How to Correctly Cut Lilies From the Garden

Selecting Lilies

• Lilies produce multiple flower buds along their stem, with those lowest on the stem usually opening first. When selecting a lily for a cut-flower display, wait until the buds begin to show color, and the lower buds begin to separate and open. If the buds haven't developed their color or begun to open, they may not flower completely. Avoid cutting stems with fully open flowers because these will have a shorter vase life since they are already partially through their blooming cycle.

Cutting Lilies

• Proper cutting helps ensure the most attractive blooms while leaving enough of the plant intact in the garden so it can recover and grow back the following year. When cutting the lily, use sharp, clean shears or a knife. Cut off only the top one-third of the stem so enough of the foliage remains to fuel the plant. Cutting early in the day after the dew is dry but before afternoon heat causes wilting results in longer-lived cut flowers.

Hardening Lilies

• To further prolong the life of the cut lilies, harden them in a vase filled with 100 degree Fahrenheit water. Dissolving a floral preservative, or 2 tablespoons of white vinegar and 4 teaspoons of sugar in each quart of water provides nutrients to the flowers. To ensure the stem takes up water well, cut off the bottom 1 inch of the stem at a 45-degree angle before putting it in the water. Keep the lilies in a cool room so they can take up as much water as possible without stress.

Display Tips

• Once lilies begin to bloom, they produce anthers, which hold the pollen. Carefully removing each anther and disposing of it prevents it from shedding pollen, which could stain the petals or surrounding textiles. The lilies also last longer if you maintain the water level in the vase and change the water every two or three days, or when it changes color. Break off the flower buds after they finish flowering to give the remaining buds a better chance at completing their bloom cycle.