Easter Lilies

Easter lilies, or Lilium longiflorum, are most often received as gifts or purchased for Easter decoration. Remember these plants have been grown under greenhouse conditions and forced into bloom. If possible, those conditions should be duplicated in your home.

The temperature should be from 60 - 65 degrees Fahrenheit and the plant should be kept in moderate light but out of direct sun. Water when the soil feels dry to the touch, and this is often once a day. Also, it's a good idea to wash the foliage occasionally to keep it clean and free of dust. If the plant pot is wrapped in decorative foil, make sure it still has proper drainage.

Remove the anthers (the yellow pollen bearing pods.) Your plant will last longer. Also this pollen will stain the white flower or anything else it touches, such as clothing or your good linen tablecloth. Remove the flowers as they fade to improve the appearance of the lily and to prolong its life.

It's very difficult to get the plant to bloom indoors a second time. So, once the flowers are gone, place your plant in a sunny window until all danger of frost passes. Then plant it outdoors and it may reward you with blooms again in the fall. It prefers well-drained soil and a spot out of hot daytime sunshine. Fertilize several times during the summer with a 6-6-6 fertilizer. Unless you live in a very temperate zone, it's best to dig your bulbs up in the fall and store them until the following spring. If you do leave them out, mulch with at least four inches of straw as frost protection.

One warning about your Easter Lily. It has been given a high toxicity rating. This toxicity, however, has only been reported in cats. If you see your cat munching on a lily leaf (or an other part of your plant) rush him to the vet for emergency treatment. Any delay on your part, and you may lose your cat. As a safety precaution, always place your plants where pets (and, of course, small children) can't reach them. Try growing a box of catnip or even grass indoors to appease your cat's craving for greenery.

Above all, enjoy the beauty of your Easter Lily. It's a gift, you might say, from the goddesses - and from God.

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