This beautiful plant will add elegance to any interior, terrace or garden. At a young age, calla lilies are demanding in care, but then they willingly give exclusive flowers to the gardener. The plant is known not only for this. Its often variegated, large, lush green leaves are an interesting, exotic element even without flowers. It can be used as an apartment decoration as a houseplant, looks good in the garden in spring and summer, and can also be used as a cut flower. This article discusses how to grow garden callas, planting and care in open ground, propagation and use in landscape design.
Home care
Taking care of a pet is absolutely easy. Calla is not picky and not capricious. The main thing is to find out what and how to do, and follow the recommendations below.
Location and lighting
On the one hand, the whitewing prefers good lighting, but on the other hand, it does not tolerate direct sunlight. So you will have to look for a compromise - illuminate all year round, but always with diffused light.
It is not recommended to keep the flower in the back of the room, since the white calla will refuse to bloom in such conditions, and the colored varieties will become faded and ugly.
Temperature
If the room where the calla lilies are kept is too warm and dry, then you will not see the calla blooming. In addition, in such conditions the plant will be susceptible to pest invasion.
Depending on the color, the temperature regime will be different:
- White callas. During the growing season, maintain the temperature within +20°C, reducing it after flowering to +10 degrees. The calliper should rest in cool conditions for a couple of months.
- Colored callas. They love warmth even more. During flowering, provide them with +24°C. And then keep it for a whole month at +27°C. In such conditions, buds will form better and the tubers will ripen faster. Do not water the flower during this period.
After this, having removed the leaves, send them for the winter, covering them with sawdust. During storage, the temperature should be within +3-5°C.
Watering
White Richardias love watering and high humidity more than their colored relatives. While the calla lily is developing, it should be watered quite often. At the same time, make sure that the water does not stagnate in the pot. Wait until the top layer of soil dries 1 cm, and only then pour a new portion of water. 15 minutes after watering, drain excess liquid from the pan.
Colored specimens should be re-watered less frequently - when the soil mixture has dried 3 cm in the pot. At the same time, pour warm and settled water onto the very edge of the pot. When preparing for the rest period, sharply reduce the number of waterings of white callas, and do not water colored ones at all.
Air humidity
The air around the calla lilies should always be moist. Therefore, you will have to spray your white pet twice a day (it is better not to carry out this procedure with colored ones). In addition, you can wipe the leaves with a damp cloth, and place the flowerpot with a flower in a tray with damp expanded clay.
White callas, accustomed to growing in a swamp, require a humidity regime of 70-80%; colored specimens will need 60%.
The soil
The soil mixture for Richardia must be fertile. Select soil for aroid plants at flower shops. You can collect the substrate yourself. To do this, mix the components in the following proportions:
- 30% humus;
- 30% turf land;
- 30% leaf soil;
- % sand;
- 5% clay.
For 3 kg of soil, it is advisable to add 1 tbsp. superphosphate.
Feeding and fertilizers
While the plant is actively developing, it should be fed regularly. In this case, you should alternate organic fertilizers with mineral ones. Before flowering, eliminate fertilizers that contain nitrogen. And apply them when the inflorescences are formed. You can also use urea during this period.
Calla will be grateful to you if you water it with eggshell infusion during the flowering period. In the summer, your pet should be fed every two weeks.
Make sure that the fertilizer does not get on the petals, otherwise the flower may lose its brightness of color.
Transfer
Having brought the calla lily from the store, you should transplant it into another pot. For white flowers, choose a container according to the size of the bulb. For colored people, deep and wide ones are suitable. The depth of the flowerpot should be three times the diameter of the tuber.
The bottom should be lined with a drainage layer of sand. Pour the sour earth mixture on top of it. Plant the seedling in a not very deep hole.
Gradually begin to increase the temperature in the room. After 2-3 weeks, you can start watering and feeding your pet.
Around the beginning of June, calla lilies should be dug up and faded leaves and shoots should be trimmed. After this, transplant it into a new pot. If you replace the top layer of soil, you can do this procedure after 2 years.
How to replant callas
In the process of replanting home calla lilies, you should take into account important nuances on which the further growth of the flower depends:
- When planting in a new pot, you do not need to add a lot of soil, as this may cause the roots to begin to rot.
- Between transplants, the top layer of soil should be replaced with new soil at least once.
- After changing the substrate, the roots experience severe stress, which is manifested by a long lack of growth. In this case, you should not take any measures, you just need to provide comfortable conditions for the plant.
