How to Care for an Oriental Lily Plant

Protect the Oriental lily from the afternoon sun and strong winds. Plant the bulb in a location where it gets the late afternoon sun close to a house or building where it will be protected from strong winds.

Water the lily to keep the soil moist. The plant will need at least 1 inch of rain per week to keep the soil moist, but when there is no rain or not enough, use a garden hose to provide water.

Fertilize the Oriental lily in spring just after the bulb sprouts. Use a 10-10-10 (nitrogen-phosphate-potassium) fertilizer diluted in half. If you prefer not to use a chemical fertilizer, you can work compost into the soil surrounding the bulb.

Pound a 5-foot stake into the ground avoiding contact with the bulb. The stake will be used to tie up the stalk as it grows. When the flowers start blooming, the lily becomes top-heavy and will fall down if not staked.

Use 2 inches of mulch around the base of the Oriental lily to keep the ground moisture in and the ground cool from the sun.