What are the propagation methods and precautions for calla lily?
Calla lily is a bulbous flower and one of the most popular flower varieties in recent years. In the flower market, calla lily is mainly used for cut flowers. Since calla lily also has medicinal value, growing calla lily also has its economic value. So how exactly should calla lily be propagated? And how can the propagation survival rate be improved?
Calla lily
Calla lily propagation is mainly done by dividing the bulbs. After the plant enters its dormant period, peel off the small bulbs around the tuber and plant them separately. It can also be propagated by sowing; sow the seeds in pots as soon as they mature. The suitable germination temperature is around 20°C.
Calla lily is usually planted as bulbs after autumn. For bed planting, the row spacing is 25 cm and the plant spacing is 10 cm. Use fertile soil that is slightly clayey, for example: 2 parts garden soil, 1 part rice husk ash, plus a little bone meal or farmyard manure; or use 2 parts finely crushed pond mud, 1 part leaf mold (or compost), with an appropriate amount of superphosphate and decomposed cow dung mixed in. After planting, cover with 3 cm-4 cm of soil, and seedlings will emerge in about 20 days. During the growing period, calla lily likes sufficient moisture, so water the leaves and ground frequently, and pay attention to keeping the leaves clean. Apply liquid fertilizer once every half month. After fertilizing, immediately rinse with clean water to prevent harm. Move it into the greenhouse before frost, keeping the room temperature above 10°C. During maintenance, to avoid too many leaves affecting light exposure, the outer leaves can be removed, which also helps the flower stalks extend. February to April is the peak flowering period; after flowering, gradually stop watering; after May the plant begins to turn yellow, and attention should be paid to ventilation and keeping it dry to prevent tuber rot. When the plant is completely dormant, the tubers can be taken out, dried and stored, then planted again in autumn.
Calla lily is suitable for planting from late August to early September. Field planting is used for cut flower production: plant 3 robust rhizomes as a group in fertile fields, and they can bloom around New Year's Day to supply the market. For pot planting, plant 2-3 large bulbs or 1-2 small bulbs per pot, and the potting soil can be garden soil plus organic fertilizer. After planting, place it in semi-shade, then in sunlight after sprouting, and move it into the greenhouse when frost comes, keeping the room temperature above 10°C. During the growing period, keep the potting soil moist, usually sprinkling water on the leaves and ground to increase air humidity. Apply liquid fertilizer once every half month. Before flowering, it is advisable to apply fertilizer mainly based on phosphorus to control stem and leaf growth, promote flower bud differentiation, and ensure flower quality. When fertilizing, do not let the fertilizer water flow into the leaf sheaths, to avoid causing rot. If there are too many leaves during the growing period, a few outer old leaves can be removed to help the flower stalks emerge. February to May is the period of abundant flowering. After the weather turns hot in late May, the plant begins to turn yellow, so watering should gradually stop, with moderate shading to prevent water accumulation. Potted plants should be moved to a ventilated, semi-shaded place, and the pots laid on their sides to avoid rainwater accumulation, keeping them dry and promoting dormancy. After all the leaves have turned yellow, the bulbs can be taken out, dried, and stored in a ventilated, cool place. Before planting in autumn, cut off the aged part at the base of the bulbs and replant them. Large bulbs bloom, while small bulbs can be used to grow seedlings. For pests and diseases, the main disease is soft rot. Control methods include removing diseased plants, disinfecting the planting holes with 200 times formalin; avoiding continuous cropping as much as possible; timely drainage; ensuring air circulation; and spraying Bordeaux mixture when the disease occurs. The main pest is red spider mite. It can be controlled with 3,000 times trithion solution.
