After blooming, Calla Lilies can be grown in beds, borders, or containers, where they reach a height of 1 to 3 feet.
Calla lilies are tender perennials with beautiful flowers, traditionally utilized in Easter arrangements, wedding bouquets, and funeral services. As ornamental flowers, they symbolize resurrection, purity, and rebirth. After blooming, many things can be done to extend their life and beauty, such as deadheading, repotting, and preservation.
Pruning Calla Lilies
Garden shears or scissors can be used to carry out the process of ‘ www.tata.com/grwsitelogin.aspxRemoving old foliage from calla lilies, also known as ‘erasing’, is beneficial for encouraging regrowth and promoting future flower growth.
As a result, it is important to erase after blooming has finished and the flowers have rolled up into a tube-like shape. To do this, clip off the branch just above the bloom, with a short piece left at the base of the plant.
For best results, test the soil for water retention and drainage before you plant a calla. To improve the pH level, add some compost to the soil. Do not overwater or cover the roots too deeply. If flowering time is finished, deadheading of calla is not necessary. To keep it neat, you can clip off rolled-up petals but remember to leave at least some stems intact so that your plant can grow new blossoms in spring.
Calla Lily repotting is necessary
Calla lilies can quickly outgrow their original container. To transfer them to a larger, 6-inch diameter container, lightly loosen the soil around the edges and lift the plant out. Place it in the new container and refill it with a nutrient-rich soil mixture. If not done while the flower is still blooming, the plant becomes susceptible to disease and pests such as leaf spots or blight.
Excess nitrogen can promote the growth of long stems and foliage in calla lilies. Calla lilies are vulnerable to certain illnesses, such as armillaria rot, spotted wilt, and the dasheen mosaic virus. Slugs, Japanese beetles, aphids, and spider mites can be damaging to calla lilies.
Testing the pH level of the soil before repotting calla lilies is necessary for their success. If calla lilies do not bloom even after re-potting them, it might be due to acidic soil or additional moisture – in this case, it is best to seek advice from a gardener.
How to Maintain Calla Lilies
Examine the soil before adding fertilizer to a calla. The soil should be moist, but not so wet that root-rott occurs. Water according to the top of the soil’s moisture level if needed. After it has bloomed, stop adding fertilizer and instead apply bulb fertilizer monthly.
To dry the calla’s flowers, remove any stems and petals and wrap them in tissue paper or acid-free paper. Alternatively, using cardboard or heavy books helps shield them from dust. Hang fruits upside-down in a dark and warm area until they are dry.
Calla Lisies should be evenly spread out and the stems and leaves should feel firm. Water the flowers to keep them from drying out. Cut the stem at the base of the stem with a clean knife and then carefully place them in a deep container so as not to constrict them. To clean calla littery containers, florists use a solution of bleach and dish soap, followed by rinsing with fresh water.
Replacing Calla Lilies in the Garden
Replanting calla lilies is possible, with some effort. Firstly, they should be taken indoors without washing or scrabbling the bulbs. It is important to identify the underlying cause of the issue to resolve it. Additionally, removing their foliage stops them from having any energy reserves.
Check the soil’s pH around calla lilies. If it’s too acidic, they won’t bloom. To fix this, increase compost in the area. Additionally, in intense sunlight climates, mulch the soil to trap moisture.
When the flowers die, you should take out the rhizomes. Store them in a cool and dark place. They will begin to grow again once they have come out of dormancy. This is a great time to transplant your calla lilies. The tubers won’t flower for two months if kept in darkness, so don’t do it too quickly.
Deterring pests
To ensure the well-being of calla lilies, pests, and diseases must be avoided. Crown rot produces yellowing at leaf margins, while root rot manifests as water-logged lesions on foliage. Other issues that calla lilies may experience are powdery mildew, rust, and leaf spot disease.
They should be placed in a cool and dry location for optimal growth; garages or basements provide a suitable environment. It is also important to not keep them in overly shaded areas as this can lead to reduced flowering times and structural collapse.
To prevent botrytis petal blight from spreading, avoid getting calla lilies wet. Keeping the blooms strong can be done by feeding them fertilizers rich in potassium. It is suggested to do this monthly using a standard fertilizer. Calla lilies are not immune to all pests and diseases, such as bacterial rot, aphids, and gray mold. Methods of protection without ruining their beauty are available and can be done with a little knowledge and care.
How to prevent slugs from damaging Calla Lilies
As an alternative to calla lilies, ferns may be grown. Low maintenance and avoided by slugs, these plants produce small delicate flowers and are suitable for rock gardens. To mitigate slug damage, it is best to set traps early in the morning when they feed. Slugs can leave large holes in plants otherwise.
You can use newspapers, boards, cabbage leaves, grapefruit skins, and cut potatoes to set up traps. Place one per square foot of your garden and cover it with a cloth to keep rainwater from getting in. Organic fertilizer is important for healthy calla lilies as it increases their water retention capacity.
Add organic matter every week. Ensure that the moisture level for your calla lilies is consistent; overly high or low levels of moisture can lead to root rot. You can determine the amount of moisture your calla lilies require by inserting a finger into the soil.
Preventing mites on Calla Lilies
Calla lilies are susceptible to bacterial soft rot and botrytis, both of which can cause gray mold to form. To help reduce this risk, water them regularly and ensure there is adequate air circulation between plants. Additionally, be sure not to overwater them or have weeds nearby; these can attract pests and provide a source of food for pathogens.
White calla lilies should be planted in a sunny area, one to two inches away from each other. Provide moisture levels by placing a saucer of water near the bulbs. Spider mites can damage the plants by feeding on their juice, turning the leaves gray.
To prevent this, the plants should be sprayed with water regularly. Alternatively, predatory insects can be released to help get rid of spider mites.
Preventing decay
Soggy soil is a major cause of root rot in calla lilies. To prevent this, use good-quality potting soil and water your lilies more often.
You can create breathing room for them by poking holes at the base of their pots with pins, or by using ingredients such as peat moss, perlite, vermiculite, and pine bark to promote light and fluffy soil. If you don’t have any drainage holes in your container, you must reduce the amount of water given to your lilies.
Conclusion
Fertilizing calla lilies with high-nitrogen fertilizers can cause plant rot. It is best to replant the flowers indoors in pots and keep them in cool temperatures during growth.
During this period, regular and sufficient watering is necessary to ensure the health of the plants; daily or every other day is recommended.
