Fill gaps in your summer planting displays with brightly-coloured lilies for a temporary, but timely, burst of colour. Plant lily bulbs into pots then simply drop them, pot and all, into arrangements on the patio, or even in your borders.

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You Will Need

  • Lily bulbs
  • 20cm diameter pot
  • Multi-purpose, peat-free compost
  • Horticultural grit

Total time: 20 minutes


Step 1

Planting lily bulbs in a pot
Planting lily bulbs in a pot

Lily bulbs should be planted quite deeply, so choose a large pot and half fill it with good quality, peat-free multi-purpose compost. Place five or six lily bulbs on the surface, with their roots on the compost and their growing tips facing upwards.


Step 2

Covering the lily bulbs with compost
Covering the lily bulbs with compost

Cover the bulbs with a generous layer of compost, taking the compost level to around 5cm below the pot rim. Firm well and water thoroughly, adding more compost afterwards if the level falls.


Step 3

Top-dressing with horticultural grit
Top-dressing with horticultural grit
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Finish with a layer of gravel or horticultural grit to help keep the compost moist. Keep the pot in a greenhouse or sheltered spot while the bulbs develop, tying tall varieties to canes as they grow. Move the pot to its final position when the plants are ready to flower.

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Feed the lilies weekly in summer with a liquid plant food.
Watering can
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