Can I leave stargazer lilies in the pots over winter?
The information at www.gardeningknowhow.com/
may be helpful to you regarding how to overwinter your lily. I have never tried wrapping bubble wrap around a potted plant to overwinter it but I have put a pot with a plant in it in a larger pot and stuffed newspaper between the pots for insulation. This method has worked for me except during a really harsh winter.
It is possible to leave your lilies bulbs in pots over winter if you do a few things first. The bulbs should be planted in thick wall pots and not ones with thin walls. You will need to raise them off the ground and store them on some bricks.
I'm not sure what USDA zone you are located but Stargazer lilies can usually grow safely outdoors in zones 4-9. You may still have to cover your containers even if you live in these zones as lilies can freeze if not protected.
I usually try to place my pots near my sheds or garage so that gives them some protection even before I wrap them.
Try to get your pots ready just before autumn;
cut the stalks back to just above the soil line (I do not do this with all of my lilies but Stargazers I usually do this).
Be sure to discontinue watering or the bulbs may/will rot.
The following site says to use mothballs before wrapping.
"Stick a few mothballs in the pot to deter mice and other pests. You can wrap the entire pot in bubble wrap and leave it outside for the winter if you don't have a cool shelter to put it in."
www.gardeningknowhow.com/
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I planted stargazer lilies in pots for the first time last spring/summer. They did not do much. I always move all my pots into my semi-heated attached garage for winter and the stargazers are beginning to come up. They are very leggy and spindly, at least 12 inches tall. Do I let them grow and move them outside when it gets warmer or can I cut them back to get fuller growth?
Hardiness Zone: 5a
By Tara from Greenville, OH
Do they grow from a bulb or root system? I think if you cut it off, plant outside when temps are warm, it'll grow and be fine.
Search for "how to grow stargazer lilies in pots"lot of info there,good luck.
It sounds like you watered your lilies too much to start with. If you cut them off you won't have blooms this year but if you stop watering them and let the top die then take it off you will have better luck.
Check out these photos.
I planted these lilies next to my porch in memory of my dad, who passed away at 90+ years old.
This is the first Stargazer lily I ever grew. Mr. Cottontail had it for a midnight snack that night.
This photo is just a flower in my backyard that I really like. My other flowers got ruined by a dog, and this, along with about four others survived. I added an overlay to boost the colors which I feel make it much more vibrant and beautiful.
Since I have a very shady yard I have planted my favorite flowers (Star Gazer Lilies) in pots which I can move around for best sunlight and also enjoy their beautiful fragrance. This is the second year they have bloomed in these pots.
This is a photo of a star gazer Asiatic lily and a plant called Russian sage. Russian sage are beautiful alone, but are incredible when mixed with other plants, including butterfly bushes.
I planted these lilies in 2011. The first year they came up, but didn't bloom. Last summer I got this bloom. It lasted about a week.
