Consider more than one market for potted lilies. They can be a beautiful addition to your existing line of perennials. For this market, growers aren't restricted to the short cultivars and can choose from a broader range of cultivars. Flower bud abscission in Asiatic hybrids is closely related to low light levels during winter forcing. The biggest problem with some cultivars of Oriental hybrids is abscission and yellowing of lower foliage.
Older varieties are more prone to leaf drop.
Growers can help prevent this problem by choosing cultivars not as susceptible and by growing at optimum conditions and avoiding situations such as warm temperatures, low nitrogen, root rots and overcrowding that contribute to lower leaf drop. Cultivars 'Stargazer' is currently the most common Oriental cultivar being forced for pot plant sales for Mother's Day. New cultivars are available with major reductions in forcing time and I suspect we will see more growers adding them to their crop line. Many Asiatic cultivars are available in a range of colors from white to pink to orange and yellow. Genetic dwarf varieties are rapidly becoming the standard for pot forcing as they need no growth regulator treatment.