How to Save a Wilting Tiger Lily Plant

Cut back on the amount of water that you supply the tiger lily while it is going through the wilting process. Only add water to the soil when the top layer begins to dry out. When you do add the water, do not saturate the soil. Use a spray bottle to mist the soil until it is only slightly damp.

Allow the foliage on the tiger lily to die back naturally. The foliage will turn from green, to yellow and finally to brown. Do not remove any foliage until it turns brown. As the tiger lily is wilting away, the bulb is relying on its leaves to soak up energy from the sun to recharge the bulb. Cut the foliage to the soil line once die-back is over using a pair of pruning shears. Removing the foliage will also rid the tiger lily bulb of disease if this was the reason for wilting.

Dig up the tiger lily bulb with a hand shovel. Rinse the roots of the bulb under lukewarm water to remove excess salts or soil remnants. If poor soil caused the wilting problem, removing it from the present location and ridding the roots of unfavorable soil can help save the tiger lily.

Fill a 6-inch pot half full with organic potting soil. Lay the tiger lily bulb on the soil in the pot, root-side down. Fill the remainder of the pot with organic soil, leaving approximately 1 inch of space between the soil line and the lip of the pot.

Set the pot in bright, indirect sunlight and continue to only add water to the soil when the top layer begins to dry out. Continue watering in this manner for approximately six weeks as the bulb rests.

Provide the tiger lily with heavier waterings after the six weeks. By this time, you should begin to see signs of new growth poking through the soil. Moisten soil to a depth of 1 inch at all times during the tiger lily’s growing season. Once you see vigorous signs of life, rest assured you have saved your tiger lily.