How to Care for Lily of the Valley Plants
Lily of the Valley plants are often prized for their beauty and fragrance. The oils are commonly used in candles and beauty care products. The plant can be difficult to deal with. Without plenty of care and the appropriate conditions the plant won't thrive. You can easily avoid this by understanding what's needed to help them thrive.
Lily of the valley plants are plants known for their beauty more than anything. They require shade, cool temperatures and plenty of water. However, they are a hardy plant once they become established.
What You’ll Need:
- Perlite
- Shovel
- Peat moss
- Lilly of the valley
- Spade
- Aged manure
- Water soluble fertilizer
- Choose a location that has partial shade to plant the flower. It will need about 4 to 6 hours of filtered sunlight every day. The location should also have fertile soil that is very rich and drains well. Because lily of the valley is an aggressive plant some prefer to keep it in a separate container or bed to prevent it from taking over nearby vegetation.
- Clear the location of any vegetation so it will not compete for nutrients and moisture with the lily of the valley. A 3 inch layer of aged manure, perlite and peat moss should be spread over the area you plan to put your flowers. Work them into the soil about 6 to 8 inches.
- Pack the soil down over the flower, especially around the roots. The flower should be planted at the same level it was in at the nursery. Water it immediately after planting. This allows the plant to take root easier. Water the area frequently to keep the soil moist.
- Fertilize in October. The fertilizer should be a water soluble and balanced fertilizer. Read the instructions on the bag carefully before applying. Once applying the fertilizer, add equal parts aged manure and compost for extra nutrients.