What are the cultivation methods for colored calla lilies?

  As a plant of the Araceae family (calla lily family), the colored calla lily has an elegant and graceful appearance, standing tall and slender, and also comes in rich colors such as red, pink, purple and white. It is loved by many flower enthusiasts and has high ornamental value. It can be used for flower baskets, floral decorations and bouquets, and is also one of the important cut flowers; at the same time, the colored calla lily also has certain medicinal value. Its entire plant can be used as medicine, and many medicines in medicine contain components of the colored calla lily.

  Many well-grown potted calla lilies can now be bought at flower markets. When the temperature is suitable, flowering potted plants can be bought all year round for enjoyment. Generally, when fresh cut flowers are bought, the viewing period is about 10 days. Some florists, through research and development, have bred mini potted plants with an extra-long flowering period, reaching 2-5 months. Many flower enthusiasts also like to buy imported bulbs and grow them themselves. Watching the flowers they have gradually cultivated themselves brings a great sense of achievement. So how should the bulbs be cared for after they are received?

  1. After receiving the bulbs, first place them in a ventilated and cool environment at about 15°C for 2 days, so that wounds that may have been caused during transportation can heal before planting. If they are to be stored for a long time, they must be kept in a cold storage at 7°C to 10°C (humidity 80%).

  2. The time from planting to flowering and full bloom varies by variety, and long sunshine and high temperatures will promote earlier flowering. Generally speaking, large bulbs flower earlier than small bulbs.

  3. When planting, place the bulb with the bud facing upward and cover with about 2.5 cm to 3 cm of soil. Bulbs with a diameter of 12 cm to 14 cm can use 4-inch to 4.5-inch pots, and bulbs with a diameter of 16 cm to 18 cm can use 5-inch to 5.5-inch pots. If the pot is too small or planting is too shallow, growth vigor tends to weaken.

  4. The planting medium requires good drainage, good aeration and a pH value of 6 to 6.5. The peat moss content in the growing soil should be 30% to 50%, and other large-particle media can be used for the rest to facilitate aeration, such as sand, bark, perlite, vermiculite, etc.

  5. Moisture control must be moderate. If the soil dries out too much and is then watered wet again, it is easy to cause root damage and rot, but it must also be somewhat dry before watering.

  6. The heart leaves must avoid waterlogging. If care is not taken during ordinary watering and dirty water drips into the heart of the leaves, it can easily cause soft rot; when fertilizing, apply it from the edge of the pot, and never let fertilizer liquid pour into the leaf stalks or splash into the center of the plant, otherwise it can easily cause yellow leaves or rot; calla lilies are afraid of smoke, otherwise it will cause leaves to turn yellow and flower buds to drop.

  Notes:

  1. We can set the planting time according to the needs for cut flowers and bulbs, but the quality and yield of cut flowers from spring planting are also the highest. Forced and delayed cultivation can be carried out. Of course, attention must also be paid to the treatment of bulb flowering and effective control of its cultivation environment, so that success and profit can be achieved. Before sowing, we should promote sprouting, and plant only when new buds begin to sprout.

  2. The planting depth only needs to be 3-4 cm, and the optimal depth is about 10 cm. After planting, water thoroughly, then cover the ground with wheat straw. This can increase humidity and lower soil temperature, and can also promote bulb sprouting and rooting.