The calla lilies is of the same family as the “arum” that the English call callas Lily. It is a plant of a beautiful nobility in the garden of large green leaves slender and pointed, their flowers are in the form of pink chalices, we now find other colors including orange.
The trumpet shaped flowers, called spathes, emerge from the foliage with beautiful cylindrical stems and illuminate the garden. The plant often reaches 23 inches in height. The calla flowers, 4 to 6 inches tall, envelop a long central heart that may or may not be colored.
Calla lilies are hardy to -10°C, so it is best to grow them in a location that protects them from the wind in cold regions. Under good planting conditions, the calla lilies grows quickly in the garden, to the great pleasure of the gardener.
It is probably a question of region or climate, as it is almost more easily described as a houseplant, but in reality the calla lilies is one of the most beautiful flowers in the garden.
Contents
Plant in the ground or in a pot?
Calla lilies can be grown in a pot or in the ground. In northern countries, this plant is often referred to as a houseplant, probably because of its intermediate hardiness.
In pot
- Calla lilies grow well in fairly large pots, 11-14 inches.
- Provide a rich potting soil.
- Plant about 3 to 4 bulbs/pot.
In the ground
- The plant accepts a certain dryness
- On the other hand, it does not tolerate stagnant water.
- A fresh soil and a sunny to mid-shade exposure.
When to plant the calla lilies ?
- Install the bulbs (rhizomes) or the containers in spring, from April.
How to plant the calla lilies ? (step by step)
- Prepare the soil
- Loosen the soil to the depth of a spade. About 7-10 inches.
- Depending on the nature of the soil, amend it with compost to ensure a good development of the plant.
- And add sand to make it more draining – if necessary.
- Prepare bulb locations with 16 inches of space in all directions.
- Place the containers or bulbs.
- For rhizome cultivation, place them about 4 inches deep.
- Tamp, water, plant!
3 reasons to plant calla lilies outdoors
1. Bring in pollinators
These vibrant, fragrant flowers are great bait for hummingbirds and all kinds of butterflies looking for nectar. If you want your garden to be filled with these beautiful creatures, calla lilies are a superior option.
2. Repel Rabbits and Deer
These flowers are completely deer and rabbit resistant, making them a great choice for an unfenced backyard. It may be possible to consider creating a fence of calla lilies together your premises. Why not?
3. Fill in vacant space in summer
Use calla lilies to fill empty space in your garden in the summer before other flowers bloom. Simply put three or more rhizomes at the exact same distance between other crops and also enjoy the fireworks colors from the first day of summer.
The best option is to match your callas Lily with hydrangea, dahlia, canna, astilbe, asparagus fern and New Guinea impatiens.
How to care for calla lilies outdoors
Watering calla lilies
Since callas lilies is a marsh plant, you can’t expect this flower to tolerate a longer dry spell. It requires moist soil, but not excessive watering. It would be enough to water your calla lilies when you notice the dirt is slightly tender, but be careful rather than overdoing it.
If you are sure how often you want to water your crops, you should make a very simple assessment: after planting, water the soil thoroughly and listen to it in the next few weeks. After that, assess the moisture at a depth of about 1 inch.
If the dirt is dry, you should water your flowers carefully. If not, you should wait for watering. I’m pretty sure you don’t need your lily bulbs to start rotting before they thrive.
Beware If you see dark leaves in your flowers, make sure they are overwatered.
Although calla lilies don’t like to be exposed to rain, rain can be a great alternative for watering them, especially during the rise and bloom.
Temperatures tolerated by calla lilies
Since calla lilies begin to grow in the fall, try to keep them at temperatures between 10 and 15 C (50 to 60 F) during this period. In the expansion period, this flower benefits from the warmer location. After the blooming period, the partially shaded location will be ideal for this flower.
Expect perfect blooming if your house is in an area where the average temperatures are not lower than 21 °C (70 F). If your home is in the coldest areas, simply select types that tolerate lower temperatures.
Fertilizing calla lilies
Add liquid fertilizer to the water regularly and let your calla lilies simmer while blooming in spring and summer. Repeat the procedure several times a month until early fall. These flowers require no fertilizer once the weather cools down throughout the winter and fall.
While bulbs need fertilizer more frequently, once your calla lilies bloom, you can stop fertilizing. Also, if you put on too much fertilizer, you will become aware of dark suggestions on the plants’ leaves.
