White Rain Lily / Fairy Lily
Zephyranthes candida
description
White Rain Lily is a compact bulb that sends up fresh white flowers after warm-season rain.
benefits
- Flowering
- Suitable for containers
warnings
- Toxic to cats
- Toxic to dogs
How to care for White Rain Lily
sunlight
In its native wet grasslands, White Rain Lily grows in open, sunny places. Give it the brightest spot you have to encourage sturdy growth and its rain-triggered blooms.
Full sun
Best outdoors in direct sun, or indoors at a south- or west-facing window. Aim for about 4-6 hours of direct sun daily during active growth. More sun usually means better flowering, provided the soil does not stay dry for long.
Partial sun
Morning sun with light afternoon shade is suitable in very hot climates. It will grow in bright light, but deep shade can produce leafy plants with few or no flowers.
watering
Keep the soil lightly moist while it is growing, but never leave the bulbs sitting in water. Rain lilies appreciate moisture in warm weather, then need less as growth slows.
Spring through early autumn
Water thoroughly about every 4-7 days in a sunny pot, or when the top 1 inch of soil feels dry. Let water run through the drainage holes, then empty the saucer. Hot sun, small pots, and sandy mixes dry faster.
Cooler or low-light months
Water roughly every 2-3 weeks if growth has slowed. Check deeper into the pot and wait until the upper half of the mix has dried. If foliage dies back in cold conditions, keep the bulbs only barely moist until new growth appears.
humidity
Preferred humidity
White Rain Lily comes from seasonally wet grasslands, but it adapts well to average household air. Moderate humidity supports fresh foliage and flower buds during active growth.
Acceptable minimum
It can tolerate somewhat drier air if the potting mix is not allowed to stay bone-dry. Persistent dry, heated air may cause brown leaf tips or buds that shrivel before opening.
- Group it with other plants to create a slightly more humid pocket.
- Use a humidifier nearby if indoor humidity stays below about 35% for weeks.
temperature
Preferred temperature
Winter minimum
White Rain Lily grows through warm, rainy weather in southern South America. Keep potted bulbs warm while they are growing and flowering, and move them away from chilly windows in autumn and winter.
nutrition
April - September
Feed about every 4 weeks while the leaves are actively growing with a balanced liquid fertilizer for flowering plants, diluted to about half the label strength. Stop feeding when growth slows or the bulbs rest in cool, low-light conditions, then resume when fresh leaves appear.
Phosphorus
Phosphorus supports healthy bulbs, roots, and flowering. A balanced fertilizer supplies enough without pushing leafy growth at the expense of blooms.
Potassium
Potassium helps support flower production and sturdy growth through the warm, rainy season.
soil
Moist but fast-draining soil
Rain lily bulbs grow best in a loose, humus-rich mix that holds some moisture but never stays soggy. Combine potting soil with coarse sand, perlite, or fine grit, and use a pot with drainage holes to protect the bulbs from rot.
pH 6,0 - 7,0
This is slightly acidic to neutral, a range suited to most quality potting mixes. Avoid strongly acidic specialty mixes, and refresh compacted soil when repotting.