This year I potted 250 daylilies and I put them in my greenhouse which will not cool lower than 42 F.

However, the sun will be absent for a good six weeks, and there will be subdued light, not full sun as daylilies like for good growth.

When the sun does start to show, it will be for short stretches.

Should I cut back on watering?

What should I expect?

Why are you putting your daylilies in a greenhouse? I have never heard of anyone doing that in a cold climate unless they are a hybridizer that wants them to bloom early for hybridizing. Seems like a lot of work to me that is not needed.

I am in zone four in Minnesota's very cold zone four.
One more thing here most daylilies are not tender and do not require a lot of protection. There are some that do not like the north but overall for me it has been very few. Believe me I would not grow them if them if they were weak tender plants. I have been growing hundreds of daylilies for years with all types of foliage including evergreen, semi-evergreen and dormant as do many other gardeners in zone four. We mulch with a couple of inches of chopped leaves in fall if we have enough to cover the entire garden to improve the soil and help control weeds every one of our daylilies is planted in ground, other than that they are on their own.

Betty,

I am not experienced with daylilies. I started growing them in 2009.

I have lost daylilies before and a friend who grows many has lost some. She has had better success with potting and putting them in a cool greenhouse. I am hoping that the plants will grow much stronger before I plant them in the ground next spring.

Here on ATP some experienced growers have said that they do not plant in their permanent location until the following year. They pot their plants first to grow better roots and acclimate the plant. When I potted some in three gallon pots, and left them outdoors, they died.

I bought many plants over $100 and I want to give them a better chance of survival.

Thank you for your imput.

Gerry

Usually those folks who plant potted plants the following year are in much warmer climates it is difficult to over winter daylilies in pots in very cold climates. I also get some new costly introductions each year and they are all planted directly in my garden. I do pay attention to the parents of new intros it gives me a good idea as to which should do fine here in the north, also inquire of the hybridizer if they think they will handle northern winters. One spring I did pot up all my spring orders for a couple of months then planted in the garden, it did not seem to make a big difference in growth. When I started out in daylilies I planted lots of older cheaper cultivars until I had some experience growing them, then I slowly started adding newer cultivars. Also I have a friend that has a AHS display garden she is a very good source for information on which will do well in our area as she constantly adds new plants from across the country.

Look for display gardens in your area visit and see what daylilies do well in your area. Here is a list of display gardens in your region from the AHS website. http://www.daylilies.org/AHSre... I would also join the AHS for even more information and quarterly magazines.

Betty,

Thank you for your insight.

Gerry

Profesora, with Betty's advice!

I don't think the cloud cover will do much to them. You might notice a little 'reaching' for light but with the cooler temperatures they should slow down their growth. I would cut back on watering - a periodic check of how dry the soil is - and I would absolutely cut back or stop any additional fertilizing beyond what may have been mixed into the soil.

James,

Thank you for answering my question. That was what I wanted to know.

Gerry