When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
Daylilies are beautiful perennial flowers that are very low maintenance and high reward. They earn a rightful place in plenty of flower beds and garden path borders. What if you want to bring that reliable and exuberant color onto your porch or patio? Can you grow daylilies in containers? Keep reading to learn more about how to grow potted daylily plants.
Daylilies are beautiful, hardy perennials that produce colorful flowers throughout the summer. Their versatility and low maintenance make them ideal for containers. With proper care, daylilies grown in pots can thrive on a balcony, patio, or anywhere you want a burst of color. Follow these tips for successfully growing healthy daylilies in pots.
Choosing the Right Daylily Varieties
Look for daylily varieties that have smaller blooms, as they tend to have more compact growth habits suitable for containers. Dwarf and miniature daylily cultivars are ideal choices that won’t outgrow pots quickly.
Many reblooming daylilies with continual flowers through the season are also smaller in stature Their repeat blooming habit maximizes the floral display in a confined pot.
Use the Right Pot Size
Select a container 2 to 4 inches wider than the daylily’s root ball. This allows enough room for growth but keeps the plant appropriately sized. Daylilies have dense root systems and dislike being rootbound.
For a single dwarf or miniature daylily, an 18-inch wide pot allows adequate space. Larger daylilies may need a 24-inch container. Multiplying the plants requires bumping up to even bigger pots.
Always have drainage holes in the bottom of containers so excess moisture can escape.
The Best Potting Mix
A porous, well-draining potting mix is essential for healthy daylilies Aim for a soilless mix blended with compost, perlite, and vermiculite that resembles the loose, fertile garden soil daylilies love
Heavy potting soil retains too much moisture. Amend regular potting mixes with extra perlite or small gravel to improve drainage.
Sun and Location
Situate daylily pots in full sun, which provides the 6 or more hours of direct light most varieties thrive in. Dwarf daylilies with darker flower colors tolerate partial shade.
Move pots seasonally to optimize sunlight exposure as day lengths change. Protect containers from intense midday sun in summer to prevent soil drying out too quickly.
Watering Needs
Check soil moisture regularly, watering when the top few inches become dry. Daylilies in pots dry out faster than in-ground plants. Expect to water pots every 1-2 days in hot, dry weather.
When watering, drench the entire soil, not just the surface. Avoid wetting foliage, which can promote diseases. Let excess water drain out the bottom before returning pots to saucers.
Fertilizing for Growth
Feed container daylilies a water-soluble, balanced fertilizer every 2-4 weeks during the growing season. Slow release pellets mixed into the soil at planting provide continuous nutrients.
Too much fertilizer causes excessive foliage growth at the expense of flowers. Cease feeding 6-8 weeks before the first expected frost date.
Overwintering Care
In zones 7 or colder, overwinter daylily pots in an unheated garage, cellar, or enclosed porch. Temperatures between 35-50°F allow them to go dormant without freezing out. Discard dead foliage.
For mild winter climates, place pots together and mulch well to insulate roots. Remove mulch in spring as new growth emerges.
Repotting every 2-3 years in fresh soil revitalizes container plants. Divide overcrowded daylilies or move them to the garden. With proper care, daylilies beautifully brighten up potted plantings for years.
Caring for Daylilies in Containers
Container grown daylilies need lots of water. Container plants always dry out faster than their garden counterparts, and in the heat of summer you will have to water yours about once a day. Plant your potted daylily plants in rich soilless potting mix. Daylilies need full sun in order to thrive and bloom well. Place your containers in a spot that receives at least six hours of sun per day. More is better, though varieties that produce dark colored flowers will benefit from a little shade. Daylilies are very cold hardy, but container plants are always more susceptible to winter damage. If you live in USDA zone 7 or below, you should protect your plants in the winter. Placing your containers in an unheated garage or basement ought to be enough to keep them safe. Of course, the colder your winter, the more protection they will need. As soon as spring hits, you can move your containers back out into the sun to get them blooming again quickly.
Can You Grow Daylilies in Containers?
Will daylilies grow in pots? Absolutely. Daylilies are well suited to container life, as long as they have enough room to grow. The smaller the variety (and there are some small ones out there), the better they will be able to grow in a pot. As a rule, you shouldn’t plant full sized daylilies in anything smaller than a gallon container.
Daylilies in Containers: Expert Tips for Success
FAQ
How do you get daylilies to bloom all summer?
Reblooming daylilies flower continuously, more or less all summer long. The keys to keeping rebloomers blooming are watering and deadheading. Drought will slow down flower production, but deadheading is even more important. Every third day, religiously deadhead not just the blossoms, but the ovary behind the bloom.
Can daylilies be grown in a container?
Daylilies in containers are worth the bit of extra effort they require. They are perfect for small spaces, provide an unexpected pop of color, and don’t require fussy trellising or supports. A gorgeous addition to your summer patio!
What do you do with daylilies after they bloom?
Each daylily flower lasts just one day. To keep the plants looking their best, snap off the spent flowers, taking care not to disturb nearby buds. Once the scape (stem) has finished blooming, you can cut it back to the ground to keep the plant looking neat and prevent it from putting energy into seed production.
Do daylilies need a lot of care?
Daylily needs minimal care once established, making it a good choice for low-maintenance borders, beds and containers. Here’s how to grow and use them in your landscape. How to plant: Daylilies grow in clumps that are comprised of fibrous tuber-like roots. Plants are available as container grown or bare root daylily bulbs.
How do you care for daylilies in pots?
Follow these tips for daylilies in pots: Check soil moisture daily. Water whenever the top few inches become dry. During heat waves or droughts, daylilies may need watering twice a day. Don’t let pots completely dry out. In winter, only water every 2-3 weeks when soil is partly dry. Reduce frequency for dormancy.
Can daylilies grow in a container?
Daylilies are well suited to container life, as long as they have enough room to grow. The smaller the variety (and there are some small ones out there), the better they will be able to grow in a pot. As a rule, you shouldn’t plant full sized daylilies in anything smaller than a gallon container. Container grown daylilies need lots of water.
How do you plant daylilies?
How to plant: Daylilies grow in clumps that are comprised of fibrous tuber-like roots. Plants are available as container grown or bare root daylily bulbs. When planting daylilies, choose a site with full sun and rich, well-drained soil. Follow these steps and space plants 1-1/2 to 3-feet apart.
How often do daylilies need to be watered?
Plants grown in containers dry out more quickly, so Daylilies in pots will need to be watered when the top few inches of the soil are dry. During the peak heat of summer or a drought, your Daylilies may need daily watering. The type of pot and the amount of sun determine how often the plant will need water, so check the soil and water accordingly.
Can you plant daylilies under a heavy tree canopy?
Do not plant daylilies under a heavy tree canopy. The light will be inadequate, and the plants will compete with the tree roots for moisture. Like lilies, daylily blooms are popular with deer. If deer frequent your yard, plant the daylilies close to your home or in containers that can be protected with barriers.