How to Grow Lily of the Valley in a Pocket Pot

Updated on March 16, 2023

Pips in a Pocket Pot

You can mail-order prechilled lily of the valley pips, also known as rhizomes or rootstock. As you're waiting for your pips, gather the following materials: potting mix, sand, sphagnum moss, Better Than Rocks (a lightweight mesh that helps drainage in containers), and a pocket pot.

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Step 1: Soak Pips

Soak the pips in warm water for an hour. Trim the roots, keeping them at least 4 inches long but short enough to fit in the pot.

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Step 2: Add Sand, Soil and Pips

Next, cover the bottom of the pot with a 1- to 2-inch layer of sand. Add premoistened potting mix to just below the pot's lowest pockets. Plant several pips in each pocket, and cover the roots with potting mix.

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Step 3: Create Drainage

Cover the potting mix with a small handful of dampened sphagnum moss to keep the mix in place. Then use scissors to cut a 2-by-8-inch chunk of Better Than Rocks and stand it in the center of the pot. This will create a channel to facilitate watering and drainage.

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Step 4: Add More Soil Plus Water

Once you've filled any open areas, cover the pips with potting mix. Slowly water plantings in the center pot, allowing moisture to channel into the pockets.

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Step 5: Final Touches

After planting, set the pot in a 60-degree area with indirect light from a north or west window. When buds develop, move the pot to a spot in the house where you can enjoy your blooms, or place it outside if weather permits.

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