Daylilies require little care - as long as they are he althy and bloom happily every year. In not uncommon cases, gardeners wonder why the blooms suddenly decrease or even stop. Fertilization may be able to help
When and how should you fertilize daylilies?
Daylilies should ideally be fertilized from the end of April to June. Use a fertilizer with a nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium ratio of 5:10:5, such as slow-release fertilizer, blooming fertilizer or compost. Avoid over-fertilizing and stop fertilizing after July.
Why should you fertilize daylilies?
The main reason for fertilizing daylilies is that it promotes rich and intense flowering. These plants should be fertilized as soon as their abundance of flowers decreases or the flowers no longer appear.
It is also advisable to fertilize the daylilies in order to enjoy them for a long time. Many nutrients help the daylilies to defend themselves against diseases and pests, to grow he althily and to sprout again every year after winter.
When should you apply fertilizer?
As soon as you plant, you should enrich the soil with compost. This means you don't need to fertilize the daylilies again in the same year. From the second year onwards, an annual fertilizer application is sufficient.
The exception is daylilies in pots. They should be provided with fertilizer more often. But be careful: you should no longer fertilize daylilies after July! The best period for fertilizing is from the end of April/beginning of May to June. If you fertilize later, you will damage the plant. It can be difficult to adapt to winter if fertilizer is applied too late.
Suitable fertilizers
The fertilizer should ideally have a nitrogen:phosphorus:potassium ratio of 5:10:5. The following fertilizers are well suited for fertilizing daylilies:
- Long-term fertilizer (3 to 5 months long-term effect)
- Flowering fertilizer
- Compost
- Crap
- Pond water
- Plant manure e.g. B. Nettle manure, comfrey manure
Important information about potential sources of error
- sandy soils (poor in nutrients and humus) fertilize more than loamy soils
- Never sprinkle fertilizer on the leaves of the daylily
- Plants in pots receive liquid fertilizer
- fertilize younger plants only lightly
- Overfertilization leads to splinters of flower stems
Tips & Tricks
If you don't mind the expense of fertilizer, you can alternatively cover the daylily with a thick layer of bark mulch. This releases nutrients slowly and evenly to the plant and protects it from drying out.