As one of the easiest perennial plants to grow, Daylily Bulbs are dubbed “the perfect perennial” by many gardeners.
Daylily flowers are huge and colorful, so if you want a flowering plant to spice up your garden, you won’t have to search too far.
When to plant Daylily Bulbs? Plant your Daylilies when all dangers of frost are gone. For best results, do it any time between late spring and early fall. Spring planted Daylilies will have sufficient time to establish their roots before winter. For fall-planted Daylilies, apply a layer of mulch to protect them from the cold.
Planting Daylily Bulbs in Different Climates
Daylilies are highly adaptable perennial plants that thrive in almost every climate. Here’s what you can expect if you try growing Daylilies in your garden:
Tropical Climate
Daylilies are sun-lovers, so they grow well under a warm climate.
Adding mulch, though not essential, will be beneficial for the growth of your Daylilies during hot and humid temperatures.
Popular options for mulch are wood chips and pine straw.
Dry Climate
Daylilies are drought-tolerant, so they will be a good addition to your perennial garden if you are from a hot and dry climate.
Note that you need to expose dark-colored flower variants to afternoon shade for them to retain their color.
Temperate Climate
This is the ideal climate for growing Daylilies.
You will find the most successful growth rate here since these perennial plants are originally from the temperate regions of Asia.
However, be mindful of Daylily rust, which is most common in temperate regions.
It usually begins as whitish or yellowish spots on the upper surface of the leaves. Avoid overhead watering for prevention.
Continental Climate
Marked by its hot summers and cold winters, continental climates may be intimidating for someone new to growing Daylilies.
The good news is that there is no need for you to worry.
Many Daylily varieties will have no problem growing with little to lots of rains, strong winds, and other weather surprises.
Polar Climate
If you are from an area where temperatures plummet far below freezing point in winter, plant your Daylilies eight weeks or earlier before the ground freezes.
Mulching will also help in moisture retention and minimize the effects of freezing and thawing.
Apply a two-inch layer of organic material on the planting bed and make sure to replace this each season.
Also, do not forget to remove spent flowers around the plants during winter.
Choosing Daylily Bulbs Seeds
Growing Daylilies from seed is such a thrilling experience, as every plant may potentially give you a new, unique hybrid.
You can collect seeds from your own Daylily collection and start cultivating your own.
Seeds collected from seed pods vary in size and shape depending on the parent plant.
Mature seeds are black and shiny, while immature seeds tend to be white or brown in color.
Daylily seeds are also widely available in the market because they are extremely popular among gardeners.
When choosing a variant, keep in mind that darker colored varieties will do good in a shaded setting.
On the other hand, light pastel-colored Daylilies will be at their best when grown under full sun.
Here are some of the most popular Daylily variants you can choose from:
- Bright Sunset
- Ruby Spider
- Catherine Woodbury
- Charles Johnston
- Country Melody
- Indian Giver
- Joan Senior
- Red Volunteer
- Rocket City
- Siloam Double Classic
How To Plant Daylily Bulbs Seeds
It is relatively easy to grow your Daylilies from seed to bloom.
However, it is important to note that Daylily seeds need stratification to ensure they will successfully germinate after planting.
This process involves exposing the seeds to a minimum of six weeks of cold.
After germinating the seeds, here’s what you should do:
Step 1: Pick a spot.
Find a spot in your garden that receives full sun.
Although Daylilies can tolerate partial shade, they may produce fewer flowers as compared to when exposed to direct sunlight for a minimum of four to six hours per day.
It’s also best to consider a spot that can provide a light shade during the hottest hours of the day to protect your Daylily flowers from sunburn.
Step 2: Prepare the garden soil.
Daylilies thrive in moist but well-drained soil.
That said, your best bet is to incorporate organic material in your garden soil to help with moisture retention.
Also, you will want to test the soil for drainage.
To do this, dig a hole 12 by 12 inches deep and fill it with water.
Wait for it to subside and fill it again with water. This time, observe how long it will take to drain.
