How do you care for the latest potted calla lily?
The calla lily, also known as arrowhead flower, calla, etc., is a perennial robust herbaceous plant of the genus Zantedeschia in the Araceae family, native to northeastern and southern Africa. In China it is cultivated for ornamental purposes in Beijing, Jiangsu, Fujian, Taiwan, China, Sichuan, Yunnan and the Qinling region. It is often used as a cut flower for bouquets and wreaths, and can also be used medicinally, having the effect of clearing heat and detoxifying. Now let us take a look together at how to care for a potted calla lily!
The growth habits of the calla lily
The calla lily is native to southern Africa, and likes a warm, humid environment with plenty of sunlight; it is not tolerant of cold or drought. The optimum growing temperature is 15-25°C, and the nighttime temperature should not be lower than 13°C. If the temperature is higher than 25°C or lower than 5°C, it is forced into dormancy. It likes water, and the soil should be kept moist during the growing period; after the tubers enter a dormant state during the high-temperature period in summer, watering should be controlled. The soil should be a fertile, clay loam with good water retention, with a pH between 6.0 and 6.5.
Propagation methods for the calla lily
1. Division: When the old leaves gradually wither after flowering in May to June and new leaves grow, or when repotting in mid-September, peel off the small tubers around the mother plant and pot them up by grade. Generally, they bloom 3 months after planting.
2. Sowing: Mainly sown in pots indoors. The optimum germination temperature is 18-24°C, and germination occurs 15-20 days after sowing. Seedlings need 3-4 years of cultivation before they can bloom.
How do you care for a potted calla lily?
1. Soil: For growing calla lilies, the potting soil should preferably be a sandy, acidic soil with good aeration and drainage. It is best to place a layer of coarse sand grains at the bottom of the pot to benefit the growth of the calla lily, then mix in one third garden soil and leaf mold, and add a small amount of organic fertilizer. It is best to choose a shallow pot for planting calla lilies.
2. Temperature: The calla lily likes a semi-shaded environment, so avoid placing it under strong light. The optimum growing temperature for the calla lily is 22-30°C. Below 20°C, the growth rate of the calla lily slows down, and it may even stop growing. The calla lily likes a warm, humid environment, so when overwintering, special attention should be paid to keeping the calla lily warm.
3. Watering: Watering the calla lily should be based on how dry the potting soil is. Before watering, first check the condition of the potting soil. Normally you can spray water on the surface of the potting soil and on the flowers to keep the potting soil moist. During the growing period, the calla lily likes sufficient moisture, so water the leaves and the ground frequently, and pay attention to keeping the leaves clean.
4. Light: The calla lily is fairly tolerant of shade in the early stages of growth, but during vigorous growth it must have very sufficient light, and during the flowering period it needs even more sufficient light to ensure abundant flowers and lush leaves. If the calla lily does not get enough light during the flowering period, the flower buds are very likely to turn green or fail to bloom.
5. Fertilizing: During the growing period, fertilize the calla lily once every 20 days, using decomposed soybean cake water. During the peak growing season, apply light fertilizer frequently, once every 10 days. When fertilizing, do not pour the fertilizer water in from the leaf sheaths, so as to avoid causing the calla lily to rot and die. Too little fertilizer may cause the leaves to turn yellow and lead to malnutrition, while too much fertilizer can also easily cause yellow leaves in the calla lily.
6. Pests and diseases: Calla lily tubers are prone to rot disease during dormancy or storage. The tuber surface can be sprayed with a 1000-fold dilution of the fungicide 401 acetic acid solution, then dried and stored. Pests include red spider mites and thrips, which are killed by spraying with a 1000-fold dilution of 50% dicofol and a 4000-fold dilution of 2.5% deltamethrin emulsifiable concentrate respectively.
What should you do if the calla lily's leaves turn yellow?
1. Overwatering: The calla lily likes moisture and cannot lack water from the moment it sprouts, so it is best to water it every day, but overwatering will cause the leaves to turn yellow. Water the calla lily as soon as the soil is dry, and water thoroughly when you do, but avoid overwatering.
2. Underwatering: The calla lily is a moisture-loving flower, and drought and lack of water can also easily cause the leaves to turn yellow. Pay attention to watering consistently and maintaining sufficient moisture, but also be careful to avoid water sitting in the leaf center, so as to prevent soft rot.
3. Humidity too low: The growth of the calla lily has certain requirements for air humidity. It is appropriate to keep the air humidity between 70 and 85%; when it is below 50%, the leaves will also show yellowing. Water and spray frequently to keep the potting soil and the environment moist, and ventilate moderately to keep the air fresh and circulating.
4. Overfertilizing: Overfertilizing the calla lily can cause strong fertilizer to burn the roots, and this is the most common cause of yellowing leaves in the calla lily. Fertilize the calla lily appropriately according to the growing period.
5. Underfertilizing: The calla lily is a heavy feeder, and too little fertilizer will cause the leaves to turn yellow. Generally apply decomposed liquid fertilizer once every 10-15 days, and during the flowering period mainly apply phosphorus fertilizer.
6. Temperature too low: When growing the calla lily, pay attention to the temperature. It is appropriate to keep the temperature between 20 and 25°C. It is afraid of cold and averse to saline-alkali conditions. In winter, the nighttime temperature must not be lower than 10°C; if it is too high or too low, the plant is prone to yellow leaves. When the temperature is too low, move it indoors to keep it warm.
7. Exposure to smoke: The calla lily is easily harmed by smoke, and frequent exposure to smoke will cause the leaves to turn yellow and affect flowering. When growing the calla lily, pay attention to air environment issues, keep the air circulating, and prevent smoke exposure.