Pot forest lily in a draining pot, in a sandy mix, with the neck showing, and keep the pot almost dry once the leaves yellow. Forest lily is Veltheimia bracteata.
Use a draining pot and a sandy mix, with the neck showing
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Pot | An 8-inch pot for one bulb, or a 12-inch pot for three, with a drainage hole | Do not use a shallow bowl of wet compost with no way out |
| Mix | A loam-based or soilless mix with coarse sand or grit worked in | Do not pack heavy garden clay, and do not leave the pot sitting in a saucer of water |
| Neck | Set the bulb so about half to two-thirds sits above the mix | Do not bury the whole bulb, and do not leave it loose on top of dry peat |
| Light | Cool and dim until shoots show, then a bright window out of noon sun | Do not cook a dark pot on a hot sill all afternoon |
forest lily is usually grown in a pot you can move, because the bulb does not take a hard freeze. Mix loam or a bagged soilless blend with coarse sand so the roots stay moist in winter without sitting in a bog. [1] An 8-inch pot holds one bulb; a 12-inch pot holds three. Leave the neck showing so water does not pool in the tunic. [2] Choose a pot that can stay in place for a few years. Frequent moves tear the roots. [3] After the first season, continue the shade and watering on How to Grow Forest Lily if you also keep a clump in the ground.
Can I grow forest lily in a pot?
Yes. A draining pot is the usual home where frost is routine, because you can keep the mix moist in winter and almost dry in summer.
How to pot forest lily
Pot in late summer or early fall, before new leaves run. Cover the hole with chips, fill two thirds with sandy mix, set the bulb with the neck showing, then fill around it. Water once, keep the pot cool and barely moist until shoots show, then move it to a bright window out of noon sun. [4]
- Choose an 8-inch pot with a hole for one bulb, or a 12-inch pot for three. Cover the hole with chips.
- Fill two thirds with a sandy mix. Set the bulb so half to two-thirds of it sits above the mix.
- Fill around the sides, firm lightly, and water once to settle.
- Keep the pot cool and barely moist until green shoots show, then move it to a bright window and water when the top inch of mix is dry. Feed with a dilute liquid fertilizer every two to four weeks while leaves are up.
How deep do I plant forest lily in a pot?
Set the neck above the mix, with about half to two-thirds of the bulb showing. Do not bury it the way you would a tulip.
Keep the pot almost dry through summer
When the leaves yellow, stop watering and stop feeding. You can stand the pot outdoors in shade for the warm months, then cut back the water. If the plant goes fully dormant, keep the mix almost dry until new shoots push in late summer or fall. Do not leave a resting pot out in summer rain.
- After the leaves yellow, stop watering and stop feeding.
- Stand the pot in shade for summer, or store it under cover if rain will soak the mix.
- When new shoots show, bring it back to a bright window and start watering again.
Do I store the bulb loose?
No. Leave it in the dry mix. A bare bulb shrivels. An unheated garage is enough if the pot stays dry.
Pot the bulb with the neck showing, water while leaves are up, and keep the pot almost dry through summer.
FAQ
Do I need to repot forest lily every year?
No. Wait until the pot is crowded. The plant blooms better if you leave the roots alone. When you do lift it, split offsets on How to Propagate Forest Lily.
Can I grow forest lily indoors?
Yes. Keep it cool until shoots show, then give it a bright window out of noon sun, and keep the pot almost dry in summer.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] Royal Horticultural Society -
https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/18779/veltheimia-bracteata/details - [2] White Flower Farm -
https://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/blogs/growing-guides/how-to-grow-veltheimia-bracteata - [3] NC State Extension -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/veltheimia-bracteata/ - [4] Pacific Bulb Society -
https://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/veltheimia
This note is part of Veltheimia Guides.
More container notes by plant live in Container Growing Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors