Hi,
Whether planted in the garden or in pots, spider lilies need monthly fertilizer. Use a fertilizer for bulbs, not a general garden fertilizer.
Once the lilies have bloomed, cut back the stems to ground level. They don't blossom until late in the fall when the days are hot and the nights are cool.
Spider lilies don't like to be disturbed, but after they have bloomed you can dig up the bulb, remove any new bulbs and plant them to spread them around.
Feed monthly with a balanced houseplant fertilizer.
bulb fertilizer is slow release, like 9-9-6, 4-10-6, 5-10-20 or 10-10-20. The 9-9-6 is ideal for most bulbs including lilies, tulips, etc. Daffodil experts recommend using slow release 5-10-20 or 10-10-20.
If you do not have bulb fertilizer, use 2-3 pounds of 5-10-10 per 100 square feet.
Garden lilies are fertilized in the spring as shoots emerge. Use 5-10-10 or 10-20-20. A second application of fertilizer is recommended just before flowering.
Organic gardeners use cottonseed meal, greensand and bone meal for the 3 components.
Labels: fertilizing hardy bulbs, Lycoris, Minnesota Master Gardeners
