How to grow calla lilies, and how to plant them so they thrive
How do you grow calla lilies well? What growing tips are there? Calla lily is also called water arum and arrowleaf elephant's ear. It belongs to the Araceae family, genus Zantedeschia. Its flower stems are elegant and upright, the spathes are pure white like horse hooves, and the leaves are emerald green speckled with white spots, making both flowers and foliage outstanding. It is an important cut flower in winter and spring, suitable for vase arrangements or making bouquets and flower baskets, and as a potted plant...
How do you grow calla lilies well? What growing tips are there?
Calla lily is also called water arum and arrowleaf elephant's ear. It belongs to the Araceae family, genus Zantedeschia. Its flower stems are elegant and upright, the spathes are pure white like horse hooves, and the leaves are emerald green speckled with white spots, making both flowers and foliage outstanding. It is an important cut flower in winter and spring, suitable for vase arrangements or making bouquets and flower baskets, and as a potted plant it is an ideal plant for decorating halls and meeting venues.
Propagation methods
Calla lily sets relatively little seed, so division propagation is mostly used, and it can be done in all four seasons. Generally, when the plant withers, dig up the tubers and plant them separately in three grades: large, medium and small. Small tubers need to be cultivated for 2 years before they begin to send up flower stems. You can also divide off the young suckers sprouting around the old plant. If they have no roots, insert them into plain sand soil and keep them shaded and moist; at a temperature of 20C, they will root in about 20 days.
Because the growth vigor gradually declines after asexual propagation, and the plants are also prone to viral diseases, tuberous seedlings grown from seed must be used to renew and rejuvenate them. Seedlings are generally sown in spring, and after 2 years of cultivation, corms capable of flowering can be obtained.
Cultivation techniques
Calla lily cultivation is divided into field planting and pot planting; field planting is used for cut flower production.
1. Field planting
Choose fertile, moist soil, apply sufficient base fertilizer, and make beds 1 m wide. Plant disease-free tubers at a row spacing of 50 cm and a plant spacing of 30 cm to 40 cm. The planting time is determined according to the requirements for flowers coming onto the market; generally April to June is better. After planting, for good growth, use a shade net to provide 50% to 60% shading from late June to late August. In summer, when the soil temperature is too high, irrigate fully. Because water quality and irrigation amount greatly affect growth after planting, pay special attention: low EC value and PH 6.5 to PH 7.0 are preferable. Topdressing should be mainly nitrogen fertilizer, generally applying liquid fertilizer once about every 15 days, and fertilization should stop during the flowering period. Although day length has no effect on flower bud differentiation and development, long-term shading will cause the plant to lose balance between vegetative growth and reproductive growth, so the shade net must be removed by early September at the latest. In October, begin covering the greenhouse with film, keep the winter temperature above 15C, and provide sufficient light, which will allow it to bloom in winter for the market.
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