How to Grow Lilium in Pots: Planting Depth, Care and Bulb Storage
Planting lilium in Pakistan or North India works best from late October to mid December: set each bulb with its pointed tip up, deep enough that two to three bulb heights of soil sit above it, in a 10 to 12 inch pot. In the plains, treat it as a one-season flower. That is the honest version of how to grow lilium here.
Lilium in one look
- Planting window: late October to mid December in the plains; February to March in the hills
- Depth: about 15 cm of soil above a large bulb (two to three times the bulb’s height)
- Pot: 10 to 12 inches (about 10 to 15 litres) for three bulbs
- Sun: 5 to 6 hours of morning sun, shade after 2 pm once it warms up
- Bloom: roughly 10 to 14 weeks after planting, so February to April
- Pets: every part is dangerous to cats, pollen included
Prefer to listen? This post as a 4 min video · Watch the video
Why are lilium bulbs only sold in winter?
Almost every Asiatic lily bulb in Lahore, Karachi or Delhi nurseries is imported from cold countries, packed in peat and sold from October to December. The bulb has already had its winter chill in cold storage. Put it in the ground and it is ready to grow straight away.
That chill is the catch. Our plains winters are too short and too mild to give the bulb a second proper cold rest, and a 45C June bakes it in the pot. So the plant you buy this year flowers beautifully, and next year usually gives a thin stalk or nothing at all. The hills (Murree, Abbottabad, Shimla, Nainital) are a different story: lilies there can come back for years in the ground.
When and how deep should you plant lilium bulbs?
| Zone | Plant | Expect flowers |
|---|---|---|
| Coastal (Karachi, Mumbai) | Late Nov to Dec | Feb to March |
| Punjab plains (Lahore, Faisalabad, Delhi) | Late Oct to Dec | March to April |
| Hot dry (Multan, Bahawalpur, Sukkur) | Nov to early Dec | Feb to March, before the heat |
| Sub-humid (Islamabad, Peshawar) | Oct to Nov | April |
| Hills | Feb to March, or Oct before ground freezes | June to July |
Lilies root from the stem just above the bulb as well as from the base, which is why they go deep. A general extension rule is two to three times the bulb’s height of soil on top; North Carolina’s extension service lists up to 8 inches for garden beds. In a pot, about 15 cm of mix above a big bulb is plenty.
- Pick firm bulbs with plump scales and live roots at the base. Skip any that are soft, grey-mouldy or bone dry.
- Fill a 10 to 12 inch pot with drainage holes to about a third with mix: 2 parts garden soil, 1 part compost, 1 part coarse sand or cocopeat (more on ratios in our potting mix guide).
- Set three bulbs on top, pointed tip up, flat root plate down, about 10 cm apart.
- Cover so roughly 15 cm of mix sits over the tips. Water once, slowly, until it drains.
- Do not water again until the top 3 cm is dry. Shoots show in two to four weeks.
The sideways bulb trick
If you cannot tell which end is up (some bulbs arrive with shoots sprouting oddly), lay the bulb on its side. The stem will turn upward on its own and you lose only a few days. A bulb planted upside down wastes weeks.
What care does lilium need while it grows?
Sun first. Give it the brightest morning spot you have. In Karachi and Multan, by March the afternoon sun scorches petals, so move pots into light shade after lunch.
Water when the top few centimetres feel dry, which in December is roughly every 5 to 7 days in a pot and every 2 to 3 days once March warms up. Our watering by season guide explains the finger test. Wet, cold mix in January is the quickest way to rot a lily bulb.
Feed lightly. Mix a handful of compost into the pot at planting, then when buds appear give a potash-rich liquid feed (a balanced or high-K fertiliser at label strength) every two weeks until flowering. Too much nitrogen gives floppy stems.
Stake stems over 60 cm with a thin bamboo, tied loosely. Pinch out the orange pollen sacs (anthers) as flowers open if you have cats, children, or white clothes nearby.
Why is my lilium not flowering?
- Second-year bulb in the plains. Most common reason. It never got its cold rest.
- Too little sun. A balcony with two hours of light grows a stalk and blind buds.
