Even though the Lily of the Nile isn’t exactly a fan of freezing winters, looking after this beauty is actually pretty straightforward. If you’ve fallen in love with yours and want more of them scattered around your garden, you’re in luck! You can easily propagate them yourself. Here’s the lowdown on the best ways to get the job done.
There are two main ways to multiply your lilies:
- Growing them from seeds
- Dividing the rhizomes (the roots)
How to propagate using seeds
Once the blooming season wraps up and those gorgeous flowers start to fade, most gardeners reach for their shears. Deadheading keeps the garden looking tidy and helps the plant channel its energy into new growth or even a second flush of flowers. However, if you’re looking to collect seeds to grow new plants, you’ll want to put the scissors away for a bit.
Wait for those wilted flowers to turn into seed pods. They’ll ripen over time and eventually turn yellow. At that point, you can either let nature take its course with self-seeding or harvest the seeds yourself. If you harvest them, start them indoors on a bright, sunny windowsill. Once spring rolls around and the weather warms up, your little seedlings will be ready to move outside.
How to turn one plant into two
If you’re looking for a shortcut, there’s an even easier way to get more lilies. Underground, these plants grow from thick roots called rhizomes that expand over time. Every few years, you can carefully dig up the plant and divide it right down the middle. Then, simply pop one half back in its original spot and move the other half to a new home. Spring is definitely the best time to do this.
By dividing in the spring, the new plant can take advantage of that early-season growth spurt to establish strong roots. As long as you pick a good spot and give it the right amount of fertilizer, it’ll take off in no time. The best part about dividing the rhizomes? You get a full-sized plant right away instead of waiting for a tiny seedling to grow up!
