The calla lily is a beautiful flowering plant that is native to South Africa. The name “calla” comes from the Greek word for beauty, and “lily” refers to the shape of the flower. Calla lilies are easy to care for, and will thrive in most homes with a little bit of attention. Here are a few tips on how to care for your indoor calla lily plant:
Written instructions on indoor calla lily care are readily available online and in plant care books. When caring for indoor calla lilies, be sure to provide bright, indirect sunlight and plant the bulbs in well-drained, loamy soil. Water indoor calla lilies regularly, keeping the soil moist but not soggy. Fertilize monthly with a balanced liquid fertilizer.
How long do potted calla lilies last?
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.
When watering your calla lilies, be sure not to overdo it. Too much water can be damaging, especially when the plants are first getting established. Once the rhizomes are established, you can water the plants once a week, or more frequently if necessary.
How do you take care of indoor calla lilies in the winter
It is important to properly care for calla lily rhizomes during the winter months in order to ensure that they will bloom again the following year. After the flowers have died back, cut the stems down to about 2 inches (5 cm) above the ground. Allow the rhizomes to dry for a few days before storing them in a paper bag or wrapping them in newspaper. Store them in a cool, dry place, such as a basement or garage, where the temperature stays around 50 F (10 C).
Calla lilies are very easy to grow and require very little maintenance. They prefer bright, indirect light, but can also tolerate some shade. They also prefer to be kept moist, but be careful not to overwater. In the growing season, they can benefit from balanced fertilizer every couple of weeks.
Will indoor calla lilies rebloom?
If you have a potted calla lily, you can actually save it and it will bloom again next year. Many people treat their calla lilies as annuals, but they are actually perennials. So, if you have one, don’t toss it out when the blooms are done. You can keep it and it will bloom again.
If you want your calla lily plant to bloom, you should place it in a cool, dark place for two months. After this, bring it back out into the light and resume watering it. The foliage will regrow and your calla lily plant will start to bloom shortly thereafter.
How do I know when my calla lily needs water?
Without adequate water, calla lilies will not bloom and will instead look stunted. Their leaves will appear yellowed and wilted. Be sure to give them plenty of water to prevent this.
If you have a calla lily plant and you notice that the leaves are wilting, it is most likely due to too much moisture. The roots of the plant need to be in moist, but not waterlogged, soil in order to stay healthy. Allowing the roots to sit in puddles of water will cause them to rot, and this will eventually kill the plant. If you notice that the leaves are wilting, make sure to check the moisture levels of the soil and adjust accordingly.
Do indoor calla lilies go dormant
Yes, calla lilies need to go dormant in order to bloom. If you are growing them as houseplants, stop watering them and cut back the foliage once they have bloomed. Place them in a cool location for two months, and then start watering them again.
If your calla lilies do not bloom, the potential reasons include:
-Excess nitrogen in the soil
-Not enough moisture
-Too much shade
-Inadequate dormancy periods (should last at least 2-3 months)
-Foliage removed too early (preventing the plant from storing enough energy)
-Deficient calla lily rhizomes
-Incorrect planting depth
How do you keep calla lilies alive in a vase?
If you want your calla lilies to last longer, recut the stems every three days and place them in a clean vase with fresh water. Avoid placing them in warm or drafty areas, as this will shorten their lifespan. Flowers last longest when kept at room temperature or lower.
Calla lilies don’t require regular pruning, but you should deadhead the flowers as they wilt. This will encourage the plant to produce more flowers. Removing parts of the plant should not kill it. However, you should wear gloves while doing this to avoid contact with the irritating sap.
Do calla lilies grow better in pots or in the ground
Another benefit of growing calla lilies in pots is that they will not become invasive. If calla lilies are grown in garden beds in their ideal climate, they may naturalize and take over. However, calla lilies grown in containers are restricted to pots and cannot become invasive.
The calla lily is a beautiful flower that thrives in moist soil, but oversaturation may cause problems such as limp stems and root rot. Causative factors include excessive rainfall, poor drainage, and overwatering. If you find your lilies sitting in puddles or with mushrooms growing beside them, it’s likely that the soil is compacted and draining poorly. There are several things you can do to improve the drainage in your calla lily bed, such as adding organic matter, planting in raised beds, or using a soaker hose instead of sprinklers. With proper drainage, your calla lilies will be healthy and beautiful.
What to do with indoor calla lily after flowering?
After the plant has finished blooming, the leaves of a Calla Lily will turn yellow and then brown. Once this occurs, prune the plant down to the soil and put it in a cool, dark area where the temperature is above freezing, but no higher than 50°F (10°C) for 2-3 months. This will help the plant to form new bulbs for the next growing season.
If the leaves on your Calla Lily plant have very dark tips, it is an indication that you are over-fertilizing the plant. Cut back on the fertilizer, and add coffee grounds between fertilizing rounds around the base of the plants. Calla lilies like acidic soil, and coffee grounds will help to add acidity.
Should you cut old flowers off calla lily
The calla lily is a unique flower in that it doesn’t drop its petals like other plants. Instead, once the flower begins to die, it rolls up into a tube and often turns green on the outside. These spent blossoms are of no use and should be clipped off.
Before freezing weather arrives, bring potted calla lilies indoors unless you live in Zones 8 to 10. These tropical plants can overwinter outdoors in these zones but will be damaged or killed in temperatures below 25°F. Put the pots in a sunny window to continue growing, or dig up the rhizomes and store them indoors.
Conclusion
Here are some tips on how to care for indoor calla lilies:
-Place the plant in a spot where it will receive indirect sunlight.
-Water the plant when the soil is dry to the touch.
-Feed the plant every two weeks with a general purpose fertilizer.
-Pinch off the spent blooms to encourage new growth.
Indoor calla lily plants are typically easy to care for. They prefer bright, indirect sunlight and well-draining soil. Allow the soil to dry out between watering, and fertilize monthly during the growing season. With proper care, your calla lily plant should provide you with beautiful blooms for many years to come.
