Very often a lily will produce more buds than it has strength to develop. Some of these superfluous buds will soon show signs of withering and should be at once removed.
It is well to remove every deformed or injured bud as soon as possible, for it gives the plant a better chance of developing the remainder.
When once the flowers have opened, the plant may be left alone till they wither. If possible, lilies should be placed in the shade whilst they are in blossom, as the flowers will then last for a longer time.
Usually one bud will open and then die before another is fully developed. In this case the dead blossom—or rather the seed-vessel, for the perianth falls of its own accord—should be cut off.
After the lily has flowered, it will require but little attention until the flower spike has completely died down. At this period but little water need be given.
The flower spike must never be cut down till it has completely withered to the base. When this has occurred the entire stem can be easily removed by a slight jerk.
The life of the lily for the year is now over. What are we to do with the bulbs? Shall we leave them as they are, or shall we transplant them?
Lilies in the ground do best when left undisturbed for years. Some lilies, such as Martagons and Lilium Candidum, never do well until they have been established for a year or two. Other lilies, such as L. Longiflorum, often dwindle in a very few years.
If the lilies have done well, have not been diseased and have blossomed freely, leave them as they are. If, on the other hand, the plants have borne poor or deformed blossoms, or have become diseased, or, above all, if they have been getting poorer year by year, take up the bulbs, as soon as the flower stems have died down, and plant them elsewhere.
Plant these bulbs in the same way and with the same precautions as you do new bulbs; detach any small bulblets and plant these separately. Never let the bulbs remain out of the ground longer than can possibly be helped.