There are over 4,000 species of ornamental lilies (Lilium spp.) and each herbaceous plant grows from bulbs that sprout groupings of brightly-colored, six-leafed blooms on tall stems. When the summer has ended and you miss the vibrant colors of your ornamental lilies, instead of waiting another growing season, you can force your ornamental lilies to bloom indoors. Forcing -- the process of inducing bulbs to bloom when they normally wouldn't -- requires the correct conditions to be successful.
Place healthy ornamental lily bulbs inside a paper or mesh bag. Chill the bulbs in your refrigerator's crisper drawer for 14 to 20 weeks. Don't allow the refrigerator's temperature to drop below 41 degrees. Keep the bulbs away from fruits and vegetables, as varieties of ripening produce, including apples, release the chemical ethylene, which ruins your chilled ornamental bulbs. The lily bulbs will sprout and root while chilling.
Fill a plastic or clay pot with drainage holes three-quarters full with a mixture of equal parts sphagnum moss, soil and perlite. Remove the bulbs from the refrigerator and plant them with the pointed side facing upwards, no more than 1 inch apart.
Cover the bulbs with enough of the potting mixture to allow the pointed tip to stick out. Water the plant deeply and place in a cool area away from direct sunlight.
Maintain evenly moist soil and move the plant to a sunny location once the ornamental lily is 4 to 6 inches in height. Keep the bulbs in temperatures around 68 degrees Fahrenheit to force the lilies to bloom.
Things You Will Need
- Paper or mesh bag
- Plastic or clay pot with drainage holes
- Sphagnum moss
- Plant new ornamental lily bulbs every few weeks to maintain a fresh supply of flowers throughout the off-season.
- If forcing in winter, store the bulbs in a paper bag and chill in a sheltered environment, such as your garage or shed, that doesn't drop below 41 F.
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