Reviving a Droopy Aloha Lily (Bulb Plant Care)

An Aloha lily (a bulb plant similar to tulips) was drooping despite new shoots. The owner wasn't sure whether to remove old foliage or how to encourage recovery.

Immediate Care

• Remove spent flowers: Clip off old blooms to redirect energy.
• Cool nights: Place in a cooler location at night (e.g., unheated garage or lower thermostat by 10°F) to prolong flowering.
• Light: Bright, sunny window during the day with drapes open.
• Watering: Use a pot with drainage holes. Water thoroughly, then empty the saucer after an hour. Allow the soil surface to become very dry and the pot to feel light before watering again.
• Fertilizer: Use a water-soluble fertilizer for blooming plants at every watering, following package directions.

Dormancy & Long-Term Care

As a bulb plant, it will eventually need a dormant period. When growth naturally dies back, reduce watering, let the soil dry completely, and store the pot in a brown paper bag for three months. Check biweekly for new growth, then return to a sunny window and resume watering with fertilizer.

During summer, the plant can live outdoors in partial shade. Divide bulbs in fall when repotting for dormancy.

Advice from Darlene, volunteer plant expert.