Daylilies
They Require Little or No Care When Established!
Daylilies are perennial flowers. Originally, they were dormant throughout the winter months. Nowadays, however, there are cultivars that are evergreen and semi-evergreen. Some species are edible and are used in Chinese cuisine. Daylilies are easy to grow, hardy, have strong resistance to pest and diseases, and have different colors and shapes. They can be used for cut flower arrangements.


Dividing Clumps
  • Use a spade to cut into the soil around the daylilies and lift the whole clump with a garden fork
  • Avoid cutting the clump with a flat shovel to avoid damaging the roots. Use a sharp knife or a garden fork to divide the clump.
  • Gently separate the plants into individual groupings of leaves (fans) with the roots attached. You should have at least two fans. Three or four is better, as single ones may take more than just a little while to have blooms.
  • Remove the excess soil by shaking the clumps or spraying them with some water
  • For easier division, you may want to trim the foliage down to about an inch or two above the crown
  • Apply some fungicide powder to the plant wounds.
Proliferations
Proliferations are tiny leafy growths forming in bracts or at nodes along the flower stems (scapes) of the daylilies  When cultivated, these proliferations will develop roots and become the exact dupllicate of the mother plant. Using a very sharp knife, slice off the proliferation leaving one inch of space from its top and one inch of space from its bottom. If there are roots already, you will have an easier time growing them. Absent the roots, you will need to baby them. One way is raising them on a well-lit windowsill. You can also grow them under a glass with heat and keeping them moist. Watch out for lack of air circulation, or you will encourage rotting. You may need to use some fungicide to help prevent the problem. When the baby plants are established, you can treat them just like the other daylilies.

Propagating by Seed
Purposely raising from seeds and cultivating seedlings take a lot of care. Sow in seed trays or pots in midwinter, cover with seed mix, and keep in a location where the minimum temperature is 41°F. As before, if you have a problem of lack of circulation, apply some fungicide. If you do not want seed production, remove the seedpods right after blooming. Remember that seed-producing plants will have fewer blooms for the next season.

Pest and Diseases
Daylilies have little pest and disease problems. The few they get can easily be taken care of. Follow these steps:
  • To prevent fungus and bacteria brought on by unexpected freezes, the mulch you apply in the summer should be moved about an inch away from the crowns of the daylilies in the early spring and in the late fall.
  • To prevent leaf spot fungi, water your plants in the early morning when it is humid.
  • If you believe that you need chemicals to treat your daylilies, be sure to use only those fungicides that are for ornamental plants. Apply about every ten days.
  • If you are uncertain about chemicals to use, ask your local agriculture extension agent for suggestions on what best to use for your daylilies.
Established daylilies can produce up to 400 blooms in a season, with blooms lasting from 30 to 40 days.


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