The spent flowers quickly turn to a mushy bloom and then dry over undeveloped buds which can prevent them from opening. Removing the dead blooms keeps this from happening. Also, daylilies which have not been deadheaded will form seed pods.
Spent or dead flowers typically fall off naturally, but any that remain on the plant can be removed. Removing dead flowers or deadheading the plant will help promote new blooms. Daylilies only need to be cut back once a year, but there are only two times when it is okay to prune the plants.
From a plant health perspective, seed pods should be removed so that daylilies will produce more flowers next season. Deadheading daylilies isn't difficult, only time consuming. Don't feel like you have to deadhead your daylilies every day.
Daylilies are strong performers in the garden.
If you deadhead them (cut off the old flower stalks at the base) you will get even more blossoms than if you leave the stalks up to form seed pods which over the summer will ripen and burst in the fall. While it isn't necessary, doing it will get you better performance.
They are smooth on the outside and grow elongated from a smaller diameter before the bud expands where the petals begin. Often the color of the flower will begin to show on the outside before it blooms. Above is a daylily seed pod. They are bulbous and wrinkly and one will sit upright on the end of a stem.
Flower stalks may be cut back after all the buds have bloomed. Remove spent foliage in late fall. Cut back leaves to within a few inches from the ground, also in late fall. If you prefer, you may wait until spring to remove leaves, as soon as you see new growth emerging from the ground.
Removing spent growth and maintaining a feeding schedule can help Daylilies bloom. Ensure the plants are receiving plenty of light and an appropriate amount of water. Typically, when a plant stops blooming, something changed, and getting back to basics and providing ideal conditions will usually resolve the issue.
Traditionally daylilies bloomed only once in the early part of the summer, but there are now “rebloomers” like 'Stella d'Oro' and 'Happy Returns' which produce continual flushes of blooms from early summer until fall.
When do daylilies bloom? Most daylilies bloom in June or July, but mixing early, mid, and late flowering varieties can extend the show of blooms from May through September. Some types have two blooming seasons, one in spring and one in late fall.
Watering. Water is the most essential factor in growing healthy, beautiful daylilies. Daylilies love water during the growing season and prefer about an inch of water per week. In many areas, regular rainfall will supply much of that amount.
Typically, daylilies flower from late June through July. But now there are many re-blooming varieties that make a second appearance in late summer, dramatically extending the growing season. In fact, these days there are thousands of daylily varieties available in every conceivable size, shape and color.
Perhaps the best-known daylily of all time, 'Stella de Oro' offers masses of golden yellow flowers all through the summer on compact plants.
Bud bumps (enations) are small projections common on daylily flower buds. Pests might cause bud bumps and they are commonly attributed to thrips, however, scientific studies have not yet determined the true cause of these bumps.
Daylilies tend to spread quickly on their own, given the opportunity in the form of open space. To prevent them from taking over your garden, it's prudent to divide them regularly, as we describe above.
Daylilies are adaptable to a variety of soil conditions, but slightly moist, well-drained soil high in organic matter will give you better results. Prepare new planting areas with Miracle-Gro® Garden Soil for Flowers. Mix 3 inches of garden soil into the top 6 to 8 inches of native soil.
Most daylilies do not self-sow; you need to divide daylilies to create new plants (see how below). Once all of the flowers have blossomed on a daylily scape, you can cut the entire scape back to the ground right away or in the fall or not at all.
Growing daylilies from seed is easy and can be sown directly in the ground in most climates. In moist soil with lots of incorporated organic matter, sow the seeds at a depth of ½ to ¾ of an inch (1-2 cm.). Keep the soil moist until seedlings emerge, which should take one to two weeks.
Hemerocallis (Daylily)
Blue is the only color that does not pertain to Daylilies, which enjoy harsh conditions, including dry soil, small urban garden plots, and sloping properties. While the lifespan of one single Daylily flower bloom is only a couple of days, the plant itself can live up to three years.
Best Time To Fertilize Daylilies
Feed the plants in the early spring, midsummer, and fall.
Propagating Daylilies
To propagate them, divide the daylily clumps in early spring (February through April) or in the late summer to fall after flowering (late July through mid-September) prior to the autumnal equinox. The plants need at least six weeks to get re-established before winter.