I have not done any research on this
and am unaware of any published work that
would suggest that poor sanitation is acceptable
with cut lilies. In the absence of any research to
the contrary, forcers and handlers should always
use proper sanitation and wash and sanitize
buckets on a regular basis. Perhaps since lilies
are relatively easy to hydrate, and even severely
wilted plants can be readily rehydrated, people
assume dirty water is OK. I would not make this
assumption.
The optimal harvest stage will vary by cultivar.
Some can to be harvested at an earlier stage,
and these would be good cultivars if longer storage
or longer transportation is anticipated. Cultivars
that need to be harvested with more bud
color would be good candidates for minimal storage
and local sales.