Calla, or zantedeschia, is a perennial plant of the Araceae, or Aronicaceae, family. There is a distinction between Ethiopian calla, a rhizomatous calla that blooms with white flowers in autumn and winter and is in a dormant period from March to June. South African calla lily is a tuberous or bulbous plant, the colors of its flowers vary, and it blooms in the summer. Both species are grown in the country and in the apartment. The plant is distinguished by its original flower: on a long peduncle there is a yellow inflorescence in the form of a spadix, wrapped in a funnel-shaped leaf-spread, which has its own color in different species.
The flower's homeland is South America and Africa. Breeders have developed a huge number of varieties that are grown as indoor and outdoor flowers. Calla lilies, which require certain knowledge and skills to be planted and cared for in the open ground, attract not only knowledgeable gardeners, but also beginners with their arrow-shaped, succulent leaves and amazing flowers.
A riot of colors of blooming calla lilies
Stages of preparation for planting calla lilies
Irises - planting and care in open ground
April-May is the time of “awakening” of corms of calla lilies. At this time, preparations for landing begin:
- They open the boxes in which they overwintered and take out the tubers.
- Remove paper wrappers.
- Examine for the presence of fungal infections.
- Treat with fungicide or potassium permanganate solution.
- The “babies” are separated by breaking off from the jumper and treating the broken area with brilliant green.
The appearance of sprouts in corms that have “awakened” after wintering
Planting tubers
Tubers are planted in holes 5-10 cm deep and watered abundantly with water. A distance of 30-40 cm is maintained between the bushes. It is better to leave the soil in the hole loose, not compacted. It is more effective to plant sprouted tubers and you can start doing this as early as March. Tubers need to be planted in separate small containers in the ground intended for flowers and seedlings. Watering is done twice a week. When the tubers sprout, they must be hardened about a week before planting in open ground. To reduce the level of stress when replanting a plant, it is recommended to completely keep the earth ball on the roots.
Digging and storing calla lilies in winter
Daffodils planting and care in open ground
There is no provision for overwintering calla lilies in the garden; this plant is not frost-resistant and can withstand down to -2ᵒC. The bulbs are dug up every autumn.
Important! To succeed in growing a flower, it is necessary to create conditions for it to have a clearly defined dormant period in winter.
When the callas bloom and wither, before the cold weather, carefully dig up the tubers so as not to damage the stems. The dug up tubers with stems are placed in cardboard or wooden boxes and placed in a dry room for 2 weeks to dry. Then carefully separate the dried stems and roots from the bulb.
Excavated corm after drying
The latter are washed well and treated in a solution of potassium permanganate, then washed again under running water. When the water has drained, the bulbs are removed for a week in a dark, ventilated room to dry.
Note! The “babies” are not removed from the dug up bulbs; it is necessary to wait for the formation of a bridge between the mother bulb and the “baby” in order to break it off without injury to the parent bulb, and later use them for propagation. This takes a whole year. If you break it off right away, you can damage the bulb, which can lead to infections and its death.
Prepared tubers are ready for winter storage. Before this, all the resulting material is inspected again to identify damage and rot. Detected defects must be removed with a sharp knife. Dry for several hours, then treat all sections with brilliant green or activated carbon.
Planting material for propagation is wrapped in paper, each tuber separately, placed in boxes with holes and stored in a ventilated room with a temperature of 10-12ᵒC. Check regularly to ensure there is no rot or drying out.
Features of cultivation. Soil selection
Callas do well in open areas with fertile soil, but they like to be a little shaded. When exposed to bright sunshine, their foliage becomes more luxuriant, but the flower stalks prefer light partial shade. Under natural conditions, uncultivated callas grow in heavy muddy soil on the banks of rivers or lakes. At the same time, cultivated plants require moist, shaded conditions and well-fertilized soil.
