Yard, other than the rapid wilting of overly ripe flowers, there should never be any symptoms of transplant shock of any healthy annual, perennial, tree, shrub, and any other plant. As long as the roots aren't mashed or stems broken, and the soil isn't a concrete-like mess, and basic aftercare tended to, then transplant shock need never occur.

I, too, seek plants that are budded but not in full bloom. If I have no choice in my purchase, then I will snip off the full blooms before planting. If I were you, I think that I would shop around for some stunning Asiatic lily bulbs for fall planting, and fill your beds up now with some hard working annuals....something that will bloom for the rest of the season.

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Comments (10)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
9 years ago
flowers themselves are too foo foo to take transplant shock ...

next time .. buy one that perhaps one single bud.. just opening ... so you can know color ....

and then the others will bloom when the plant settles in .. and you will extend your viewing pleasure ....

problem is.. you dont know how many days those flowers were open ...

just a little too much drama.. thinking its dying .... you get over that ... as your learning curve grows ...

in effect.. what you bought.. is a bulb.. for the future .. this years show is just a bonus ...

look for bulb sales ... at the proper planting time ... and plant a few ... i think its fall ... unless i killed that brain cell ...

ken
Yard Newbie thanked ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
Yard Newbie
Original Author
9 years ago
Okay, I'll do some research on buying just bulbs. I would like to try to get this going so there isn't just boring mulch in front of my house. How could I get a few of these going now without killing them all and wasting money?

If I buy a few that are just barely opening, you think they will most likely survive transplanting?

Also, is there a way to get this to bounce back? Should I trim the dead ones, leave them, water them, what?
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floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Yard Newbie - I am wondering if you are aware that lilies will only bloom once per season? Yours was purchased with open flowers so it was already approaching its peak. Each flower bud will open, bloom, wilt and die. When all have bloomed it will not flower again until next year. The plant itself looks absolutely fine. Its just doing what comes naturally.

p.s. this is a bulb rather than annual so it has the potential to return next year if it is happy.
Yard Newbie thanked floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
Yard Newbie
Original Author
9 years ago
This is great info. I am going to head over to the nursery tonight and see what they have. Any recommendations on something that has the bright yellow and interesting shape to this Lilly that will last all summer and deal well with direct Utah heat? It's not uncommon for us to be in the 95-105 range at the peak of summer.

If there is nothing similar to this, what would you all recommend as a nice, interesting type of flower for the front of my house? I face West.
stir_fryi SE Mich
9 years ago
I have similar Asiatic lilies -- they are lovely but their bloom time is short and then you are left looking at their ugly stalk the rest of the summer. I would bet they are wilting because they are done blooming for the year.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
9 years ago
You might want to investigate daylilies, Hemerocallis. Not only are they perennials, so return year after year, but they also have a flower that resembles the shape of an Asiatic lily flower. And while each flower is only open for a single day, they can produce a lot of flowers and not all at once. The very popular (and common) Stella D'Oro is an ever-blooming variety that will produce flowers over a very long season and is the same bright yellow-gold color of your bulb lily. There are a number of other ever-blooming varieties as well. A tough plant that can thrive on sun, heat and a lot of neglect!!
Yard Newbie
Original Author
9 years ago
Well, hopefully they last a bit of time while I establish a few others flowers right now.

I'll definitely check those out. I'm having fun learning all this now I finally have a yard. I'll see if this nursery has some if I can make it tonight.
mzdee
9 years ago
The good news is the lily will come back for you year after year. Gardening is sheer patience.
Paul MI
9 years ago
Most perennials only flower for a short time each season. Asiatic lily flowers only last a week or two. This is not uncommon amongst perennial plants. Flowering is an "expensive" undertaking for a plant in terms of the drain on its energy reserves. So for the rest of the season, your plants will be gathering and storing energy for next year. Annuals, on the other hand, essentially bloom themselves to death. Because they will not make through a second growing season, they have no reason to "hold back" and bloom nonstop.