How to Plant Lily Bulbs

Co-authored by Chai Saechao

Last Updated: September 23, 2019

Lilies are favorites with home gardeners. Their large, elegant blooms look wonderful growing or cut in a vase. Lilies are perennial, returning year after year, with little effort to maintain. Whether you have a large garden or a small indoor pot, you can learn to plant and take care of your own beautiful lilies.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Planting Outside

1
Plant lily bulbs in late fall, a few weeks before winter. This will ensure that the bulbs have developed their roots in time to emerge above the soil for spring. This way, the tender new plant will not be exposed to winter chill.^{[1]
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2
Find a location in your garden that is sunny, sheltered from wind, and drains well. To make sure the spot drains well, pick a location which is dry 5-6 hours after a hard rain. You can raise the level of the soil to improve drainage by adding 2-3 inches of organic material, such as peat moss or compost.^{[2]
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- You can buy peat moss or compost at your local nursery, or wherever you purchased your lily bulbs.
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3
Dig holes 6-8 inches deep, spaced 3 inches apart. This will give your bulbs plenty of room to grow.^{[3]
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Research source} Use a trowel to dig the holes.
- If you are planting in hard packed soil, it may help to loosen your soil with a spade before digging holes.
4
Place the bulbs in the holes with the pointy side of the bulb facing up. That's the side that will grow upward and eventually emerge out of the soil. Make sure the tops of the bulb are 4 inches below the soil surface.^{[4]
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- Measure with a ruler, and add or remove soil from the holes until the tops of the bulbs are at the correct height.
5
Soak soil and spread it over the bulbs. Now all you need to do is wait for the bulbs to grow, and keep the soil moist. Most varieties of lily will grow roots in a few weeks, and emerge above the soil the following spring. They will bloom anytime from early summer to fall, depending on the variety of lily.^{[5]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Planting Indoors

1
Plant indoor lilies anytime in the summer. Unlike outdoor planting, indoor lilies do not need to be planted in the fall, because they will remain sheltered indoors when they first emerge from the soil.^{[6]
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Research source} The summer light will give them an extra boost to grow.

EXPERT TIP

Chai Saechao
Plant Specialist
Chai Saechao is the Founder and Owner of Plant Therapy, an indoor-plant store founded in 2018 based in San Francisco, California. As a self-described plant doctor, he believes in the therapeutic power of plants, hoping to keep sharing his love of plants with anyone willing to listen and learn.

Chai Saechao
Plant Specialist

Place house plants indoors for softer sunlight. Choose a bright spot with indirect sunlight for your plants. This could be in a sunny room, or somewhere close to a window that doesn't get too bright. Direct sunlight is often too harsh for house plants.
2
Choose a planting container that drains well. You can plant in a tub, urn, or pot. Make sure the container has drainage holes.^{[7]
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Research source} This will prevent the soil from becoming soggy, which would make the lily bulbs rot.
- Also make sure your container will be large enough for your bulbs once they bloom.
- You can check with your nursery to see how big the mature lilies will be.
3
Fill your container with well-drained soil. For best results, use acidic to neutral soil. Lilies aren't too picky, so most garden soil will do.^{[8]
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- If your soil is too moist, you can add organic matter such as crushed leaves or mulch, until it is the desired dryness.
4
Place the containers in full sunlight, by a window. Lilies need lots of sunlight to grow. If you live in a very hot climate, position the lilies in a spot that will get some shade during the hottest part of the afternoon. That way they won't overheat and wilt.
5
Tuck bulbs 4 inches into the soil, about an inch apart from each other. This will give the bulbs enough space to grow, while still being close enough to each other to look pretty. Lilies look best planted in clusters of 3 or more bulbs.^{[9]
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6
Soak soil and spread it over the bulbs. Your bulbs will take a few weeks to grow roots. They should bloom anytime from early summer to fall, depending on the variety of lily.^{[10]
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Research source} In a few months, you will have your own beautifully blooming lilies. If you take care of your lilies, they will come back year after year.