How to Grow Stargazer Lilies Indoors

Overview

These well-loved, exotic lilies can be grown from bulbs indoors and especially do well when grown indoors in colder climates. Indoor growing gives you more control and flexibility with a longer growing season. These plants are large--from three to six feet tall--so be sure you have room for their full growth.

Growing Stargazers Indoors

Step 1

Prepare the soil. Lilies like a slightly acidic soil, right around 6.5 pH. You can find the pH of your soil by using test strips sold at garden and general stores. Amend the soil with lime, if needed, to make it less acidic. Use sulfur, peat or some types of compost to make the soil more acidic.

Step 2

Plant the bulb about as deep as twice its own height, usually about three to six inches down, in loose soil. This will require a fairly good-sized pot. The pot you choose also should have good drainage because lilies don't like wet feet.

Step 3

Once the stargazer lily has sprouted, mulch the surface of the soil with a light layer of bark or moss mulch to retain water, prevent pests and keep the soil cool.

Step 4

Place the lily in an area that gets plenty of sun. They like full sun, but indoors they may get burnt in direct sun streaming through glass, so keep an eye on the plant and move it to a partial sun area if needed in the afternoons. A location that gets morning sun but is shaded in the afternoons is ideal.

Step 5

Keep the lily watered and fed. Water a stargazer lily when its soil is dry, giving it a good soaking to the roots. Fertilize it about once a month with a lily fertilizer that includes nitrogen and phosphorus, such as an 11-48-0 or 16-20-0 mix.