I started growing lilies in containers out of pure frustration. I had planted some gorgeous orange-red lilies I’d gotten from the MSHS Bulb Sale in my garden borders. Every time the bulbs stems or leaves popped up, a rabbit was there to munch it down—for a couple of years, I never saw a bloom. Then, I caged the bulbs with chicken wire and that worked, but it looked like my lilies were in prison.
So, at the end of the 2019 season, I dug up my bulbs and threw them in a container that stayed outside all winter, not expecting them to survive. But they did, and they bloomed beautifully during the summer of 2020 in containers. At the end of the year, I moved the bulb containers into the garage for storage. They have survived again!
What a Bulb Wants
I talked about bulbs and containers on a recent episode of Grow it, Minnesota with Mike Heger, renowned Minnesota plantsman and author of the book Growing Perennials in Cold Climates. Bulbs are part of a plant’s stem structure. The bulb stores food for the next season and roots grow into the soil below the bulb.
Lilies (Lilium) are a huge genera of plants, and Mike described some of the different classifications of lilies in the podcast. Most lilies (the exception is Martagon lilies) like a sunny location and well-drained soil. They aren’t fussy about fertilizers and are a fairly easy plant to grow. They don’t have long tap roots and can be dug up in winter, though unlike dahlias, canna lilies and other summer bulbs, lilies can survive a Minnesota winter underground. If you aren’t bothered by bunnies, they are easy to grow and long-lived.
Growing in Containers
For best luck in containers, consider purchasing bulbs of dwarf lilies. For the 2021 season, I bought two new varieties, Lily Looks™ Tiny Crystal, a bright white asiatic lily that grows only about a foot tall and produces six or more flowers per stem, and Lily Looks™ Tiny Bee, a bright yellow variety. Remember that some some lilies will grow 5 or 6 feet tall, so pay attention to the mature height of the lilies you buy. It will be listed on the plant tag.
I chose terracotta containers for growing lilies because they blend in well with the rest of my plantings. Plastic, ceramic or composite containers would work well, too. Whatever container you choose, fill it with a good commerical potting mix. I add a bit of extra perlite to the mix to increase drainage. Fill the container to about 6 inches below the top of the container. Place your bulbs flat side down (often you’ll see some roots growing off the bulb — those face down) and pointy side up. Top them off with more potting soil, water them well and set them outside.
Caring for Lilies in Containers
You’ll be surprised how quickly the plant will grow, sending up green stems and then big beautiful flowers. Water them regularly, but not excessively. I tuck the lily pots into the back of my vegetable and insectary garden until they start blooming. Then, I move the pots to wherever in the garden a little extra color is needed.
After blooming, be sure the lilies stay outside to gather sunlight and energy for next year’s growth. Feel free to cut back the spent blooms (or cut blooms for bouquets and arrangements) but leave the foliage on the plant until fall.
If you want to leave the bulbs in the same container for next year, move it into a somewhat protected location, such as an unheated garage. Another option is to plant your bulbs in the garden in September. According to Mike, lily bulbs grow beautifully when planted in September in Minnesota. Of course, you’ll have to watch out for the bunnies!
Hi Mary, I love that idea. If you have words of wisdom to grow some of my favorite bulbs, Ranunculus, I’m all ears
Last year they only developed mediocre leaves and one baby flower. The bulbs didn’t come cheap so it was a huge disappointment. I also love growing marigolds in pots, they’re so easy and when you move them around there’s always color somewhere to be found. I like variety, including the tiny but tall fairy like ones, my sister brought marigold seeds from Holland but I don’t know the name. Marigolds are important where I live in Mantorville, for our famous Marigolds Days the weekend after Labor Day. But right now I’m busy keeping the deer from eating our tulips. Oh well, when you chose to live and love Minnesota, gardening will always be a give and take:-). Happy gardening!
I have no words of wisdom on Ranunculus yet — I ordered some corms a few weeks ago and will be growing them this year for the first time. I’ll let you know how it goes!
Good luck Mary, I may have to visit and pick some up:-). Annemieke
Thanks for this information. I am in southern Ontario, so probably farther south then you are in Minn., but we still get a rotten (for me) winter. Our average January temperature is in the high 20s, but we do get some days where the mercury drops below 0. And usually lots of snow.
So my question is, what do you do with the stems once you have cut them off at, or near ground level? I have read of people who cover the cut-off stems with a piece of plastic wrap, or even tin foil (!?) so water and snow don’t go right into the stem/bulb. Do you otherwise do anything to protect them from the snow? My biggest pest problem is not with bunnies, but with chipmunks and voles. They dig deep and go right for the bulbs.
Thanks for commenting. I’m fortunate not to have problems with chipmunks or voles. I know some people put hardware clothe around and under their bulbs to keep them out or use gravel around the bulbs because the critters don’t like the feel of that on their feet. This post has some good information on ways to do that. I cut the stems pretty close to the ground (sometimes they just pull out of the bulb) so I haven’t had issues with rotting. Good luck!
Several bulbs looking grow at the top of my Asiatic Lilies stalk. I can see the roots coming out as well. Are they new bulbs that need to be cut and planted or are they flowering buds? Wish I can send picture. Thank you for any info you can give.
I have never heard of that happening. Would love to see photos. Send to mynortherngarden at gmail dot com.
I have been working on a lily garden for about ten years. I have two lily gardens growing like a big L. I have red beetle visitors. Of course they only eat certain leaves. I have seen the damage they can do. They can eat a lily to a bare stalk in a matter of days. I hadn’t seen my red lilies in two years. Anyway I have to get the jump on them quick. Every two-three days I check for those little rascals. Of all my attempts, I find Neely oil is the best. I track down some purple lily bulbs. So I’m very excited to see how they they will grow in the spring.
Lillies grow well in my zone 6A garden, but the bunnies sure do love to eat them! I’d given up growing these but now I’m going to try putting them in some tall pots on my patio. Brilliant idea. Oddly enough, the bunnies never touch the Easter lillies I’ve planted outside after their Easter duties are done.
I received a bunch of free oriental lilies with a bulb order and didn’t have space in the little border garden for them, so I decided to try them in decent-sized pots, treating them as the bottom layer of a bulb lasagna with anemones just in case they didn’t pan out. Left them partially sheltered outdoors next to a sunny wall. Nothing shooting up yet, I’m on the edge of zone 6/7, but I’m curious to see how they fare. Oriental lilies don’t tend to feature as ingredients in bulb lasagnas, and these aren’t dwarf varieties, so it will be interesting if they grow.
Let me know how it works out! It could be very pretty.
Thank you for this wonderful guide on growing lilies in containers. I found it very helpful and informative. I have some lily bulbs that I’m planning to plant soon and I was wondering how to care for them in pots. Your article answered all my questions and more. I love the variety of lilies you have and how you arranged them in your garden. They look stunning.
This guide on growing lilies in containers is so helpful and inspiring! Can’t wait to try it myself!