In fact, planting garden calla lilies is not that difficult. Even a novice florist can successfully cope with this task. Growing in open ground, calla lilies can literally spread like a carpet throughout a flowerbed or clearing, since its powerful rhizomes annually produce abundant young growth. And this is a very impressive sight - a platform lushly overgrown with green waxy leaves with tall arrows of stems and bright flower heads. From the outside it resembles elegant Arabic ornamental script and looks great. Garden calla lilies feel quite good at home.
Noble proud flowers prefer to grow in acidic soils. The most suitable soil composition for good growth is turf and leaf soil, peat and sand in the following proportions: 2:1:1:1. You can grow callas in several ways - tubers, dividing the bush and seeds. It depends on the variety and type of plant. For example, when the lower part of the plant looks like a group of roots, such a flower reproduces by tubers. If it has a powerful single rhizome, then propagation is carried out by dividing the bush. Both types can be grown from seeds.
With this planting option, you can only use seeds from freshly picked plants. In this case, you need to sprinkle a little wood shavings into the soil. The planted seeds are well watered and the pot is kept warm, maintaining constant soil moisture. The resulting sprouts are planted in different pots. Each flower in its own individual container.
If a flower with one thick root is to be transplanted, then it reproduces by dividing the rhizome. Using a sharp knife, cut off the daughter side shoots and place them in the ground in a separate container.
If tubers are used for planting, they must be thoroughly cleaned and immersed in a disinfecting solution for several hours. For example, in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. The neck of the rhizome should be on the surface.
In indoor conditions, the tubers are deepened into the soil 5-10 cm upward with sprouts. With constant watering, the first shoots will appear in two weeks. It should be remembered that indoor calla lilies require at least 12 hours a day of sunlight or artificial light to form flowers, so it is better to place pots with calla lilies on a windowsill on a well-lit side.
Germinating bulbs before planting
Sprouting tubers accelerates the development of the plant, which leads to earlier and longer flowering, and also helps to increase resistance to frost and disease. To ensure a sufficient amount of daylight, the process begins in mid-March; if earlier, artificial supplementary lighting will have to be used.
To “wake up” tubers that have not hatched after wintering, they are kept in a solution of potassium permanganate for 30 minutes, then the damaged areas are inspected and removed with a sharp knife, treating the sections with brilliant green. Prepare containers for planting:
- Pots are taken with holes for water drainage.
- A drainage layer of small stones and sand is placed at the bottom.
- The prepared calcined soil is laid on top.
- Tubers are planted, not deep into the ground, up to 2 cm.
The containers are installed in a room with a temperature of up to 20ᵒC. They take care of the planted tubers, starting to water them after a week. Water 2 times a week, making sure that the soil is moist, but the water does not stagnate. In about 15 days the first leaves will appear.
Germinating calla lilies in pots at home to transplant into open ground
Loosening the soil
An obligatory element of care is loosening the soil, this ensures the supply of oxygen to the root system. The procedure should be performed carefully so as not to damage the roots.
Natural loosening is created by earthworms. By increasing their population on the site, in addition to loosening, they also achieve enrichment of the soil with nutrients.
Note! Loosening is carried out after each watering or rain to prevent the formation of a crust on the surface.
Germination time
Callas are planted in open ground when frosts stop, no earlier than mid-May. Unsprouted bulbs planted immediately in a flowerbed will bloom much later; they need to adapt to new conditions and build up a root system, only after which the growth of the plant itself begins. The first shoots will appear in 2-3 weeks. For earlier flowering, the awakened bulbs are germinated at home. To get a mature plant by the beginning of summer, they are planted in March. In this case, a plant with leaves is transplanted into open ground, which immediately begins to grow.
General information
Garden calla lilies are a fairly unpretentious flower if you follow all the basic conditions and rules for caring for them. Summer residents love zantedeschia for its long flowering period - from the beginning of summer until almost mid-autumn. Some gardeners specially grow such a plant in pots, and just before the onset of cold weather they bring it into the house. This helps prolong the blooming of the calla lilies.
