Lilies are one of the most striking and fragrant flowers you can bring into your home or event. With their bold, trumpet-shaped blooms and rich colors, they make an instant impression. They're also incredibly rewarding to care for because they continue to open and bloom over several days, giving you a constantly evolving display.

One important thing to know: lilies take a long time to open. Always order early and get them into water right away so they have plenty of time to hydrate and bloom before your event or arrangement.

What You'll Need

• A clean vase
• Fresh, cool water
• Floral preservative (recommended)
• Sharp scissors or floral shears
• A fork, small scissors, or a moist paper towel (for pollen removal)
• Gloves (optional but recommended)

Step-by-Step Care Instructions

1. Unpack and hydrate immediately. Remove your lilies from the packaging as soon as they arrive and get them into water right away. The sooner they start drinking, the sooner they'll begin to open.
2. Trim the stems. Cut 1 to 2 inches off the bottom of each stem at a 45-degree angle to maximize water uptake.
3. Fill your vase with cool water only. Use clean, cool water with floral preservative. Never use hot or warm water with lilies. Hot water can cause the petals to become transparent and damage the blooms. Cool water is always the way to go. Lilies are heavy drinkers, so check the water level daily and top it up as needed.
4. Remove lower leaves. Strip any foliage that would sit below the waterline to keep the water clean and fresh.
5. Remove the pollen pods. This is one of the most important steps with lilies! As each bloom opens, the orange pollen pods (stamens) must be removed before they release pollen, which stains everything it touches including skin, clothing, tablecloths, and the petals themselves. You have a few easy options:
   • Use a fork to gently flick the pods off into the garbage or onto a paper towel.
   • Use a moist paper towel to carefully grip and pull the pods off.
   • Use small scissors to snip the pods off directly into the garbage or onto a paper towel.
   Important: be extra careful when the pods are wet, as wet pollen stains even faster and more intensely than dry pollen. Always work over a paper towel or garbage can and avoid touching your face or clothing.
6. Remove damaged or very small buds. If any blooms arrived broken or damaged, cut them off right away so the stem can focus its energy on the remaining healthy buds. Similarly, if a stem has too many very small buds that look unlikely to open fully, removing a few of the smallest ones gives the remaining buds more energy to develop into beautiful, full blooms.
7. Change the water every 2 days. Re-trim the stems each time and always refill with cool water only.
8. Keep them in a bright, cool spot. Avoid direct sunlight and heat sources. A cool room will slow the opening process and extend their vase life.

Pro Tips

• Order early: Because lilies take several days to open, always order them at least 3 to 5 days before you need them at their best. Get them into water immediately upon arrival.
• Staggered blooming: Each stem carries multiple buds that open at different times. As lower blooms fade, simply remove them and enjoy the fresh buds that continue to open above. One stem can give you a week or more of blooms!
• Pollen stains on fabric: If pollen does get on fabric or petals, do not rub it. Let it dry completely, then lift it off gently with tape or a dry brush. Rubbing will set the stain permanently.

Florist Secret

Want to control exactly when your lilies bloom? Keep them in a cool, dark room to slow the opening process, or move them to a warmer, brighter spot to speed it up. This is a trick florists use to time blooms perfectly for weddings and events. If you need your lilies fully open for a Saturday event, unbox them on Wednesday or Thursday and place them in a warm room to encourage them to open right on schedule!

How Long Will They Last?

With proper care, lilies typically last 7 to 14 days in a vase, depending on the variety and how many buds are on each stem. The more buds, the longer the show!