Yes, daylilies in pots thrive when you pick the right container size and cultivar. Miniature and compact types work best in pot life. They keep tidy clumps without outgrowing the space. Skip the big full size varieties for any daylily container and you will get years of strong bloom on a patio or balcony.
I grew Stella de Oro and Little Grapette side by side in 14 inch (36 cm) pots on my back deck for 4 seasons in a row. Both plants rebloomed each summer with 3 to 4 scapes per pot. The Stella opened in late May and again in August. Little Grapette put on a steady show through June and July with no fuss at all.
Pot size matters more than most folks think. Daylily roots grow thick and fleshy. They need room to spread out below the soil line. Go too small with your pot and the roots will fill the space in one season. The plant then gets root bound and skips bloom the next year.
Aim for a pot at least 12 inches (30 cm) wide and deep for any daylily you plan to keep for more than one summer. Larger pots also act like an insulator for the roots. They keep the soil cool in summer heat and buffer winter freezes that can kill exposed roots in smaller pots.
Growing daylilies containers takes a different soil mix than ground beds. Use a well drained potting mix blended with 25% compost by volume. Skip heavy garden soil since it packs down and holds too much water in a pot. Add a handful of slow release fertilizer at planting time for a steady feed.
Pot Size and Material
- Minimum size: Go with at least 12 inches (30 cm) across and 12 inches deep for a single fan to thrive long term.
- Material pick: Frost proof resin or thick plastic pots survive winter freezes far better than terra cotta in cold zones.
- Drainage holes: Make sure your pot has at least 3 large holes at the base since blocked drainage leads to crown rot fast.
Soil and Spacing
- Soil blend: Mix 75% quality potting mix with 25% compost for a light feed that drains well and holds moisture just right.
- Fan count: Plan on at least 1 gallon (3.8 L) of pot volume per fan so each crown has room to spread.
- Crown depth: Set the crown 1 inch (2.5 cm) below the soil line, no deeper, to match how you plant in the ground.
Water and Feed
- Summer schedule: Water 2 to 3 times per week in hot weather, since pots dry out far faster than ground beds.
- Feed plan: Apply a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer in spring and again after the first bloom flush for a strong rebloom.
- Winter water: Cut back water in fall and stop entirely once the foliage dies down for the year.
Potted daylily care in winter is the one place where container growers run into trouble. Pots freeze faster than the ground. A pot left outside in zone 5 can chill the roots 10 to 15°F (5 to 8°C) colder than the same plant in the ground.
Move your pots to a sheltered spot for winter to fix this. A garage that stays just above freezing works great. An unheated shed or a covered porch on the north side of the house also does the trick. I tuck mine against the foundation under a tarp once the foliage dies down each fall.
Best daylilies pots are the miniature and compact picks. Little Grapette, Pardon Me, Stella de Oro, and Happy Returns all top the list. These cultivars stay under 18 inches (45 cm) tall. They rebloom well in a confined root zone. Skip the full size types that grow over 3 feet, since their roots fill up a 14 inch pot in one season flat.
Pick the right miniature daylily container and a good cultivar mix. You can grow daylilies in pots on any patio or balcony. The bloom show rivals any in ground bed. The work is just a bit of weekly water and a fall move to shelter. I have kept my daylilies in pots happy for years using this same plan, and so can you.
Read the full article: Daylily Plant: The Complete Care Guide