- Bud blast. Buds go papery and drop after a sudden dry spell or a hot windy day.
- Aphids or caterpillars on buds. Pick off caterpillars; spray aphids off with water, then mild soap solution in the evening.
- Bulb rot. Yellowing from the base up plus a soft stem at soil level means too much water.
What do you do after flowering, and can you store the bulbs?
Snap off each faded flower so the plant does not spend energy on seed. Keep the stem and leaves green and keep watering lightly until they yellow naturally, usually in May. Those leaves are feeding the bulb.
Then you have a choice. In the hills, leave bulbs in the ground with mulch. In the plains, you can lift them in May, brush off soil, dust off any rot, and store them in slightly damp cocopeat or sawdust in a paper bag in the coolest dark place in the house, or in the vegetable drawer of a fridge away from fruit. Replant in November.
Be honest with yourself about the result. Stored plains bulbs often come back smaller, and many never flower again. If you want reliable flowers every winter, budget for a few fresh bulbs each October.
Can you multiply lilies?
Yes, slowly. Asiatic lilies make small offset bulblets around the main bulb and sometimes tiny black bulbils in the leaf joints. Pot them up 5 cm deep and grow them on. In the plains it takes two or three seasons for them to reach flowering size, if they survive the summer at all. Scaling (snapping off outer bulb scales and keeping them in damp cocopeat in a bag until bulblets form) also works, mostly as a fun experiment.
Lilies are seriously poisonous to cats: leaves, petals, pollen, even water from the vase. A cat that licks pollen off its fur can develop kidney failure, and early signs are vomiting, drooling, not eating or lethargy. If a cat may have touched a lily, take it to a vet the same day; do not wait for symptoms. Dogs and children are much less affected, but keep bulbs out of reach anyway. Our poisonous plants list covers other common risks.
Should you grow lilium, or skip it?
| You are | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Plains balcony, sunny, no cats | Plant | Big flowers for little effort in one season |
| Hoping for flowers every year from one bulb in Lahore or Karachi | Maybe | Possible, but expect weaker repeats |
| Hills garden | Plant | Can naturalise in the ground |
| House with an indoor cat | Skip | Risk is too high for any flower |
For more winter bulbs and pot flowers, browse Phool aur Paudhe.
Lilium growing questions people ask
Can lilium grow in pots?
Yes, and in the plains a pot is often easier than the ground. Use a 10 to 12 inch pot for three bulbs with plenty of drainage, and you can move it into afternoon shade as the weather warms.
When is the best time to plant lilium bulbs in Pakistan?
Late October to mid December in the plains, as soon as you can buy firm bulbs. In the hills, plant in early spring or in autumn before the ground freezes.
How deep should lilium bulbs be planted?
About two to three times the bulb’s own height of soil on top, roughly 15 cm for a large bulb. Lilies root from the stem too, so shallow planting gives wobbly plants.
Which way up does a lily bulb go?
Pointed tip up, the flat base with roots down. If you genuinely cannot tell, plant it on its side.
How long does lilium take to flower?
Usually 10 to 14 weeks from planting, depending on variety and warmth. Bulbs planted in November in Lahore commonly flower in March.
Will lilium flower again next year in Lahore or Delhi?
Sometimes, but usually weaker. Plains winters do not give the bulb enough cold, and summer heat stresses it, so most gardeners treat Asiatic lilies here as one season plants.
Why are my lily leaves turning yellow?
Yellowing from the bottom after flowering is normal. Yellowing early with a soft stem base points to overwatering or rot; let the mix dry more between waterings.
Should I cut lily stems after the flowers fade?
Remove only the spent flower heads. Leave the stem and leaves until they turn yellow on their own, because they rebuild the bulb.
Is lily pollen dangerous to cats?
Yes. Even a small amount groomed off the fur can harm a cat’s kidneys. Treat any contact as a vet visit the same day.
What is the difference between Asiatic and Oriental lilies?
Asiatic lilies are shorter, upward facing, unscented and earlier. Oriental lilies are larger, heavily scented and need longer cool conditions, so they are harder in the plains.