Expert: Long Island Gardener - 2/17/2007

Question
Hello! thank you so much for your reply...
I do really appreciate it. :)
Sorry if I'm too insistent in asking questions about my plant. I've checked the website link that you have given me. And yes, you are correct. That's how my lilies look like, and they are color pink :)

So you mean my plant is already dead? If I would buy again another stargazer lily plant, how should I take care of it?
Is the cold temperature inside the house would help? And do I need to send it outside sometimes for a sunlight?
I'm really sorry for this...Thank you for your time
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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Hello! I'm Frances from Philippines. I bought a star gazer plant on a pot last december of 2006. The flowers are already open when I bought them. After 2-3 weeks the flowers start to dry up and die. Eventually, the leaves have also dried up and they all fell. Now I'm worried because the stem is now starting to dry up with yellowis-to-brown color. I'm afraid that my plant is already dead. This is my first time to have a stargzer plant to take care of. Actually I'm not into growing any type of plant that's why I don't have any idea how to take care of such plants. I know star gazers are quite sensitive and they do require special care if you really want them to bloom. Tht's why I was really interested to ask how should I take care of it everyday...
1. Do I have to water my plant everyday? How much water is needed and what time of the day should I water them?
2. Is the stargazer an indoor plant? Should it be placed inside or outside the house? Because a plant vendor mentioned to me that it should be kept inside the house with minimal sunlight.
3. Do I really have to pull out the entire stem from the soil once the plan have dried out? And do I need to transfer it to another pot?
4. Can I just leave the dried stem on its original pot, with the same soil? I mean if I will just let it stay as it is, would the flowers bloom again?
5. Can i put dried leaves as a compost for my plant instead of using other organic fertilizers?
6. I don't know how would be the correct procedure in transplanting the stargazer. I'm afraid that it might die if I pull it out incorrectly or if I would not able to plant it well. Can I just let the stem stay in the pot without doing any transplant...?

Thank you so much for the time and help!
I do really appreciate if you could help me on this
God bless you!


-----Answer-----
Hello Frances, My father was there in WWII, I have his Navy photo taken on a front Porch by a Philippine photographer on my mantle.  Pleased to meet you.  And I'll be happy to help you with any advice you need on this.

I am guessing that you have a STARGAZER LILY.  Did this potted plant look anything like the one at Snow Creek Gardens (http://snowcreek.stores.yahoo.net/l7412.html)?  This is a kind of Oriental Lily.

Depending on what the climate is, you may or may not be able to grow these.  I suspect it is way too warm where you live for you to be able to do this successfully.

If your climate is any warmer than, say, Florida, or Southern California, these Lilies will not receive the chill they need to make flowers.  It would be difficult, but possibly do-able, to accomplish this with a refrigerator.

The behavior your described about your Lily sounds like a typical Day In The Life of a Stargazer.  These bulbs send up shoots, then bloom for maybe 2 weeks, then it's done.  The leaves should not be dropping or curling or browning after the bloom has finished.  I have a feeling it is, sadly, not the pot here that is to blame; there are so many causes it is hard to know without being able to touch the soil and monitor treatment.

The leaves can be composted, but they are high in Lignin and may be diseased - I cannot tell without a photo.

I must point out that there are so many wonderful TROPICAL PLANTS that you can grow, I do not think an Oriental Lily would be worth all of the trouble you are going to have with this.  I answered a question tonight about Trachelospermum Jasminoides - related to several strongly fragrant flowers, all very tropical.  Those would be less trouble, and worth every ounce of effort.

Let me know if you have any more questions on this or anything else.  Bless you, too, my friend.  

Answer
Don't worry about asking too many questions about this, Frances.  That's what we're here for!

Oriental Lilies are not really house plants.  And the vendor who told you they need minimum light - if this is indeed a Star Gazer Oriental Lily - was completely absolutely 100% totally wrong.  There is no way to even consider a "maybe" here.  W R O N G wrong!

Unless you are homeless and your house is in the park, you cannot grow this in your house.

You can TRY.

I'll tell you how.

You need a very, very sunny window with sun MOST of the day.  You need cool temperatures in the winter (I guess it's mid-summer there - cool temps means in the 40's or lower).  You need a huge pot.  If you can do all that, you have a shot at growing this on a regular basis.

If not, it's not big deal!  There are so many incredibly beautiful, fragrant plants to grow without all those demands on temperature/light/size.

You cannot get a Star Gazer or any other Oriental lily to bloom all summer, or even all month.  The blooms are spent, they die, they make seed, and the plant prepares for next year.

If the leaves are completely brown now, then I am afraid this plant should probably be replaced with another one.  If the new one is already blooming, enjoy the rich fragrance and beautiful colors while you have them, but expect it to end - too soon, yes, but such is life.  All good things must pass.

If you have ANY more questions please let me know. :)