What the heck happened to my hybrid lilies

tlbean2004

9 years ago

I brought this pot of lilies at home depot and it was labeled as "flowering houseplant" Well all the buds dried up and the leaves which were green have all turned yellow.
When i went back to HD 2 weeks later, the remaining pots they had also suffered the fate of dried buds. Not one of the lilies had open flowers. Then when i went back a few days after that, they were removed. This pot sits in my living room and it looks really ugly. Im thinking about just cutting my $15 dollar loss. What happened and is there anything i can do?

Please advise.

Featured Answer

duluthinbloomz4

9 years ago

Well, for one thing, a hybrid lily is not technically "a flowering houseplant". That being said, purchased in bud in the spring (definitely in the spring here in the colder climes), they probably will bloom indoors then will go into their normal decline of turning yellow and dying back as yours is doing now.

Lilies do best outdoors planted in the ground where they will go through their normal cycle of sprouting from the bulb, eventually setting buds and blooming out before going into their natural decline. They only bloom once a season.

Lift the bulb(s) to check if there's any rot. If not, and the bulb is firm and looks otherwise healthy, plant outdoors at least 6" deep if that's still possible where you live - you don't mention your zone .

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Comments (10)

tlbean2004
Original Author
9 years ago
Here is a closer look at the dried up dead flower buds.....
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jacqueline9CA
9 years ago
I agree - if you can get the bulbs into the ground (cut off the dying foliage) under 6 inches of dirt right now, they should be OK and come up in the late Spring and bloom. They are NOT house plants - sorry you were fooled, but they are probably not dead, either.

Jackie
Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
9 years ago
Not a house plant, and $15 is way too much for 4 of these bulbs under any label.
tlbean2004
Original Author
9 years ago
They have just been sitting outside in the pot.
The dead leaves are still on them. is it too late to get them into the ground or are they dead from the cold weather?
gardenper
9 years ago
It looks like you're still active in this thread. If you have receipt or some way to show that you bought it at HD, they may give you the 1-year growth guarantee so you can get your money back.

Supposedly I've heard it goes for any plants they sale, not just big ones like trees or shrubs.

The cold weather does make the leaves shrivel up but if you can feel the bulb and it's still strong and firm, then the bulb is likely still fine. If your ground is not frozen, I would say you can plant it in the ground. If not able to, then take care that it doesn't experience too much freeze/thaw events in that pot, so that the bulb won't go bad.
gardenper
9 years ago
It looks like you're still active in this thread. If you have receipt or some way to show that you bought it at HD, they may give you the 1-year growth guarantee so you can get your money back.

Supposedly I've heard it goes for any plants they sale, not just big ones like trees or shrubs.

The cold weather does make the leaves shrivel up but if you can feel the bulb and it's still strong and firm, then the bulb is likely still fine. If your ground is not frozen, I would say you can plant it in the ground. If not able to, then take care that it doesn't experience too much freeze/thaw events in that pot, so that the bulb won't go bad.
User
9 years ago
What happened is totally normal. However, it really needed to be in the ground but as soon as you can, plant it.
tlbean2004
Original Author
9 years ago
Update. Here is the new growth from the bulbs. I only had 4 growing originally. now there are 6 and 4 babies. Will these bloom this year?
User
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
The new babies may or may not. I have had them to bloom but also some new ones didn't. Just watch and enjoy.