Last Updated on February 1, 2022 by Guillermina
So can you grow lilac indoors? The quick answer is yes. With inimitable France and beautiful spring blooms, lilacs have become a favorite of so many gardeners. However, not all gardeners have space to grow them.
If this is your situation, keep reading to learn the fastest and easiest way to grow lilac indoors. Here, you will also learn when to plant lilacs and how to properly care for them for you to enjoy a healthy and blooming lilac plant.
Can You Grow Lilac Indoors In Containers?
Common Lilac is the old-fashioned type of lilac with big scented flowers. They bloom a lot during chilly periods in the winter so most of the regions in Cold Hardiness Zones 5 are quite fortunate. If you want to ask “can you grow lilac indoors” using containers, the answer is yes.
First, you need to choose the right variety of lilac plants to grow indoors. Lilac can grow tall and big but the following varieties can serve you well when developing an indoor lilac garden.
The following are dwarf varieties:
- Minuet
- Pixie
- Munchkin
The following are non-dwarf varieties that stay small:
- Syringa meyeri
- S. pubescens
- S. patula
Note that when growing lilac indoors, they can still develop a lot of roots. So you need to choose wide and deep containers. This helps your lilac to fully grow into a mature plant without suffocating.
A great choice would be a terracotta pot that is 12 inches deep and 24 inches wide. Avoid using plastic as much as possible because the latter is weaker. Terracotta has permeable material and is better insulated.
Can You Grow Lilac Indoors In Zone 9?
So, can you grow lilac indoors in zone 9? The quick answer is yes. As you may know already, lilacs thrive better in colder environments. Cold hardiness 9 tends to be hotter and warmer but you can still grow lilacs.
The key to how to plant lilacs in Zone 9 is to know the right variety. As we’ve said there are many lilac varieties. Planting the best one will give you satisfactory results in the end. The most well-known choice of lilacs for Zone 9 growing is the “Blue Skies” (Syringa vulgaris) with its profoundly fragrant blossoms.
The Excel lilac (Syringa x hyacinth flora “Dominate”) is a hybrid that blossoms as long as 10 days before different assortments. It can develop to 12 feet (3.6 m.) tall. Another appealing lilac variety is the cut-leaf lilac (Syringa laciniata). It can grow likewise well in zone 9.
Can You Grow Lilac Indoors During Summer?
Lilac varieties that can grow in zone 9 can be planted during the summer. Again, you can plant the lilacs in a pot indoors to protect them from intense heat.
Colder room temperature can be beneficial for lilacs. When planting lilacs in containers, you should know the proper way to care for them. Place it someplace that gets somewhere around 6 hours of full sun consistently. Keep it somewhat wet, watering each time the soil dries out to an inch underneath the surface.
Assuming the roots are confined, the plants won’t blossom or have appropriate development. It is essential to scale back the roots when they develop past the size of the holder.
Watering Lilacs in Pots
After planting your lilac in a pot, water it and keep it genuinely clammy. Water your lilac each time the soil dries out to an inch underneath the surface. Watering it once per week is ideal. The leaves will start to hang or overlay if the plant is getting excessively dry. Do not overwater lilac or they will suffer root decay.
Fertilizing Lilacs in Pots
Prepare your lilac plant once every year toward the start of spring. Utilize a 10-10-10 manure. Bone dinner can likewise be utilized to treat your plant. It is characteristic plant food and simple for the lilac to allow. Bone meal makes the soil more alkaline. Lilacs flourish in well-fertilized, humus-rich, well-draining soil. The pH level should be near 7.0.
Can You Grow Lilac Indoors During the Winter?
Lilac in a pot will require insurance throughout the colder time of year. While these plants do not need to be placed inside during the winter, you can still have them indoors for decoration. Lilacs are adorable plants and their scent can occupy all the space in your home, making rooms fragrant. Now, who needs an air freshener.
- During the winter, never bring your lilacs inside. Cold temperatures are important to assist the blossoming buds with developing. If the winters are unforgiving in your space, extreme viruses might hurt the underlying foundations of lilacs.
- Remove your plant from the holder and cover it in the ground to protect it. You can also cover the plant with its compartment in soil, straw, or leaves. Assuming you do this, ensure your compartment is sufficiently able to endure through the colder time of year. Avoid regular pot materials, such as untreated earthenware.
- Place your lilac plant in a cold frame or unheated garage for the winter. This keeps them thriving under their natural temperature. Or if you are bringing it inside, make sure your room temperature is not high.
If you are one of the first-time gardeners who are bothered by this question: “can you grow lilac indoors”, you can keep this article in handy. Remember lilacs bloom on last year’s growth. To ensure wonderful blooms, you need to prune your lilac after they have finished blossoming during the first year.
First-time gardeners may need to be patient when it comes to Lilac. Drastic pruning of the lilac plant may cause a delay in blooming. Lastly, place your lilac somewhere cold if you decide to grow it indoors. It helps encourage growth and more blooms.