I have seen the difference from those who water and those who think that our current daylilies are carefree like the old outhouse species and just let them grow 'however'.
Same as those who plant in their local dirt compared to those that amend their soil.
Same as greenhouse grown in optimum conditions compared to garden conditions.
Sandy soil here. I need to water more than the recommended 1 inch per week. But dragging the darn hoses around sometimes gets me down.
Pay money for a new hybrid? Pay money to water the darn things!
1 Daylilies need a good water supply before and aft bloom season.
2 Don't water if you can help it when buds are starting to burst - water drop spots will appear
3 However, water whenever a plant needs it, even if you have to sacrifice a days worth of blooms
4 Water deeply so that the roots grow DOWN not upwards towards the 2 inches that get wet in a one hours watering
5 Water with a drip hose when you can rather than wasting water in the air with oscillators (that I often have to use)
6 Watering will help with increase, repeat bloom, better looking foliage etc.
7 Warm water will help increase bloom season
8 Cold water will help delay blooms (geo doorakian advice - I know not first hand)
9 Water hot black pots everyday around noon to help cool the black pots from roasting the roots
10 Water the soil, not the foliage nor flowers, whenever possible
