Question
Hello - My asiatic lilies are finally in bloom, and I'd like to use some of them as a cut flower.  How much can I cut and still leave enough nourishment for the bulb in the fall?  Any advice on maintaining them as cut flowers so that I can enjoy them as long as possible?  Thanks!

Answer
There is no good news as far as cutting stems for Lilies -- Oriental, Trumpet, Asiatics etc.  No matter what you do, some leaves must be sacrificed when you remove part of the stalk with the flower(s) attached.  But we do it anyway.  Because it's so nice to look at them.

Keep the stems short, and try to cut them every other year.  If you grow enough, you can alternate.

Don't try to compensate by increasing your fertilizer doses.  It makes no difference.  The leaves are where these plants get ALL their energy.  Fewer leaves means fewer solar rays.  Can't do nothin' about that.

Don't feel guilty.  Don't be concerned.  Live a little.

THE LONG ISLAND GARDENER