Can You Pot Rain Lilies?

Characteristics

• Rain lilies are sensitive to cold and die in temperatures below freezing. They are hardy from U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 to 10. The plants grow to 6 to 10 inches in height, with wide-open six-petaled flowers. As perennials, rain lilies grow from the same set of bulbs for many years.

Pots

• Pot your rain lilies carefully for best success. Choose large, deep pots or containers for the bulbs, and always use pots with drainage holes to keep the bulbs healthy. Rain lilies require 3 inches of space and do best at 1- to 2-inch-deep plantings, so plan accordingly. Large or long containers allow for multiple crowded plantings and a more colorful effect.

Soil and Nutrition

• Rain lilies need quick drainage and loose, moist soil. Mix a potting soil of 1/2 organic compost and 1/2 quick-draining garden loam to give the lilies nutrition and room to grow. This mixture holds moisture to nurture the rain lilies between waterings. Mix bulb fertilizer into the potting soil at manufacturer-recommended rates to encourage quick rooting.

Site and Watering

• Put rain lily pots in sites that give five to six hours of full sun every day during spring, summer and fall. More sun enhances blooming. Give the plants 2 inches of water every four to five days to keep the soil moist but not wet. Move rain lilies indoors before the first frost of the season to keep them healthy.