Calla lilies bloom with good care
This plant began to be called the whitewing because it has a beautiful “case” that surrounds a rather mediocre-looking flower. All aroids have the same shape, the representatives of which include calla lilies. This “case” becomes one of the main decorations of the zantedeschia in the next fortnight after its blossoming. The main classic color of such a plant is white.
In general, breeders have recently developed many varieties with different shades. This color is orange-red, bright yellow, and even deep crimson. The most difficult aspect of growing for gardeners is that this type of heat-loving perennial must be dug up for the winter. After this, it is stored in a room with a cool temperature.
In order for callas to bloom well, they need to be provided with a period of cold dormancy. Some of the tuberous zantedes that grow indoors can even shed their leaves for a short period of time (Ethiopian calla lilies).
This plant does not tolerate drafts well. Partial shade is normal, but it is best if a bright sunny place is allocated specifically for the whitefly. As for the soil, it must be fertile.
You should avoid a significant content of organic fertilizers in the soil for calla lilies, because a large amount of nitrogen negatively affects the flowering of this plant. If the soil is clayey, equal parts of sand and peat can be added to it. The result should be loam. This method can ensure successful cultivation and lush flowering of callas.
Growing from a bulb and gardening
Before planting calla lilies, the bulbs need to be prepared. They are kept in a solution of potassium permanganate for 30 minutes, then dried and the damaged and disease-affected areas are cut off, including a little of the healthy ones. The sections are treated with brilliant green. How to plant calla lilies in open ground: they are planted in a flowerbed with dug up and fertilized soil, maintaining a distance of 30-40 cm between them and planting them to a depth of 5-10 cm:
- Large ones dig deeper;
- Small ones are sprinkled with a little earth.
After planting, the root system is first formed; at this time, watering is not needed; seedlings appear in 2-3 weeks. Only after the formation of the roots is completed, the forces of the flower are directed to the growth of the plant itself.
The main components of caring for a flower in the open ground are:
- Timely watering;
- Applying the necessary fertilizers;
- Weeding;
- Regular loosening of the soil.
If you follow all the rules of care, callas will begin to bloom within a month and a half and will delight you with beautiful flowers until the fall.
Watering and spraying
Garden callas are a moisture-loving plant, watering is an important component of flower care. After planting, callas are not watered, observing the “dry regime”. Watering begins after the first shoots appear, about 2-3 weeks after planting.
Note! A stream of water is directed around the plant, avoiding contact with the tubers.
After several leaves appear, watering is carried out more often: 1-2 times a week. How often to water the plant depends on the weather. Proper watering should be frequent but moderate to keep the soil moist. Calla does not like excessive moisture in the soil, but it should not be allowed to dry out. During drought, watering should be more abundant, in addition, the leaves should be sprayed and moistened.
Additional Information! Another feature of the flower can be used as a barometer: the plant begins to cry before it rains.
Methods and timing of fertilizing
The plant responds well to feeding; each period requires different fertilizers. Due to the fact that callas love acidic soil, it needs to be acidified.
Types of fertilizers and required quantities
| Application time and how many times | What fertilizers | Consumption rate | Note |
| Landing | Complex mineral | 30-40 g/sq.m. m | To provide nutrition for the whole season |
| 3 times per season | Citric or acetic acid | 1 tablespoon per bucket of water | To maintain optimal soil acidity levels |
| 1 time every 3 weeks | Special for corms | according to instructions | For the formation and growth of bulbs |
| Flowering period | Potassium sulfate | 1 tablespoon per plant | Sprinkle it around the plant, spreading it evenly and sprinkling it with a little soil. |
Important! Nitrogen fertilizers promote the growth of green mass; it is advisable not to use them.
Disease and pest control
Callas are relatively resistant to diseases and pest attacks, but if this happens, you must immediately begin to eliminate the problems.
