Fertilizer Choice for Easter Lilies

Even though the cold weather may have you thinking winter, pretty soon spring will be in the air and the beautiful sites and smells of Easter Lillies will be upon us!

In regards choosing a fertilizer program for Easter Lilly production:  A great start for any Easter lily crop would be using a combination of Jack’s Professional water soluble fertilizers.  Our Jack’s Pro 15-5-15 is a complete and balanced extremely soluble nutrient blend.   It is an ample source of Ca and Mg especially at the start of the growing cycle when the weather conditions are more difficult to work with.

Easter Lilies are heavier feeders and require a higher pH, 6.5-7.0. They also require large amounts of calcium both for pH adjustment and to prevent leaf scorch. Leaf scorch is common and can result as a deficiency to Calcium or because of higher than usual levels of Fluoride in your water.  It commonly shows up as necrosis at the leaf tips on the lower foliage and can destroy most of the foliage on the plant in a day or two.  The best way to prevent this is to know your water source – get your water tested with us at the J.R. Peters Lab!

The recommended feeding rate would be between 200-250 ppm constant liquid feed – depending on the pot size and transpiration rate ( affected by weather conditions).

Sometimes midway through the crop growers also switch to an alternating fertility program with the 15-5-15 and the Jack Professional Easter Lilly water soluble formula 16-4-12 – this also helps keep the fertility level high to prevent yellow leaves due to low fertility, especially nitrogen during cool, cloudy weather.  It is a classic standard formula that has not changed much since the 60′s however, its ratios are perfect for a quality easter lily crop.

For more information please visit our website at www.jrpeters.com