These flowers make us think of spring, but many of them can be planted outdoors after they’ve finished blooming, to be enjoyed year after year!
Easter Lily (Lilium longiflorum)
At home, keep your lily away from drafts and drying heat sources such as appliances or heating ducts. Bright, indirect light is best with daytime temperatures of 65 to 75° F. Water the plant only when the soil feels dry to the touch, but do not overwater. To prolong the life of the blossoms, remove the yellow anthers (pollen-bearing pods) found in the center of each flower.
Tulips (Tulipa cv.) & Hyacinths (Hyacinthus cv.)
Keep pots of blooming bulbs—such as tulips & hyacinths—in a bright, cool room, but out of direct sunlight. Water when the soil feels dry, taking care not to overwater. Once the flowers have faded, remove them. Leave the foliage as is. Move the pot to a sunny spot outside once the temperature remains above freezing and keep it watered. After the leaves die back, you can plant the bulbs immediately or wait and plant them in the fall.
Hydrangea (Hydrangea cv.)
Place the hydrangea in the coolest room in your home next to a window where it can get as much light as possible. Do not overwater it by allowing it to stand in water or by watering it too often. It is always best to plant the potted hydrangea outdoors whenever possible. It should only be planted outdoors in early to mid-summer as it needs time to acclimate to outdoor conditions before winter arrives. Expect it to lose leaves the first season in the ground. It will not flower again that year. The following year fresh green growth will announce that it survived the winter.
Mums (Chrysanthemum cv.)
Mums come in many colors and stay in bloom for a long time, sometimes 2-3 weeks. These same plants can then be planted in flower gardens, cut back and will bloom again in the fall.
Asiatic Lilies (Lilium asiatic)
These lilies produce showy blooms that range in color from pastel to brilliant shades of pink, red or orange. The flowers appear atop a tall stalk that resembles the top of a pineapple and form a cluster of blooms. They make excellent cut flowers.