Possible plant diseases, methods of control
| Disease | External manifestations | Causes and solutions |
| Yellow spot and yellow banding (viral) | The appearance of light ring spots and curling of leaves, deformation of flowers, light streaks on peduncles. | The carrier is thrips. Destruction of insects. |
| Bacterial wet rot | The appearance of rot on the petioles of leaves and peduncles at ground level, followed by their breaking. The roots are wet and rotten. The tubers have brown dents. | Sick plants are destroyed. Prevention - planting only healthy tubers. |
Pests and methods of control
| Pests | Signs of presence | Methods of control and prevention |
| Aphid | Leaves, buds and flowers turn yellow and curl. In case of severe infestation, sticky secretions from aphids appear. | In case of mild damage, wash off with water and laundry soap. For severe cases, treatment with drugs: “Antitlin”, “Aktellik”, “Fitoverm”, etc. After 4-5 days, the treatment is repeated. |
| Spider mite | The appearance is favored by dry, hot weather. The leaves have yellowish spots that eventually turn into large discolored and dry areas. | |
| Trips | The appearance of a silvery sheen on the upper side of the leaf blades and brown spots on the underside. Over time, the leaves and flowers turn yellow and dry out. | Folk remedies - spraying with infusions: marigold, yarrow, celandine, tobacco. Treatment with drugs: “Aktara”, “Karate”, “Fufanon”, etc. |
Care after flowering
After flowering, calla lilies stop watering, withered peduncles are carefully cut off. Why is this necessary - to maintain the attractiveness of the flower and the growth of new peduncles. In September, the leaves begin to turn yellow and the flower stalks droop. In the second half of September, before frost sets in, the tubers are carefully dug up and prepared for storage.
Bouquet of callas
Types and varieties
According to varieties and types, calla lilies are divided into two different groups: one includes tuberous varieties and hybrids - “Elliota” and “Remani”, the other - varieties of Ethiopian calla lilies with a powerful tree-like root system. In the Ethiopian group, the most beautiful and very popular varieties are “amethyst” and “Vermeer”.
Calla cultivars "Amethyst" have a delicate violet color and a subtle fresh aroma reminiscent of a sea breeze. Their height reaches 60-120 cm, depending on the characteristics of the soil and growing conditions. The shapes of flowers and leaves, clear and pronounced, give the flower a noble, royal appearance.
Calla "Vermeer" can surprise with the splendor of contrasts. The satin surface of the flowers is purple in the center, fading to white around the edges, with a bright yellow center. The leaves are slightly wavy, with white speckles. It grows no higher than 60-70 cm and has a very elegant, festive look.
Calla lilies "Elliota" and "Remani" are distinguished by a riot of colors and richness of shades. They come in red, yellow, purple, white and always have a border of a different color around the edge of the flower.
Possible problems during cultivation
Due to violation of the rules of cultivation and care, some problems arise. If storage conditions are violated, the planting material will be unsuitable for flower propagation. Callas that are planted too late may not bloom. If plants are planted too close to each other, they will be frail and small, and the flowers will be inconspicuous. Unsuitable, poor soil will also affect growth and flowering. Insufficient watering in hot, dry weather can cause insects. Excessive watering will lead to rotting of the roots and tubers of the plant. Following simple rules of agricultural technology will allow you to successfully grow abundantly and long-flowering plants.
Calla lilies are flowers that do not create any special difficulties in growing in the garden; the resistance of the plant itself to diseases and pests makes it easy to achieve success. A florist, even with little experience, can grow a lush bush with delicate inflorescences.
How to care for calla lilies
In order to provide callas with the necessary care, you should control the degree of lighting, temperature, humidity level and the quality of the soil in which the plant is planted.
- The soil. Of course, fertile and fertilized soil is the best option for any plant, and the presence of a large number of earthworms promotes natural loosening and oxygen circulation even at a decent depth.
