How to plant Calla lilies
You may not know how to plant Calla lilies and the topic of Calla lily planting methods and timing. Let's take a look together!
Calla lilies belong to the Araceae family Calla genus, which is a perennial rhizomatous herbaceous plant. Calla lilies are also known as arrowhead flowers, taro, and wild taro. Calla lilies prefer a warm and humid environment and are not resistant to cold and dry conditions. They thrive in soil that is rich in organic matter, fertile, loose, and slightly acidic. The flowers are white and tubular in shape, with the flowers inverted resembling horse hooves. Commonly cultivated varieties include white Calla lilies, red Calla lilies, yellow Calla lilies, and silver star Calla lilies.
Planting time and propagation methods
Seed propagation is carried out from April to May, with temperatures between 18-24°C for planting. Bulb division propagation is carried out after flowering in May to June. As the old leaves gradually wither, new leaves grow, and some small bulbs form around the tubers, which are then separated and planted individually. Tubers are planted in the fall, in September.
Cultivation methods
Cultivation methods include potted ornamental and outdoor cultivation.
For potted Calla lilies, when the mother bulbs produce small bulbs and new leaves in the fall, the small bulbs are separated and planted in deeper pots with a diameter of 25 centimeters. The potting mix consists of 2 parts finely crushed pond soil, 1 part decomposed farm manure, mixed with an appropriate amount of superphosphate and decomposed cow dung.
For outdoor cultivation, select strong and full bulbs to plant in a sheltered, well-ventilated, low-lying, and fertile soil in March to April. Plow the land and apply sufficient base fertilizer, then plant in rows with a bed width of 100 centimeters, using furrow planting with a spacing of 20 centimeters between plants and 30 centimeters between rows.
Top-dressing
During the growth period of Calla lilies, apply decomposed cake fertilizer and a moderate amount of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer twice a month. No fertilization is needed after the flowers fade.
Management
In the spring when the weather warms up, the potted plants can be moved outdoors. If the foliage is lush, the outer yellow leaves can be removed to facilitate the emergence of flower stems and promote more flowering.
After each top-dressing, spray clean water on the leaves to keep them fresh. Place the pot in a sunny area indoors at 10-11°C. During the growing period, keep the soil moist, loose, and well-ventilated, and increase humidity. Move the plants indoors before "Frost's Descent". By the Spring Festival, they can bloom. The most vigorous blooming period is from March to April. After Calla lilies go dormant, the tubers can be taken out to dry and stored in a ventilated and cool place, or they can be preserved in the potting mix if the potting soil is dry. In the fall, the bulbs can be separated and planted in pots.
The above is some knowledge on how to plant Calla lilies and the methods and timing for Calla lily planting. I hope this article can provide you with some help!