Calla lilies are beautiful flowering perennials that are easy to grow and low maintenance. It is native to South Africa but is a very popular plant in North America. It is a good perennial flower in borders and flower beds. The flowers of calla lilies are elegant making it a popular choice for bouquets at weddings and other formal occasions.
Classifications of Calla Lily
Z. aethiopica / common calla: Large clumps of unspotted deep green leaves 1.5 feet wide 10 inch long.
Z. albomaculata / spotted calla: 2 feet with bright green, white spotted 1-1 ½ feet long, 10 inch wide leaves.
Z. elliottiana / golden calla: 1 ½ – 2 feet with bright green, white spotted leaves 10 inch long, 6 inches wide. Spathes 4 – 5 inches long.
Z. pentlandii: Similar to z. albomaculata except leaves are unspotted.
Z. rehmannii / red or pink calla: 1 – 1 ½ feet with narrow lace shaped, unspotted green 1 feet long leaves.
How Big are Calla Lily?
Calla lily are 1 to 4 feet tall.
What Kind of Light is Best for Calla Lily?
Calla lily is happiest in full sun but it also grows well in partial shade.
When is the Best Time to Plant Calla Lily?
Calla lilies are typically planted in the Spring.
Colors of Calla Lily
Calla lilies come in a variety of colors- cream, white, yellow, pink, orange, red buff, lavender or purple.
What’s the Best Soil for Calla Lily?
Calla lily grows best in loose, well-drained, slightly acidic, moist soil.
How Deep to Plant Calla Lily?
Calla lilies should be planted deep in the soil around 4 to 6 inches deep.
Zone Hardiness for Calla Lily
Calla lilies can grow outdoors in hardiness zones 8-10.
How to Plant Calla Lilies
Plant Calla lilies in mixed groupings with other flowering, and foliage plants or among lower growing plants. If your summers are hot, plant calla lilies in light shade while if your summers are mild then it’s best to plant calla lilies in full sun. Calla lilies like well-drained soil, enriched with organic matter before planting. You can easily enrich the soil by digging and mixing up the soil with the organic mix (see below) and also adding in some live earthworms. To plant the calla lily bulbs, dig a deep hole of 4-6 inches deep and 1 feet apart, set the calla lily bulbs in the hole. Cover the hole with soil and water thoroughly. Top the soil with mulch to keep the area around your calla lily free of weeds and moist. Once established, calla lilies don’t need to be watered daily. Although it is happiest when the soil is slightly moist. You can also fertilize your calla lily once a month during the growing season.
How to Add Earthworms to Help Calla Lilies Grow
Dig a ½ inch hole near the bulb and put a dozen live earthworms into the hole. Make sure to cover the hole up again so the birds won’t eat the earthworms.
Organic Mix for Calla Lilies
50% peat moss
30% part other organic material such as earthworm castings, compost. Leaf mold or Nitrogen stabilized bark
20% part builders’ sand
How to Propagate Calla Lilies
Calla lilies can be left undisturbed in the ground for a few years. However, when there is overcrowding you will notice a decline in vigor and bloom volume. Divide your calla lilies during summer. After division of rhizomes, making sure each division has a growth point, replant and water immediately in amended organic mix soil. Put a dozen earthworm into the soil the next day.
Another propagation method for calla lilies is by cutting growth points near the bulb that has at least 2 leaves and one root with it. If there is no roots, you can dip the cutting in rooting hormone. Re-planting this cutting in an organic planting mixture in a part shaded area, preferably with only morning sun. Rooting of these cuttings should start after 4 weeks. Then you will start to notice growth in the size of the calla lily leaves.
How to Plant Calla Lilies in a Pot
All calla lilies are good container plants. After preparing the organic potting mix, place 3 bulbs in a 5 – 7 inches deep pot or 10 bulbs in a 14 – 16 inches pot. Fill pot 1/3 full of the potting mix and place calla lily bulb with roots spread and pointing downward, cover with an inch of soil and water immediately, move this pot to a shaded area. Dig a small ½ inch hole beside the plant the next day and put a dozen live earthworms into it, then cover the earthworm with soil.
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