- Watering. Callas are considered a moisture-loving plant, but, like most other flowers, they do not tolerate stagnation or excess water. Therefore, adhere to the rule: it is better to have little and often than a rare abundance of moisture. Control the quality of watering, as the soil should be moist, but not wet.
- Feeding. Garden callas should be fertilized twice a month. The best fertilizer option would be complex preparations for corms, as they are as balanced as possible. During the flowering period, an extraordinary fertilizing with potassium should be applied, as 20 grams of this substance will improve and prolong flowering. Remember that a high nitrogen content in fertilizers harms the plant, since the effect is aimed at leaf formation, and not at flowering, so excess nitrogen can destroy flowering.
The final stage of caring for calla lilies will be the removal of peduncles after flowering, as well as digging up tubers or rhizomes for propagation and new planting next year.
When and where to plant calla lilies on the site?
When to plant callas in open ground? It is best to carry out planting in the spring, as soon as the last frosts have gone and the temperature remains above 15 degrees Celsius. Usually this is already the beginning or middle of May.
The planting area should be warm and sufficiently lit. A little partial shade is also suitable - in it the plants can develop almost the same way as in the sun. Make sure that there are no drafts or strong winds at the place where the callas are planted; an area with a mild microclimate is best.
It is better not to plant calla lilies and care for them in open ground under direct sunlight. The flowers may suffer from this, and instead of a bright flower garden you will end up with just lush vegetation.
It is better to choose slightly acidic rather than neutral soil. Fertilizing is applied before the flowering period; after the flowers appear, it is better to stop fertilizing the bed.
Diseases and pests
This plant is easily susceptible to certain types of diseases, and it can also be affected by pests. The gardener is obliged to monitor the condition of the flower in order to notice dangerous changes in time. Often the crop is affected by late blight. This disease develops due to too high humidity, which occurs with excessive watering.
There are also other diseases that affect the flower:
- Phyllosticosis. This is a fungal disease that causes brown spots to appear on the stems. These spots also appear on bedspreads and foliage. You can overcome the disease by removing the affected parts, as well as treating them with fungicides.
- Blackleg. It manifests itself by yellowing of the leaves, after which the root system begins to rot and the plant dies. It is impossible to cure the bush.
Among the pests, the plant is often attacked by spider mites, mealybugs, apple aphids and thrips. These insects damage the foliage of calla lilies. Another annoying problem is nematodes that settle in the root part of the plant, damaging it. This causes crop growth to slow down. To combat parasites, the plant can be treated with insecticidal agents.
Callas are beautiful flowers, but require close attention to their care. As experts say, it is better to grow the plant in an open area, which is shaded by trees in the heat. You can choose any variety for planting, taking into account its characteristics. You can plant the crop not only in the garden, it will even decorate the windowsill of your apartment. In any case, it is a stunning beauty, impressive in its size.
If you want to plant a beautiful flower bed, then a flower like calla lily can be an excellent decoration in your country house or backyard. Varieties with white petals are usually called wedding flowers, as their shape resembles a bride’s outfit. Many varieties of this plant species can increasingly be found in Russia. If you properly organize the planting process and properly care for your garden flowers, then they will grow quickly and bloom for a long time.
As the experience of experienced gardeners shows, all you need to grow calla lilies in your flowerbed is just knowledge of a few simple rules about planting and caring for them. You can read about all this and more in our article.
Requirements for growing conditions
In order for the cultivation of these flowers to be successful, they need to choose a shaded place in the garden, and it is advisable to choose slightly acidic and fertile soil. If the soil on the site is too clayey, you can improve it for planting calla lilies by adding sand and peat.
If you plant callas in a place in the garden that is too lit, you can end up with very lush leaves at the expense of flowering.
The height of these flowering plants, depending on the variety, can vary from low - 30 cm to fairly tall specimens - 1.5 meters. So before purchasing, study the varietal characteristics of the calla lilies you like in more detail.
