Daylily Bulbs

Daylilies belong to the genus Hemerocallis; the genus is derived from the Greek words ἡμέρα and καλός meaning day and beautiful, respectively. And true to its meaning, daylilies are beautiful with each color adding to its vibrancy. What makes daylilies different from other lilies and members of its own genus is that most of cultivars bloom at sunrise and wilt away at sunset, only to be replaced by another from the cluster for weeks. One can even get some night bloomers from this family.

Daylilies

Native to Asia, daylilies are popular landscaping perennial flowers, with an extensive range of hybrids and cultivars, with colors such as yellow, orange, pink, red, purple, blue, peach, apricot, white and pastels, and plenty of shades in between. Daylilies can be single or double petaled, with stripes or shades and plenty more blends. The most common colors are yellow and orange, and can be found growing abundantly by the roadside. The quality of the bulbs determines the quality of the flower, so one must ensure that the bulbs are healthy. They can be round, oval or elongated in shape. Most nurseries will either sell you the bulb which is in a semi-dormant state with a few odd dried roots, or potted bulbs that have sprouted few leaf shoots. It is preferable to buy bulbs that haven't been rooted. This way one can check for its quality.

How to Plant Daylily Bulbs

Select bulbs as per the color you need, with such a wide variety, one can experiment with plenty of colors. Daylilies are also suited to container gardening. They can be grown in USDA plant hardiness zones 1 through 11; that makes them adaptable to most type of climates. They can be planted in spring or very late fall and they bloom from early spring until frost, depending on the coldness of the climate.

Bulb planting, whether in ground or pots, should be done in soil that is porous to facilitate air and light movement for the bulbs. The soil should also be well draining and well mixed with organic compost. Daylilies enjoy the sun, so never place them in shaded areas. Dig a hole in the loose soil to a depth that should be able to accommodate the entire bulbs with the root mass without it getting bent. If growing in clusters then plant the bulbs some 15 inches apart. The tip of the bulb should protrude outside the soil. Make a berm around the bulbs, and gently pour water. In a pot, pour water towards the outer most side of the pot. Water enough to moisten soil, excess will set rot in the bulbs.

Add some liquid fertilizer once the buds begin to form. A regular feed is not necessary. Weeds compete with bulbs nutrients very aggressively, so make sure you de-weed the area regularly. Once the flowering season is over, remove deadheads. If you do not wish to remove and store the bulbs, cut back flower stems and old leaf growth down to ground, and cover with mulch in winters. Mulching will keep the bulbs warm and prevent it from freezing. Frozen bulbs in the ground are generally susceptible to fungus growth.

How to Store Daylily Bulbs During Winters

Preservation of bulbs through winters will affect their flower show next season. So harvesting and storing them should be done with care. Once the flowering season is over, dig out the bulbs. This should be done carefully, your digging out equipment must not hurt or cut through the bulbs. Using your hand, try to gently separate the bulbs and dislodge all soil from it. Leave the bulbs in the shade to dry for a couple of days, dust them lightly with antifungal powder. Place the bulbs in a large mesh bag, and store them for winter in a cool, dry location. Keep checking on them occasionally to ensure that no dampness sets around them. When the next planting season is round the corner, take them out and sun them for a day before planting.

Taking care of bulbs while storing or planting them will ensure healthy, vibrant color blooms in clusters that add grace to your flower garden for weeks on.