How to grow potted calla lily and precautions
Calla lily flowers are beautiful. In our country, brides carry roses, while in European countries brides carry calla lilies, so calla lily is widely loved. How should calla lily be grown?The potting soil should be mainly sandy loam, mixed with 1/3 garden soil and 1/3 leaf mold, then mixed with 1/5 organic fertilizer to grow colored calla lily. Because its roots grow on the upper part of the bulb, the bottom layer of the potting soil should be lined with permeable and breathable cinder or coarse sand. The flowerpot should preferably be a shallow pot, not a cylindrical pot.
Fertilization should be mainly phosphorus and potassium fertilizer. Especially when the scape emerges and buds appear, promptly spray potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution at a concentration of 0.1% to 0.2% to make the flower stalks thick, straight and resistant to lodging. If keeping seeds, after fruit set, spray once every 10 days, 2 to 3 times in total. Potted plants have limited nutrients, so apply thin fertilizer frequently to continuously replenish the nutrients in the potting soil.
Colored calla lily, like the ordinary white calla lily, likes a warm and humid environment and is not tolerant of drought. The potting soil should be kept moist and must not lack water. If the environment is dry, spray water on the ground to maintain a humid micro-environment. Colored calla lily likes sunlight, but is afraid of exposure to strong summer sunlight. After direct sunlight, the leaves and spathes will be scorched. Therefore, shade should be provided in summer, with a shading rate of 50%. But if it grows for a long time in a dark environment with insufficient sunlight, it will affect flowering, or even fail to bloom; even if it blooms, the color will be pale, which hinders appreciation. In spring and autumn, shading is not necessary.
Colored calla lily is not cold-tolerant and likes warmth. When planted in the southern Liaoning region, it is generally divided and potted in September in autumn. Three flowering bulbs of the same diameter can be planted per pot, arranged in a triangle. It can take root in autumn, go dormant in winter, and be stored indoors, kept at 5°C, with the flowerpots stacked. When spring comes and the temperature is 10°C to 15°C, it should be watered. If the indoor temperature is high and sprouting is early, it generally blooms in June and July; with some high temperatures and good management, flowers can be seen in early June.
For home potted propagation, with a small amount of cultivation, division propagation is mainly used. Every September, take the plant out of the pot, break off the small bulbs around the mother plant, smear the wounds with plant ash to prevent infection and rot, replace with sterilized culture soil, then put the mother bulb and small bulbs into 4,000 times potassium permanganate solution and soak for 15 to 20 minutes. After drying, pot them separately according to bulb size, so that next year the plants will be uniform in size. Small bulbs need 3 years of cultivation before they can bloom. Division propagation must be done in autumn, otherwise it is difficult to bloom that year, and even if it blooms, the flowering period will be late.
How to grow calla lily and precautions
Calla lily originated in Africa and is one of today's popular succulent plants. How should this plant, calla lily, be grown? Seen from a distance, calla lily is green vertical strips, and its leaves are relatively fragile, while the flowers it produces are very beautiful. What we are sharing today is how to grow calla lily and precautions.
How to grow calla lily and precautionsI. How to grow calla lily and precautions——Habits
Because calla lily comes from Africa, it likes dryness and warmth and grows with sufficient light. Growing calla lily requires keeping the temperature within the range of 15 to 30. Long-term light is more suitable; otherwise, it must also be ensured that the daily light is not less than 6 hours. The leaves of calla lily become thick and green in a warm and light environment. Although summer has sufficient light, it is recommended to provide proper shading because it is too strong. In winter, when sunlight is scarce, it is recommended to use ultraviolet lamps instead.
II. How to grow calla lily and precautions——Watering
Calla lily does not need much water. Even under high summer temperatures, watering once a week is enough. If the potting soil turns white and dry, water it additionally. Do not keep the potting soil in a waterlogged state. In winter, under low temperatures, watering can be stopped or reduced in frequency. Calla lily must not be watered with rainwater or boiled water.
III. How to grow calla lily and precautions——Soil
The soil for calla lily should have good drainage, fast water permeability, and good ventilation and aeration. After preparing the soil for calla lily, some pumice and perlite can be added to increase the soil's permeability.