In addition, types of calla lilies may differ in their underground part: some have tubers, while others have branched and powerful rhizomes. In the first case, plants can be propagated using tubers, and in the second, by dividing the bush.
In natural conditions, callas can most often be found growing along the banks of reservoirs, so in your garden, give them a place near an artificial pond or a small fountain.
What it is?
Garden calla lilies are a fairly unpretentious type of plant if you adhere to certain care conditions. One of the main difficulties that you may encounter while growing garden calla lilies is storing them during the winter cold. It is very important for this type of plant to be dormant when it is winter outside.
It is worth noting that this type of flower can be grown both at home, that is, in a pot on the windowsill, and in open ground in a flower bed. The flowering period is from June to September.
If you grow calla lilies in a pot and, with the onset of light autumn cold, bring your plant into a warm room, the flowering period will be longer.
Since this flower is native to South Africa, its natural habitat is the banks of bodies of water, such as rivers or lakes. Also in nature, such a flower can be found growing in heavy muddy soil.
That is why it is preferable to plant decorative “relatives” of this type of flower in slightly dark places with high humidity.
By planting calla lilies in your yard, you will get a kind of mat of stems and foliage, from which flower stalks will grow during the flowering period. Therefore, it is best to choose a relatively open place for planting, where the plant can grow luxuriantly. How can you place your “green friend” in an open and dark area at the same time? The fact is that calla lilies can grow in both cases, the differences will be as follows:
- in dark areas this type of flower will be characterized by vigorous flowering;
- in more open and sunny areas you can grow a plant with beautiful foliage, but with less lush flower stalks.
In any case, the choice is yours - no matter what variety or planting location you choose, garden calla lilies will be a wonderful decoration for any flower bed.
Street calla or, as it is also called, calla lily, is a representative of the genus of the araceae family. Previously, this genus was understood more broadly, which is why most aroid species that are grown as a houseplant or for cutting began to be called calla lilies. First of all, this name is typical for plants from South Africa - Zantedeschia, in particular for Zantedeschia Elliott and Zantedeschia Ethiopian.
We present to your attention several of the most popular varieties of Ethiopian calla lilies and Elliott calla lilies among gardeners, with the help of which you can bring to life even the most daring ideas and make your flowerbed extraordinarily beautiful.
- Calla "Amethyst". Since ancient times, this variety has been considered one of the best plants that can be used to decorate the chambers of a noble lady. Distinctive features are a pleasant and refined aroma during the flowering period of the plant, as well as the color of the petals - soft violet. The height of a flower depends entirely on its growing conditions: it can reach from 60 centimeters to 1.2 meters.
The peduncle itself usually grows quite tall and strong.
- Calla "Vermeer". It is a beautiful flower, which is characterized by a variety of colors and contrasts. The flower itself has a dark red color, and along the edges it turns into a snow-white edging. The richly colored petals cover the bright yellow spadix of the plant, thereby creating a contrast of colors. The foliage of this variety of garden calla is characterized by white specks. The growth of calla "Vermeer" will not exceed 70 centimeters.
- Ethiopian calla lily rhizome. It is better to plant this type of flower in an area with a high level of humidity, then it can quickly take root. Also likes slightly shaded places. The flowers of the rhizomatous Ethiopian calla lily are large and have a pleasant white hue.
This variety of garden calla will look great and grow near an artificial pond with other types of aquatic plants.
- Tuberous callas. Unlike the previous variety, tuberous callas do not need moist soil to take root and feel comfortable. Such flowers can be planted in a flower garden. Like many other varieties of calla lilies, this one is preferably planted in a shaded area.
However, it will also be able to take root on the open sunny side, only its growth will be significantly lower compared to those that will grow in partial shade.
After familiarizing yourself with the most common varieties of garden callas, you can choose the one that is best suited for your soil and area.
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