Can a Stargazer Lily Be Planted Outside After Growing Indoors for Years?

Season

• Transplant the Stargazer lily into the outdoor garden in mid-spring when frost lifts and soil temperatures warm to 70 degrees F. This warm start gives the lily an easy transition into outdoor conditions. Fall transplants and immediate cold weather, on the other hand, may shock the lily and kill it.

Site

• Put the Stargazer lily in an appropriate site for a gentle transition and continued healthy growth. Choose a site with full to partial sun, quick drainage and good air movement. Give the Stargazer lily partial or filtered sun in extremely hot zones to avoid burning and drying. Don't plant the lily in a site that puddles during winter, as standing water kills the bulb.

Soil

• Give the lily a rich, quick-draining soil base and plenty of space for best growing. Turn 3 to 4 inches of organic compost into the top 7 inches of soil in a 12- to 14-inch-wide site for best soil quality. Remove any rocks, old roots or litter.

Transplant Process

• Transplant the Stargazer lily in mid-morning for a moist, cool start. Dig a hole the size of the pot in your amended soil, then turn the pot on its side and gently pull the lily out with the root ball intact. Loosen the root ball and move it to the new hole to plant the lily at its accustomed growing depth. Fill the hole with amended soil and pat it down to secure the planting. Water the lily with 5 to 6 inches of water to settle the soil.