Dying Day lilies

Bensenville, IL

I transplanted my day lilies and now they are all droopy and look yellow and I think they are dying. It is almost a week and they have not worked up. These pictures were taken a few days ago and they look worse now. Please help me.

Thumbnail by Donnaprunotto Thumbnail by Donnaprunotto
Powder Springs, GA(Zone 7b)

Did you water them in when you put them in the ground? Water when the soil is semi-dry. They are in stress from transplanting and should perk up eventually (daylilies are very tough). Just don't keep them soggy wet.

Bensenville, IL

Thank you. They see to be getting worse. These are pictures from today. I don’t want them to die.

Powder Springs, GA(Zone 7b)

Don't see any additional photos though.

I got 21 daylilies last year trading begonias for whatever. They were just fans but I put them all in the ground a week or so later. I don't think I lost any and have a couple of them blooming already this year. They really are tough. Just don't keep the ground saturated - give them a good drink, wait a few days to water again (stick your finger in to see if it is wet or not before watering). Even flooding doesn't kill them but it is best to treat them normally.

In fact I had one to bloom last year which I am posting. The second photo is another one of the daylilies that has bloomed this year. I hope most will bloom this year.

Thumbnail by hcmcdole Thumbnail by hcmcdole
Sherwood, AR

I bought three on clearance at Lowe's. Sadly, none of the three made it. My soil is rather clayey and therefore it holds a lot of water. Which we don't need right now. Anyway, I bought another lily at Walmart, which seems to be making it, and three bulbs, two of which may make it but again with this RAIN that won't go away... :(

Somerville, MA

They're too close to that fence, which reflects sun. The rock mulch also produces heat. June is a bit late to transplant. All these factors are problems.

Ladys Island, SC

I have 3 suggestions:

First, cut the fans back, so they look kind of like an arrowhead. The height largely depends on what kind of daylily it is. But, your plants look like they are small diploids, similar to Stella D'oro. So, you should probably cut them back to 3 or 4 inches above the crown. Larger varieties, such as tets, would be pruned back, leaving a taller plant. The point is to cut them back until they stand up straight. This is going to be the fastest way to get them over being transplanted. They will establish and grow much quicker like this.

Secondly, while daylilies are somewhat gluttons for punishment, they are not going to enjoy that pea gravel very much. The sun is going to make it very hot, which will, in turn, make their roots dehydrate, and possibly cause root rot. I would pull the gravel at least far enough back so that it's not right on top of the roots, and I'd add some good mulch over the top of the roots instead. Your planting may even look prettier with some nice mulch added, and then have the gravel encircling it. I seriously doubt they would ever perform well unless they are mulched.

Lastly you might want to try a root stimulator. This is optional, and largely depends on how much time and money you want to invest. The active ingredient is indole-3-butyric acid, and it's widely available as a liquid that you dilute, and drench the roots with. But, as I said, this is optional. If they were my plants, my first two suggestions would be mandatory

Good luck!

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