Greetings from the world of Hemerocallis! We daylilies are famously adaptable plants, and while we adore stretching our roots in a sunny garden bed, we are also perfectly content to thrive in a container on your patio or balcony. With the right care, we will reward you with a spectacular display of colorful, trumpet-shaped blooms. Here is what you need to know from our perspective.
Our most important need is space for our roots to grow and breathe. We are not deep-rooted plants, but we form dense, fibrous root systems and multiply into large clumps over time. Therefore, a wide pot is more important than a deep one. Aim for a container that is at least 12-18 inches in diameter and depth. The material matters too. Terra cotta pots are breathable, which helps prevent our roots from getting waterlogged, but they dry out quickly. Plastic or glazed ceramic pots retain moisture better but require excellent drainage holes. Without proper drainage, our roots will suffocate and rot, which is a fate we desperately wish to avoid.
We daylilies are not overly fussy about soil, but in a container, we cannot seek out better conditions like we can in the ground. Therefore, please do not use heavy garden soil, which will compact and choke us. We need a lightweight, well-draining potting mix that still retains some moisture and nutrients. A high-quality commercial potting soil is perfect. You can even mix in a handful of perlite or coarse sand to improve drainage and a bit of compost to give us a nutritious start. This loose, airy environment allows our roots to establish quickly and access the water and oxygen we need.
To produce our best blooms, we need plenty of energy from the sun. We ideally require at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. On a patio or balcony, place our container where we will receive full sun. In regions with very hot afternoon sun (like the US Southwest), a location with morning sun and light afternoon shade can prevent our beautiful flowers from scorching. Also, consider the wind. A windy balcony can dry out our soil rapidly and may damage our tall flower scapes. A slightly sheltered spot is often appreciated.
Container life means we rely on you entirely for water and food. Our soil should be kept consistently moist but never soggy. During the hot summer growing season, check our soil daily. Water us deeply until water runs freely from the drainage holes, then allow the top inch of soil to dry out before watering again. As for food, the nutrients in the potting mix will deplete quickly. Feed us with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer mixed into the soil at the beginning of the growing season, or use a liquid fertilizer every few weeks during spring and early summer to support our vigorous growth and flowering.
After our flowering show is over, you can cut back the spent flower scapes to keep us looking tidy. In autumn, our foliage will naturally yellow and die back. You can trim this back to the base. In colder US regions (USDA zones 6 and below), our root mass in a container is vulnerable to freezing. To protect us, you can move the container to an unheated garage or insulate the pot by wrapping it in bubble wrap or burying it in a pile of mulch. Every three to four years, we will likely outgrow our container. When you notice decreased flowering, it is time to divide us. In early spring or fall, gently remove the entire clump, tease the roots apart into smaller sections, and replant a healthy division back into fresh potting mix.
