Water garden lilies about once a week during the growing season, giving roughly 1 inch of water. Lilies in pots may need water every 2 to 3 days in summer. Let the top inch of soil dry between drinks, because lily bulbs rot quickly in soggy ground.
A starting point, not a rule. Check the soil before each watering and stretch the gap in cool, cloudy weather.
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Lilies want what most bulbs want: a steady drink while they grow and flower, and dry feet the rest of the time. Get the balance right and they come back bigger every year.
This guide covers true garden lilies, such as Asiatic, Oriental and trumpet lilies, grown from bulbs. The bulb stores food and water underground. Your job is to keep the soil lightly moist in spring and summer, then ease off as the plant fades in fall.
Lily watering schedule
| Growth stage | How often |
|---|---|
| Just planted bulbs | Once after planting, then only if dry |
| Shoots up to buds | Once a week |
| Flowering in summer heat | 1 to 2 times a week |
| Lilies in pots, summer | Every 2 to 3 days |
| After the leaves yellow | Stop watering |
Rain does most of the work in a normal spring. Water only when the week has been dry.
How to tell when lilies need water
Push a finger about 1 inch into the soil next to the stem. If it feels dry, water. If it feels damp, check again in a day or two.
Lilies show thirst through their buds and lower leaves. Buds that shrivel before opening and leaves that brown from the bottom up both point to dry soil, especially in hot weather.
How to water lilies
- Water at the base. Keep water off the leaves and flowers to avoid botrytis, a gray mold that spots lily leaves.
- Soak deeply. Water until the top 6 to 8 inches of soil are moist, which is where the bulb and roots sit.
- Water in the morning. Any splashes dry off fast in the sun.
- Mulch lightly. An inch or two of mulch holds moisture without keeping the stems wet.
Signs of overwatering and underwatering
Too much water
- Yellow leaves while the plant should be green
- Soft, brown stems near the soil
- Bulbs that are mushy when dug up
- Shoots that fail to come back next spring
Too little water
- Buds that dry up before opening
- Lower leaves turning brown and crisp
- Short stems and small flowers
- Flowers that fade within a day or two
Watering after the flowers fade
When the flowers are done, cut off the old blooms but leave the stem and leaves. They keep feeding the bulb for next year. Keep watering normally while the leaves stay green.
Once the foliage turns yellow in fall, stop watering. Dormant bulbs need no extra water and are safest in soil that drains well over winter.
Lilies look lovely next to hydrangeas, which want a little more water in the same bed.
Lilies watering FAQ
Do lilies need a lot of water?
No. They need steady moisture while growing, about 1 inch a week, but they rot if the soil stays wet.
Should I water lilies every day?
Only lilies in small pots during hot weather. Lilies in the ground do best with a deep watering about once a week.
How often should I water potted lilies?
Check them every day in summer and water when the top inch is dry, which is usually every 2 to 3 days.
We turn horticulture research and real growing experience into plain-English watering schedules you can actually follow.