When does calla lily bloom, and which season is best for planting?

Calla lily, a perennial robust herb of the Araceae family and the genus Zantedeschia. It prefers loose, fertile, humus-rich clay loam. It can be used medicinally and has the effect of clearing heat and detoxifying. So when does calla lily generally bloom? Which season is best for planting? Now we have compiled it for you as follows:

When does calla lily generally bloom

The flowering period of calla lily is generally about 15 days.

The natural flowering time of calla lily is 3-8 months;

Golden calla lily: July-August, dormant in winter;

Red calla lily: June;

Silver star calla lily: July-August.

Calla lily cultivation methods:

Best propagation time: Calla lily enters dormancy in June-July, at which time the corms around the mature plant can be removed to grow new potted plants. The most suitable season for cultivation is August-September. Division propagation must be done in autumn, otherwise it will be difficult to bloom that year, and even if it blooms, the flowering period will be late.

Best growing soil: When cultivating calla lily, the soil should be mainly sandy loam mixed with 1/3 garden soil and 1/3 leaf mold, then mixed with 1/5 organic fertilizer. Because its roots grow on the upper part of the bulb, the bottom layer of the pot soil should be lined with permeable and breathable cinder or coarse sand. Then mix with one-third garden soil and leaf mold. And add a small amount of organic fertilizer.

Growth humidity requirements: Calla lily likes moist, fertile soil.

Best growing temperature: The optimum temperature for calla lily growth is 22-30°C. When the temperature is below 20°C, the growth rate of calla lily will slow down. It may even stop growing. Calla lily likes a warm, moist environment, so in winter, special attention should be paid to keeping calla lily warm. Avoid excessively high temperatures in the greenhouse, especially when relative humidity is high.

Best growing light: During the flowering period of calla lily, pay attention to light. Calla lily “likes long light but not strong light”, especially in summer it most fears direct sunlight. So it should be placed in a place with sufficient light, and in summer it can be moved farther from the window. If there is insufficient light during the flowering period of calla lily, it will only produce buds without blooming, and even the buds will gradually turn green and shrivel. In spring and autumn, shading is not necessary.

Precautions for cultivating calla lily:

Fertilizer application: During the growth of calla lily, lack of fertilizer or excessive fertilization can cause yellow leaves, so pay attention to applying base fertilizer (calla lily slices are best). Potted plants have limited nutrients, so apply thin fertilizer frequently to continuously replenish the nutrients in the pot soil.

Propagation points: Calla lily propagation is mainly by corm division. After the plant enters dormancy, peel off the small corms around the tuber and plant them separately. It can also be propagated by sowing; after the seeds mature, sow them in pots. The suitable germination temperature is about 20°C.

Division: After flowering in May-June, when the old leaves gradually wither and new leaves grow, or when repotting in mid-September, peel off the small tubers around the mother plant and pot them by grade. Generally, they bloom 3 months after planting.

Sowing: Mainly indoor pot sowing, the suitable germination temperature is 18-24°C, germination occurs 15-20 days after sowing, and seedlings need 3-4 years of cultivation to bloom.

Pruning essentials: Calla lily is a perennial herbaceous plant and can bloom multiple times a year. Frequently cutting off old leaves can promote multiple blooms.

Pot soil replacement: From late June to early August, in conjunction with repotting, split well-developed large divisions with roots by hand (preferably without a knife) and plant them in prepared pots. If used for cut flowers, 2 to 3 divisions can be planted, and after planting, place in a cool place. Propagated by this method, they can bloom in September-October of the same year.

Watering points: There is a saying that calla lily is “impossible to kill by watering”, because it likes a warm, moist environment and is not drought-tolerant, so the pot soil should be kept moist and must not lack water. If the environment is dry, spray water on the ground to maintain a moist micro-environment. During growth and flowering, water thoroughly. Keep the pot soil moist, but after flowering, reduce watering to facilitate dormancy.

Pest and disease control: Calla lily tubers are prone to rot during dormancy or storage. The tuber surface can be sprayed with a 1000-fold dilution of antibacterial agent 401 acetic acid solution, dried, and then stored. Pests include red spider mites and thrips, which can be controlled by spraying with 50% dicofol 1000-fold solution and 2.5% deltamethrin emulsifiable concentrate 4000-fold solution, respectively.