daylilies

In October 2007, I planted new day lily bulbs, several varieties, with different bloom dates. In the bloom season of 2008 there were no blooms and so far in 2009 no blooms. There is lots of foliage. Each year I have mulched with wood mulch and this year cypress mulch. Is this the problem? Would liming help?

Daylilies wouldn't have blooms this early yet.

And some things don't bloom the year after they were planted because they work on getting their roots established, so I wouldn't necessarily worry that they didn't bloom last year either. Hopefully you'll get some blooms this year--if you don't get any blooms at all this summer then you might want to look at whether they're getting enough sun. But be patient for a bit yet, as flowerjen said it's a bit early for them to be blooming.

It is early for TN. My Stella's are just blooming and all the others either have buds or nothing yet at this point and, obviously, I'm farther south than you. Ecrane is right, lot's of plants don't bloom the first year after they are planted--they need time to set roots.

Thanks for your replies. You are right, it is early. Should I be seeing the stem that will have the bloom this early?
Would it help the plants if I add lime pellets to the cypress mulch?

I've been using cypress mulch on my flowerbeds, which include lot's of day lilies, and haven't seen any ill effects from it. I haven't added any lime. My beds here are approx. 5 years old now. At my old house I had flowerbeds for 20+ years and used cypress there too--never limed there either. I only add a slow release fertilizer once every spring and again in mid-summer and my flowers are all just gorgeous.

I would never add lime (or any other material for changing soil pH) unless you've done a pH test on your soil and know that it needs it. Soil pH is not anywhere close to the first thing I would blame for your daylilies not blooming, there are a lot of things that are more likely and should be considered first. I still say that it's too early for you to worry yet this year, but if you get farther into summer and they still don't bloom, then the things I would look to first would be seeing if they're getting enough sun, and looking at the fertilizer you're giving them--if you're fertilizing frequently with something that's high in nitrogen that can give you a lot of green growth at the expense of blooms with many plants (not sure if that can cause problems for daylilies or not).

Some daylilies can take a few years to set blooms. I have some that will be putting out their first blooms in a few weeks that I planted 3 years ago. Some cultivars take longer to bloom than others.

Jasper and the others are right - some will bloom the first year you get them in the ground, others, (most in my experience), need one, two or even three years to start blooming. You may start to see some scapes on early blooming varieties soon, but not on mid or late season bloomers. Be patient - if you have healthy foliage, your daylilies are doing just fine.

I also wouldn't worry about the ph, daylilies can take a very wide range. I have some in 5.0. and they do fine. I think the biggest thing with daylilies is sunlight. If they are in too much shade, they may not bloom. But, to parrot what everyone else has said, be patient, they're still getting comfortable in their new home.

Volgardner: I live twenty minutes at most from you on 75 south. It is too early for you to see buds on plants this new. The only daylilies I have setting buds at this point are well established (5 plus years) and full sun. With all the rain we've had just about everything is behind this year. I have some newer daylilies (3 yrs. in ground) that flowered beautifuly last year and have yet to show any sign this year of a bud. With the cool spell we are about to get (blackberry winter) the next two to three weeks should bring everything to life. Give em a couple weeks and don't fret when they are ready they'll let you know. Daylilies around here are very hardy! As well as very forgiving. Do not add lime as our natural soil is generally well liked by daylillies, unless you have the soil tested first and it is recomended. UT ag department will test it for free just call and they will tell you where to bring the sample.

Everybody, all your comments have been very valuable to me. My daylillies are getting good sun - 6am to about 4pm and the foliage is lush, so I will just give them time. I love Dave's Garden, so you will see my pleas for info on lots of other forums.

Just so you know around my place I'll have tulips and daffodils, then I get irises, then tiger liliies, after that should be daylilies. The tigers should bloom later this week or early next. Next week or two will be early daylilies as the later ones set blooms.

Volga: Once your daylilies start blooming, you'll be pleasantly surprised. They just get better and better. They're definitely worth the wait.

Do you think Daylillies will survive in a large bucket? The bunnies got to my daylillies the last 2 years and I want to move them away from that location.

As long as the bunnies can't get to them, I don't see why not. I have dl's in containers and they do fine, but I don't have rabbit problems here. Snails, yes, but not rabbits !

I have some dl's in large containers too and they do fine.

MN brown: I did have a problem with bunnies at a former address. I planted some leaf lettuce in another location and then scattered seeds for it in a neighborhood common area. The bunnies preferred it and left my daylillies alone. The bunnies tended to only eat the newest tender growth so I used early lettuce, it got green before the daylillies, so the bunnies got after it while the day lillies matured.

What's the size of the container you planted them in? Can I put 2-3 plants in a 2 gallon bucket?

gcorrier, those bunnies ate mature blooming daylillies and helped themselves to my neighbors' plants too. Guess they are making the most of the short growing season we have here.

Thank you, all

Are they dwarfs? Some daylilies get really big. I have 1 DL in a planter the size of the 17" like this....
http://www.gardeners.com/classica-planter-small/37-941RS,default,pd.html

No, they are regular daylillies. A couple are in fact asiatic lillies.

MN: I am sure if you put dls in a container big enuf they would be ok. How ever they would do better in ground. Even though you can plant one upside down and it will grow does not not mean it likes it. Do you or neighbor have cats or know someone who does. Kitty litter box leavings scattered here and there can help keep bunnies at bay. Also wolf or coyote urine is good. That is provided you can put up with the smell. The wolf/coyote urine is availible at hunting supply stores. Another trick I have used to keep critters at bay is garlic, one clove peeled and cut in half in a quart spray bottle. Let it stew overnight and mist plants the following evening. A light misting is all that is rquired I promise, spray to much and your neighbors will let you know. I have used this to deter creepy crawlies on tomatos and onamentals, and four legged vermin ie.squirrels digging tulips and bunnies eating veggies. I know sounds nuts I didn't think it would work either. Also if you double dose the cloves the census people will by pass your house. Related to dracula, maybe? Good luck!

The garlic idea sounds very interesting. Will try it out. It is better than spraying urine or feces near the front entrance of the house :-). Might try it on my other plants too. Thanks!!

gcorrier: Haha! I was working for the census, and not even a pile of dead cats and raccoons could keep me from my faithful rounds! ^_^
(not kidding either, it was really gross!)

Trio: I can only imagine some of the stuff you guys would have to wade thru.

I have a DL question. When is the best time to move them? Mine are blooming now but I need to move them bc the plants that I planted them behind ended up being taller than the DL. So any ideas when I should try to move them?
Thanks

Mommy232: Daylilies here (east TN) are very hardy. I am certain that holds true in the land of GA as well. I have moved dls as early as January and as late as august. The trick I think is to disturb as few roots as possible. Dig up as much dirt around them as possible the root ball is key to a succesful growing season move. As soon as they are in the new location water them deeply and often until transplant shock is over. You will probably notice that they discontinue blooming as soon as they are moved but they will resume thier duties next summer, usually without complaint.