Instructions to Replant an Easter Lily Outside

Potted Easter lilies are grown in nursery greenhouses and forced into bloom near the spring holidays. The plants produce multiple pure white flowers over the course of three or more weeks. Often viewed as temporary holiday plants, the Easter lily can have a long life if replanted outdoors. You can transfer the plants to a garden bed once the flowers fade and after the weather begins to warm outside. The lilies revert to the natural flowering period once transplanted outdoors, blossoming in midsummer each year.

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Move the potted Easter lily outside once all frost danger passes in spring. Set the pot in a brightly lit area protected from winds.

Water the lily when the soil begins to feel dry, usually every one to two days outdoors. Gradually move the pot into a more exposed area, reducing watering frequency as you do so. Continue this treatment for seven to 10 days to help the lily adjust to outdoor conditions.

Cut the wilted flowers from the stems prior to transplanting. Leave the foliage and stems in place to absorb sunlight and nutrients.

Dig the planting hole in a garden bed that receives full sun and provides excellent drainage. Dig the planting hole 8 to 10 inches deep. Space it 18 inches away from other plants in the bed.

Turn the pot upside down and slide the Easter lily out into your hand. Loosen the soil around the bulb with your fingers. Shake the loosened soil away from the bulb and roots.

Set the bulb in the planting hole so that the top sits approximately 6 inches beneath the soil surface. Refill the hole with soil and water the location thoroughly.

Easter lilies retain their foliage in the garden until fall, when they die back naturally. Cut off the foliage only after it dies back.