As elegant as they are, calla lilies (Zantedeschia aethiopica) are actually quite easy to care for, even in winter. They are native to South Africa, so they are used to cooler temperatures and even a light frost. Here are a few tips for keeping your calla lilies healthy and beautiful during the winter months.
Place your calla lilies in a sunny spot indoors. A south-facing window is ideal.
Water your calla lilies when the soil is dry to the touch. During the winter, they will need water about once a week.
Fertilize your calla lilies every other week with a general-purpose fertilizer.
Be sure to keep an eye out for pests, such as aphids and spider mites. These are common problems with calla lilies (and other houseplants). If you see any pests, treat them immediately with an appropriate insecticide.
There are a few things you can do to care for your calla lilies during the winter months. Bring the pots indoors and place them in a sunny spot. Water the plants when the soil is dry to the touch. Apply a fertilizer monthly. Be sure to check the plants regularly for pests and diseases.
Do calla lilies need to be cut back for winter?
Zantedeschia spp (Calla lilies) are tender perennials. Their rhizomes must be dug up in fall and stored indoors over the winter months. After a killing frost, cut off the foliage 1 to 2 inches above the soil surface.
And today I am winterizing my calla lily bulbs or tubers I have a pond garden here so I have my lilies in the ground. I have been told to lift them and store them over the winter but I have had such good results just leaving them in the ground and covering them with a good layer of mulch.
What happens to calla lily in winter
Calla lilies are very easy to take care of during the winter months. Simply cut the plants down to the ground after they have finished flowering and then dig up the tubers. Place the tubers in a greenhouse or on a warm, sunny windowsill to dry. That’s all there is to it!
If you have a calla lily that you’re treating as an annual, you can actually save it and have it bloom again next year. All you need to do is keep the potting soil moist and give it some sunlight. Once the blooms are done, cut the stem back to about an inch above the soil. Your calla lily should start blooming again in the spring.
Can calla lilies stay in pots over winter?
Before freezing weather arrives, bring potted calla lilies indoors. Put the pots in a sunny window to continue growing, or dig up the rhizomes and store them indoors.
Cannas are a tropical plant, so they will not tolerate frost. If you live in an area where the temperature falls below 40°F in winter, you will need to bring your cannas indoors. Cut the foliage back to the soil level before moving them indoors. Stop watering, and keep them in a cool and dry location.
Can you keep calla lilies as a houseplant?
Although an outdoor plant by nature, the Calla Lily will perform wonderfully as an indoor plant. Keeping this rhizome happy indoors is a matter of paying attention to some fundamental growing conditions. The Zantedeschia aethiopica is native to southern Africa. The plant prefers partial shade and ample water. The soil should be rich and well-drained. Fertilize regularly with a balanced fertilizer. Calla Lilies can be quite finicky about their potting soil, so it’s important to use a good quality potting mix. If you’re not sure what to use, ask your local nursery or garden center for recommendations.
Calla lily rhizomes need to be lifted in fall after the first frost has killed back the foliage. They should be stored for winter and replanted in spring after soil temperatures have warmed up.
How do you prepare canna lilies for winter
You should let your bulbs dry for two to three weeks after you dig them up. Using newspaper, line the bottom of a bucket, placing a row of bulbs on top of the newspaper. Place another layer of newspaper on the bulbs. Repeat this process until you have filled your bucket. Store the bucket uncovered in a dark, cool place.
Calla lilies need to go dormant in order to bloom. If you are growing them as houseplants, stop watering them after they bloom and cut back the foliage. Place them in a cool location for two months and then start watering them again.
How long do potted calla lilies last?
It is important to keep the plant root bound if you want it to bloom more often. The plant usually blooms for about six weeks during the late spring and early summer but may bloom at any time when indoors. Keeping the plant root bound encourages more flowers.
Cutting gardens are a great way to get fresh flowers for arrangements. Calla lilies are a great choice for cutting gardens because they are easy to arrange and can last for up to two weeks in a vase.
Why didn’t my calla lily come back
If you’re having trouble getting your calla lilies to bloom, it might be because they’re not getting enough sun. Calla lilies like full sun, so if they’re planted in a shady spot, they might not bloom. If you think that lack of sun is the problem, try transplanting your calla lilies to a sunnier location.
If you have an indoor calla lily, it’s important to keep it continually moist. You can do this by keeping a little water in the saucer that it sits in, but be sure that it doesn’t sit in standing water for too long.
Do calla lilies grow better in pots or in the ground?
If you’re worried about calla lilies becoming invasive in your garden, Growing them in pots is a great way to prevent that from happening. Container-grown callas are restricted to pots and won’t be able to take over your garden beds.
If your calla lily is beginning to lose its leaves over the late summer onwards, don’t be alarmed. Calla lilies will go through a state of dormancy whereby most of the foliage will die back until the following spring. During this time, it’s important to keep the plant watered and to make sure it doesn’t dry out completely. Once spring arrives, your calla lily should start to re-grow and bloom once again.
How do you store potted canna lilies for winter
If you want to store your cannas in their pots, cut the foliage down to soil level first. Then, move the entire container to a cool, dry location that won’t fall below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Frost can damage in-ground canna plants, so it’s important to cut them back to 4 inches after the frost has killed the foliage. Add a layer of straw or leaf mulch in the fall to protect the rhizomes from the cold as the plants overwinter in place.
Final Words
First, cut the calla lily down to about 6 inches above the ground. Next, dig a hole that is about twice the size of the calla lily’s root ball. After that, put the calla lily in the hole and fill it in with soil. Finally, water the calla lily well.
The best way to care for a calla lily in winter is to keep it in a cool, dry place. If you can, put it in a cool room or cellar that stays between 50 and 55 degrees. water the plant only when the soil is dry to the touch. If the leaves start to yellow or drop off, it is getting too much light.
