Marianne's Response

red carpet border lilies

I have about 50 that are growing very well in my front yard. They are supposed to be around 15″ tall. Mine are about 40″ tall. What type fertilizer should I use to feed the flower production over the growth of the stalks? These would be perfect if they weren’t so tall. I presume I used a nitrogen rich fertilizer to force the stalks to be so tall. the have budded out very well and will be blooming soon.

Posted by Steven Bullard on May 21, 2018

Marianne's Response

Congrats on such happy lilies, but I agree shorter would be better. You are correct in that a fertilizer high in nitrogen encourages taller lilies and lawn foods with the first number highest on the fertilizer ratio listed on the bag often cause this taller flower growth. A complete fertilizer like Osmocote Plus made for flowers and vegetables is a better choice for bedding plants and perennials. It is a more "balanced" plant food with the three number or the "NPK" ratio less weighted towards nitrogen the first number.  This year there is not much you can do to shorten the lilies so stake them if needed and enjoy the drama of the tall blooms. Wait until after the lilies bloom to apply the Osmocote as the growth later this summer will produce blooms for next year. By not feeding while the lilies are in bud the blooms will last longer. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti