Not all fertilizers are created equal. The difference between the best ones out there and average ones is drastic. It can mean the difference between beautiful vibrant daylilies and lifeless, dull daylilies.
Did you know that buying the wrong fertilizer can lead to disastrous results that can be difficult to recover from? Today, I will share with you the basics of a high quality product and also show you our top recommended choices.
Our Favorites
J R Peters Classic All Purpose Fertilizer
For a product that is formulated to contain a balanced blend of nutrients, J R Peters Classic All Purpose Plant Food is a great choice. This product won’t burn delicate leaves or stems. It targets the root system, so plants are healthier overall, with fuller, greener foliage and much more vibrant flowers. The slow release formula means that daylilies will receive nutrients for up to four months. Plants treated with it will experience more vigorous growth, stronger roots and stems, and a healthier appearance.
Osmocote Smart-Release Plant Food Flower & Vegetable
Osmocote Smart-Release Plant Food Flower & Vegetable works to promote overall plant health in two ways. First, the formula targets the root system, creating a stronger, healthier base for plants through a perfect balance of nutrients. The plant food also promotes more top growth, so plants are fuller and look healthier. This plant food has a slow release formula, so daylilies will receive continuous nutrients for up to four months. In addition, the formula is activated by temperature changes, so plants will receive more nutrients during warm weather, when they are growing. Gardeners can expect colorful flowers and stronger overall plants when this product is used.
Bayer Advanced All in One Rose and Flower Care
Bayer Advanced All in One Rose and Flower Care makes it very easy for gardeners to address a number of flower health concerns. The product contains a balanced amount of nutrients that helps daylilies grow. The formula targets the root system, encouraging hardier plants and promoting larger, more colorful flowers. The plant food also protects your garden from insects such as aphids, leaf beetles, leafhoppers, and psyllids. In addition, Bayer Advanced All in One Rose and Flower Care works to help prevent diseases such as powdery mildew and black spot. Gardeners will find that, after treating their plants with this product, not only are the flowers larger and brighter, but plants will also be healthier and more resistant to a number of potential problems.
Epsoma Flower-Tone
Epsoma Flower-Tone utilizes a formula that is low in nitrogen but high in potassium and phosphorus in order to give flowering plants the exact balance of nutrients they require. This product is specifically designed to target flower growth, so blooms are larger and more abundant. However, the formula also contains microbes. These microbes help to release nutrients within the soil, which increases the soil’s condition and in turn encourages healthy, strong growth within the plant’s root system. Daylilies treated with Epsoma Flower-Tone will produce brighter and more vibrant blooms but will also be hardier all around.
Jobe’s Spikes for Flowering Plants
Jobe’s Spikes for Flowering Plants are the perfect way to encourage healthier overall plant growth. These sticks are pre-measured and make very little mess. They are also simple to use. Gardeners can simply insert them into a pot or into soil near the stem of a plant, and nutrients will then be delivered directly to the plant’s roots. Nutrients is released slowly throughout the season, so the spikes only need to be replaced every two months. In addition, gardeners can rest assured that all of the fertilizer in the spikes will go directly to the plant, as the spike does not create runoff during watering. Jobe’s Spikes can encourage new growth in damaged or dying plants and can also help to grow stronger, drought resistant flowers.
Brief Care Guide
Daylilies might be one of the most beautiful and easy-to-grow perennials. They thrive in a variety of climates, soil conditions, and are not very susceptible to pests or diseases. Their blooms are beautiful and bring a splash of vibrant color in the typical backdrop of a green garden.
Let’s get into some of the details for proper care so you can raise some that will produce beautiful and plentiful blooms!
Plant in Areas of Full Sun
Although daylilies can survive in areas that only receive partial sun, they thrive and will produce the most bountiful blooms when they receive full sun. The amount of bloom is directly proportional to the amount of sun it receives. If you live in a particularly hot area, then having some afternoon shade may be good so that the plant does not dry out too much and also can retain some of its water.
Plant Almost Any Time
Because daylilies are such hardy plants, you can plant in almost any season and get away with it. They are great low maintenance full sun plants that you should consider growing.
In cooler climates, the only time you’ll want to avoid is planting in the winter time (and who wants to do gardening in the winter anyways?).
In warmer climates, such as the south, you’ll probably want to plant in the spring or in the fall.
Ideal N-P-K Ratio
Daylilies do well with fertilizers that have balanced formulas in regards to their N-P-K content. So aim for ratios of 1-1-1 (such as 5-5-5, 10-10-10, etc). A good fertilizer can go a long way, but make sure not to over fertilize. I recommend fertilizing once per year with mulching to allow for optimal growth. If anything, err on the side of moderation with fertilization.
Water Frequency
When you first plant your daylilies, you will want to water them 2-3 times per week. Do this for about 2-4 weeks after planting. After that you can reduce your watering frequency to about once every week.
How to Mulch
I am a strong proponent of mulching. First of all, if you develop any weeds around your plants, you will want to manually remove it by hand instead of adding any type of weed killer that will invariably damage your daylily. By agitating and mixing decaying organic matter in the top layers of the soil, you will make more natural nutrients available to your plants. Things that you can add include hay and straw, or even easier, grass clippings.
Bottom Line
Again, I recommend buying the J R Peters All Purpose Fertilizer. Don’t make the mistake of buying any average fertilizer at your local gardening store. Many of them will simply not produce the same results. You cannot go wrong with any of the choices above.
