Question

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Followup To

Question -
I received a wonderfully fragrant white oriental lilly as a thank you gift.  Now that the blooms have passed, how do I care for the plant?  Are these bulbs that need to be forced into dormancy or do I keep the leaf stock fed and watered until it comes time to bloom again?  I have no clue how to proceed.
Thanks in advance,
Mary Shanahan

Answer -
As I was reading, I had two questions. What is your climate zone? Do you plan to keep your container inside, or plant in the ground outside?
I will give you the basic maintenace guide, to help you, without knowing the answers to those questions.
To understand a little about lilies, I will start with what they require.
The lily you have will probably not bloom again this year. It's normal time to bloom, is in August. I would not try to force it. To do this properly, you would need a greenhouse, with strict temperature, and moisture control.
The bulbs do best in cool temperatures, like those in the coastal areas. They require well drained soil. The biggest mistake, is to over water when it is hot. This will cause bulb rot. The bulb needs FULL sun in the period when the leaves and buds begin to form. Then move it in part shade when the blooms form to keep them from browning and drying out. This will also keep them cooler. Feed it once when the plant is beginning to form, and the weather is still cool, with a 15-30-15 fertilizer as per directions. Cut the spent flowers as soon as the petals fall, just above the first joint or leaf. Leave the stem and leaves alone until they turn brown. It's is vital to leave a much green material as possible, since the plant is still growing actively  after flowering, and needs it's green leaves to grow a strong bulb.When the leaves and stem are brown, cut the dead stem off, and don't water until you see growth again or the soil becomes too dry. Remember too much moisture will rot them, too little and they will shrivel.
As for storage over winter, a cool garage or basement is fine. If they are left outside in a container, place them where the sun and rain will not bother them. If you are in a climate where there is frost in spring and the bulbs have sprouts coming up, bring the plant in to protect it from frost burn. But again, keep it cool, with bright light.
bakerplanter
To answer your questions, I shall be keeping the plant potted and in the house.  I'm sorry I neglected to tell you that I live in Mesa, Arizona.  I have great luck with my landscaping, but very ill luck with houseplants.  I'm certyain it is because of the low humidity and air conditioning!

Answer
Try putting small glasses of water around, or a rock tray with water under the pot. The evaporating water will give the plant added humidity, with out getting the soil wet. Placing other plants in a group helps as well. If you have a large collection, like I do, a small humidifier is needed.

Bakerplanter