Oriental and Pixie Lily Forcing Schedule

The instructions below are for both Oriental and Pixie (Asiatic) lilies which are suitable for forcing for the Easter and Mother's Day holidays.

Arrival of Your Shipment

• Oriental lilies will be shipped earlier than Pixie lilies because Oriental lilies take longer to force in the greenhouse than Pixie lilies.
• Pixie lilies are shipped based on when Easter falls that year. .
• The following chart provides a general rule of thumb as to which varieties should be planted when for specific holidays.
  

Containers & Soil Requirements

• Plant lilies deep in 6 inch standard pots. They need to make stem roots for a healthy growing plant.
• The ideal PH level of the soil is 6.3.

Moisture Requirements

• Water all pots thoroughly.

Temperature Requirements

• Start lilies off for the first two weeks between 55 and 60 degrees, then raise the temperature to 65 degrees.
• After lilies have broken the soil line, the temperature can be increased to 68 degrees.

Water and Fertilizers Requirements

• Once lilies break the soil line, start feeding lilies 250 PPM (125 PPM Potassium Nitrate and 125 PPM Calcium Nitrate.) Feed only when growing medium is dry. Every time you water, use this combination of fertilizer.
• Due to constant feeding, make sure your salt level does not build up. If this happens your pH will increase. Again, ideal pH level is 6.3

Lighting Requirements

• Since these lilies are grown during the winter months additional lighting is required. Once lilies break the soil line, place a string of lights over the top. Growers should give both Oriental and Asiatic lilies a minimum of 16 hours of light per day. If lilies do not receive adequate lighting during the forcing period, poor quality lilies will result by flower buds aborting and falling off the stem.