I Remember When...Tips for Caring for Your Easter Lillies

The crisp breezes of spring and the smell of fresh flowers in the air brings back many fond memories of the joy of Easter as a little girl. With sleep still in my eyes, I remember standing on the dew covered grass and watching the sun slide up over the beautiful West Virginia mountains at the morning sunrise service. Once the sunrise service was complete, we piled in the car and headed back to the church with the promise of a hot breakfast waiting to greet us. The church was beautiful when the light glowed through the stained class window and painted the walls with a rainbow of colors, but on Easter there was something special that added to the beauty of the old church. The bright white flowers of Easter lilies filled the building, and their sweet smell welcomed each smiling person as they walked through the door. At the end of the service, people walked through the wooden doors carefully carryring their pots. Now, if these people are like my mom, this would be the beginning of the end for that beautiful Easter lily. Unfortunately, mom was not blessed with a green thumb! Fortunately, I am hear to help! Below you will find a list of tips I have found for caring for your Easter lilies.

• Display your plant in bright, but indirect sunlight.
• Protect your Easter Lily from drafts and heat sources, such as fireplaces, heaters and appliances.
• Remove the yellow anthers from the flower centers. This helps prolong the life of the blossoms and prevents the pollen on the anthers from staining the flowers, your hands, clothing, tablecloths, rugs and anything else it can find its way to.
• Cool daytime temperatures in the 60 - 65 degree F. range will prolong the life of the blooms. The temperature can be even cooler at night.
• Water the Easter Lily only when the soil becomes dry to the touch and don’t leave it dry for an extended period of time.
• If the lily’s pot is in a decorative foil wrapper, be sure water is not accumulating under the pot. More plants die from over watering than under watering.
• Remove flowers has they fade and wither. 

As Easter draws nearer, I hope each of you are enjoying your time with your families and looking forward to creating memories of those beautiful flowers with the next generation.