GARDENING

Gerald Filipski

I was then asked if they would grow in a container , and I can confirm that they will happily grow in containers .

Daylilies are one of the most elegant , colourful , and accommodating plants for container growth . They come in a wide variety of colours and can add interest to any garden , balcony , or deck . Many are fragrant and , combined with their spectacular colours , can make a dramatic impact . The many new dwarf varieties make them suited for any size of application . If you have more room , the large varieties can be spectacular . The long , lancelike , arching leaves add a tropical appearance to any setting . The flowers , each one lasting only a day ( hence the name daylily ) are profuse and continuous during their blooming period .

Their requirements are few and rewards are many . They prefer sun but will also tolerate light shade . They prefer to have good drainage , but the nice thing about daylilies — unlike so many other container plants — is that they do not mind having their feet wet , and a saucer under the container will help maintain the even moisture they like . Just don ’ t let the soil get sopping wet .

Choose pot sizes to accommodate the size of daylily you have chosen . Mini or dwarf varieties can be grown in smaller pots , while larger varieties

will need a pot as wide as 50 cm in diameter . Lightweight plastic pots that can be easily moved are good choices so you can move your daylily into and out of prominence according to whether it is in or out of bloom .

The advantage to growing daylilies in containers is that watering and fertilizing are more easily controlled . Growth is likely to progress more quickly in the spring because the soil in containers usually warms up faster than that in the ground . Blooming will be a bit earlier for the same reason . It is also easier to deadhead the flowers since they are more easily accessible .

One disadvantage is the need to water containers more frequently , which depletes nutrients more rapidly . Regular fertilization is important because daylilies are heavy feeders . Using a slow-release fertilizer for blooming plants will mean you can hand-fertilize less often .

The varieties of daylilies seem endless , with every imaginable colour , and many flowers featuring bi- or even tri-colouration . Many of the dwarf varieties have been bred for their extended bloom periods . They are called continuous bloomers , or re-bloomers , because they flower for a much longer period than regular varieties .

22 | arta . net FLOWER POWER