Hippeastrum Correiense Care

Stargazer' lilies need to be kept uniformly moist, but the bulbs may rot if allowed to soak in boggy conditions or standing water. They should be watered whenever the soil becomes dry to the touch. These plants require about 1 inch of water per week through rainfall or irrigation. Watering is best done by soaking the soil to a depth of 6 inches; do not water overhead, which can damage the blossoms. Mulching will help the soil remain moist.

Deadhead each individual flower after it is done blooming, making your cut on the small flower stalk that separates the bloom from the rest of the plant. Deadheading prevents the formation of seed pods, which consumes energy that would otherwise go to replenishing the bulbs.

Like many plants with large, dramatic flowers, 'Stargazer' is a heavy feeder. For best performance, apply a generous amount of 10-10-10 fertilizer in the early spring after the shoots have emerged, then supplement with smaller feedings every few weeks through the growing season. Water deeply after each feeding. Where soil conditions are not ideal, feeding with an acid fertilizer, such as a formulation designed for azaleas, will help 'Stargazer' thrive.

Stargazers do best in full sun (8 hours per day) but will tolerate part shade. Shady locations will cause the stems to get leggy and overly long, which may require staking that is almost never necessary when they are planted in sunnier locations.

Oriental lilies such as 'Stargazer' do well in any medium soil with average moisture. They prefer slightly acidic soils but grow fine in neutral soils. Feeding with an acid fertilizer helps them thrive in alkaline soils.

Lilies do well across all climate conditions found in their hardiness zone range, provided soil conditions are suitable, but they truly thrive in hot conditions. Maximum bloom is achieved in midsummer conditions where temperatures consistently reach 80 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. 'Stargazer' prefers to have its leaves and stems in full sun, but the bulbs kept cool. Planting them among other plants that shade the ground or covering the ground with thick mulch will help keep the bulbs cool.

While harmless to humans, dogs, and most other animals, oriental lilies such as 'Stargazer' are extremely poisonous to cats. The mysterious toxin that is so dangerous to cats has not been identified, but even small ingestion of any plant parts—or even just drinking water containing cut lily flowers—has been known to kill cats.

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