Water will go down at a rate of one inch per hour in well-draining soil. If it takes faster than that, your soil is bound to be in dry condition.
On the other hand, a slower rate means poor drainage, which will cause wet and soggy soil conditions.
Step 3: Plant your daylilies.
Dig holes wide enough to support the plants’ extensive root systems, preferably 12 inches wide and six inches deep.
Make a mound of loose soil at the bottom of each hole to help the roots spread out easily.
Next, place the root system on top of the mound and fill it with loose soil.
Cover the crown with an inch of loose soil. The crown is where the roots meet the stem.
To give each plant enough room to grow, space your Daylilies about 18 inches apart.
Step 4: Water your daylilies.
Lastly, water your Daylilies right away.
As they grow and adjust to their new home, newly planted Daylilies will require frequent watering.
For the first six to eight weeks, water your Daylilies to a depth of eight to 10 inches every couple of days.
How To Water Daylily Bulbs
Daylilies have a tuberous root system that enables them to store water.
This is why they are able to sustain themselves for a longer period compared to other plants.
During their active growing seasons, Daylilies prefer a couple of inches of water per week.
After the first active growth season, when they are already fully established, Daylilies will be drought tolerant.
You will only need to water them if you notice the top inch or two of your garden soil is already dry.
Remember to pour water directly into the soil.
If you water the flowers themselves, you might end up with water drop spots on your blooms.
Also, be very careful not to overwater, as this can cause trouble in the crown and roots.
How To Grow Daylily Bulbs
Even with already established root systems, your Daylilies will still need your care and attention.
Here’s how you can make sure they stay healthy for many more growing seasons:
1. Water your daylilies.
Well-draining soil is necessary to keep the roots from developing root rot.
That said, regular watering is also important to ensure your Daylilies bloom to a great degree.
Water your Daylilies once a week when they are in bloom and once every two weeks when not.
Again, remember not to overdo it, as overwatered Daylilies will produce fewer flower buds.
2. Fertilize annually.
Although Daylilies are extremely hardy and will survive with little to no care, fertilizing them will encourage more blooms.
Applying well-rotted manure or compost once every spring will aid in your Daylilies’ healthy growth.
3. Proper spacing.
Bear in mind that your Daylilies will need enough room to grow and prosper.
Plants that grow too closely together tend to be not as healthy as those provided with enough space.
Space them preferably 12 to 18 inches apart to avoid overcrowded clumps in the future.
4. Weed regularly.
Daylilies are good at choking out weeds with their dense ground cover.
However, while they are still young, you may be inclined to do hand-weeding for weed control.
Do this until your plants are fully established.
5. Deadhead seed pods and spent flowers.
Imagine your plants spending their energy and stored nutrients to generate seeds instead of focusing on flower production or strengthening its root system.
This is why deadheading is important.
Deadheading, a common practice in many perennial gardens, simply means pruning the seed pod and removing spent blooms.
It may be a bit time-consuming, but it will surely promote better bloom and growth.
How Long Do Daylily Bulbs Take To Grow?
Do not be discouraged if your seed-grown Daylilies fail to bloom in the first year.
Even when planted in the best growing conditions, it usually takes a year or two for them to settle.
Once they bloom, they will continue to do so for many years.
What Is the Best Month to Plant Daylily Bulbs?
Start planting your Daylilies in March to allow them to establish their root system before winter.
Conclusion
Daylilies are one of the most carefree of all flowering perennials.
These low-maintenance flowers are very easy to grow, will survive drought and frost, and are virtually disease- and pest-free.
While its flowers last only for a day, it is easily replaced with a new bud overnight.
A mature clump can give you up to 400 blooms over the course of a month, which will surely bring life to your garden.
Mix a fresh layer of ornamental grass to provide a pretty backdrop for these colorful perennials.
If you want luscious flowers in a myriad of vibrant colors, putting a spectacular show in your perennial garden, Daylily Bulbs are the perfect choice for you.
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