Question
My wife received an Oriental lily for Mother's day and has asked that I pot it for her.  We live in the Phoenix area with it's extreme heat in the summer.  She wants the plant to be on the patio where it gets mostly shade during the day, but the afternoon direct heat as well.  Will this plant have any chance of surviving our summers?  Should it be potted, should it be planted in the ground, or should I just let it die and give it a proper burial?
Thank you
Ley Borlo

Answer
Your lily will do fine in a container. It only blooms for a short time, so all you will see for months is the leaf stock. Then it will die down for the winter, and come again in the spring. It probably won't bloom again until August, maybe earlier in your climate. They do not like to be extremely hot. Lily bulbs are generally grown in cool, damp climates. So, I wouldn't plant it in the ground. You might try keeping it in the house, when it is hot, and putting it out when it cools down. Find a sunny window for it. Don't over or under water it. It is worth a try, for those wonderful blooms.

bakerplanter

bakerplanter