Should I Soak Lilies & Irises in Water Before Planting?

Preparing the Bulbs

• While fall bulbs like tulips and daffodils require cold stratification if they're to grow, spring bulbs like lilies and irises do best with immediate plantings for growth. They do not need a cold period or soaking, and should go into the ground firm, dry and healthy.

Season and Location

• Lilies and irises require early-spring plantings to give them time to grow and establish for spring and summer growth. Find a location that gets full sun all day and quick drainage, and plant the bulbs when temperatures warm to 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Soil and Planting

• Lily and iris bulbs should never sit in puddles or standing water, so amend planting soil with organic compost to loosen it and ensure drainage. Turn 5 inches of organic compost into the top 10 inches of soil in each planting site to provide drainage, nutrition and moisture retention for the bulbs' use. Plant bulbs with enough space to keep them from touching each other during growth, and per their unique planting requirements.

Storage

• Lilies and irises are sensitive bulbs, and do best with winter storage in cold areas like USDA hardiness zones 6 and under. Dig the bulbs up in fall and lay them out to dry for a week in a safe, cool place; packing wet bulbs will result in rot. Replant the bulbs in a box with topsoil, or wrap them individually in peat moss and put them in a box for storage. Don't let the bulbs touch each other while they're in storage, as the resulting moisture will lead to rot.