Those who love lilies often have these questions looming in their heads: How long do lilies last in a vase? How do I take care of lilies in a vase? Does it make sense to grow them and other plants in a greenhouse? Before you get way too ahead of yourself, you need to learn a thing or two about these immaculate-looking plants.
In case you’re not aware, lilies are perennial plants that manage to survive longer than a single growing season. Known for their gorgeous white flowers that rest on top of their green stalks, you can usually spot these plants in landscaped gardens or in vases.
Question #1: How Long Do Lilies Last in a Vase?
With proper care, lilies can last up to 10 to 14 days in a vase.
Question #2: How Do I Take Care of Lilies in a Vase?
If you want white lilies to add beauty to your indoor living spaces, you need to learn how to take good care of them. With proper care, you can prolong the plant’s color, as well as its health.
Prepare your materials
Before you begin, you need to make sure that your materials are ready. You’ll need a pair of scissors or a knife, a vase, a bottle of distilled water, and 3 tbsps. of Sprite or 7-Up.
Cut the stems
Be sure to handle the lily by its stem when cutting. Cut only about half an inch off the bottom portion of its stem with a sharp knife or a pair of scissors. While you’re at it, avoid cutting the stem horizontally. Make it a point to handle the plant by the stem as you cut it at an angle.
Fill your vase with water
It’s best if you use distilled water to keep your lilies fresh. However, if this isn’t possible, you may use tap water instead. Just make sure that you let the water rest in the open for about 24 hours in order to get rid of chlorine and its other chemical contents.
Add flower food or preservatives
Next, you may add flower food or preservatives into the water. If you don’t have any of these items with you, you may choose to replace this with about 3 tbsps. of 7-Up or Sprite. These drinks have a lot of citric acid in them. In case you’re wondering, citric acid happens to be the key ingredient in any flower food or preservative.
Place the flowers into the vase
Next, you may place the flowers into your vase. Be sure to remove the leaves that fall below the waterline because doing so will cause you to reduce bacteria buildup in the water. Plus, this ensures that your lilies stay fresh for a longer time.
Also, make sure that your vase is placed at a location where your lilies and the water stay at room temperature. It’s best to position the vase away from heat, direct sunlight, and drafts.
Trim the stems every three days and replace the water
Your lilies will live longer if you cut 1/2 inch of their stems every three days. As much as possible, avoid touching the delicate flowers to keep them from getting damaged. Keep in mind that the water and preservatives need to be replaced every three days, as well.
Question #3: Does Greenhouse Gardening Make Perfect Sense?
Do your plant babies a favor – grow them in a hobby greenhouse! There’s nothing like an enclosed space to keep your plants healthy! If you haven’t given greenhouse gardening a thought, check out the many benefits of having your own hobby greenhouse:
It protects them from the elements
The hobby greenhouse provides your tender plants with the protection that it needs against the elements that could destroy them. In addition, it eliminates the need to make emergency preparation in the event of a storm or other harsh weather conditions. Regardless of the weather outside, you can rest easy knowing that your plants’ safety isn’t compromised.
It keeps pests and destructive animals at bay
Growing your plants in a hobby greenhouse means providing them with a protective barrier against the constant threat of pests and vermin. While a hobby greenhouse can keep the destructive bugs under control, it also allows you to keep the beneficial insects that could encourage plant growth inside.
You’ll be able to create the best growing environment for your plants
Setting up your own hobby greenhouse allows you to manipulate your plants’ growing environment. It doesn’t matter if you’re growing vegetables, fruits, herbs, flowers – you can easily control your hobby greenhouse’ internal temperature, as well as its humidity levels that could best meet your plants’ needs.
You’ll enjoy a longer growing season
Since the climate inside your hobby greenhouse doesn’t vary as much as its external environment, you’ll have countless opportunities to enjoy longer growing seasons. Thanks to the hobby greenhouse’s ability to trap the sun’s radiation in the enclosure and retain the ideal air temperature within the structure, you’ll be able to grow off-season plants even if you live in an area where the weather is mostly cold.
Final Thoughts
Now that you have the answers to queries such as “How long do lilies last in a vase?”, the next step is to put what you have learned into action. Whether you decide to grow them inside a hobby greenhouse or place them in a vase in any of your indoor living spaces, these beautiful blooms won’t disappoint!