- Damage to the tuberous skin can destroy the flower ; it must be handled very carefully when planting.
- Calla lilies belonging to the same species can coexist in one pot, and it is better to plant a mix of calla lilies of different colors of bracts in different pots. Different species are capable of suppressing each other's growth.
- Transplantation is carried out annually.
Calla is demanding on the capacity of the pot. The extensive root network does not tolerate crowded spaces in which flowers may not appear. Even high-quality fertilizers will not help. Therefore, one plant should have 20 x 20 cm of soil.
This video shows how to transplant Calla.
Callas prefer soil that is porous, that allows air to pass well to the roots and does not retain moisture.
Before transplanting a flower, you need to prepare a suitable substrate: mix sand and humus in equal proportions and add 2 parts of leaf soil.
To replant a plant, add a layer of drainage to the bottom of the new pot and a layer of substrate on top of it. The roots are carefully straightened and covered with soil until the leaves begin.
Bloom
Usually the serpentine blooms in the second year. The tall peduncle is topped with small flowers, wrapped in a bright leaf-spread. At this time, the plant needs frequent watering and regular feeding.
At the end of flowering, remove the tuber from the pot, shake off the soil mixture, and rinse under running water. Let it dry. After a few days, carefully separate the leaves. Leave it for 2 weeks, then remove the roots and rotten parts, wrap it in paper and leave it alone. Keep in a room with a temperature of +16-18°C and do not wet it under any circumstances. After 3-6 months, you can plant the tuber in a new flowerpot.
What to do if the tubers sprouted ahead of time?
If sprouts appear in winter, it is best to plant the tubers in a small container with fresh, light soil and place them on a window located on the south side. After about 2 weeks, the first leaves will grow. If the daylight hours are still short, the plants need additional lighting. When the weather becomes warm outside, the callas are transplanted into open ground or into larger containers.
Please note: for calla lilies to bloom well, the tubers must be dormant for at least two months a year.
Reproduction
You can get new calla lilies in three ways:
- tubers;
- shoots;
- seeds.
Tubers
Use this method exclusively for colored plants. Separate the small daughter tubers from the adult tuber. They are so small that they will have to be grown. Deepen the seed into the soil mixture to a depth of 4 cm. In April, you can plant them in separate pots. While the nodules are developing, maintain the room temperature at +20°C. Maybe a little more, but not less.
By shoots
In this case, a shoot is taken from the main stem and placed in a nutrient substrate. As soon as the roots appear, you need to transplant it into a separate pot with a drainage layer and fertile soil.
Seeds
It is advisable not to use this method for novice gardeners, as it will be incredibly difficult to get new bushes. Even experienced flower lovers do not always produce shoots. But if you want, you can try.
Pre-soak the seeds in a growth stimulator for about 6 hours. After removing, set aside for a week in a warm place. When you notice that the seeds have sprouted shoots, plant them in a container. The planting depth should not exceed 1 cm. It is best to water the planting through the drainage hole in the bottom.
Growing from bulbs
If the desired variety is not available for sale among mature potted plants, it is easier to find it in bulb form. But this will cause more trouble, because planting a calla bulb in a pot and growing it is a more difficult task. The optimal time for planting is the end of winter - the beginning of spring.
The bulb should look healthy in appearance: the skin is yellow, and the buds are developed at the top.
Before planting purchased tubers, they are kept in a light pink manganese solution for an hour. This prevents the development of pathogens that may be in the invisible remains of the previous soil after planting.
Important! If, after drying, damage is found on the skin, then these places are treated with brilliant green and dried.
And then the bulb is planted in a prepared pot to a depth of about a decimeter; the soil on top needs to be covered with film or a jar. It is necessary to moisten very carefully before the leaves appear begin to rot.
This video talks about the features of growing Calla lilies.
Diseases and pests
If you don't pay enough attention to the whitefly, diseases caused by fungal infections can occur.
- Gray rot. Develops due to high air humidity. If you notice a gray coating, use fungicides. And ventilate the room as often as possible.
- Root rot. It affects the plant due to excessive watering. In some cases, it will not be possible to save the bush. But you can try replacing the affected substrate with a new, dry one. And be sure to treat with a fungicide.
- Bacterial rot. In this case, it will not be possible to save the calla lily; don’t even try.
- Anthracnose. Leaves brown spots on the leaves. If you do not apply a fungicidal drug, they will dry out and crack. Before treatment, remove all affected parts of the plant.
A delicate flower can succumb to attack by parasites. Most often this is:
- Spider mite. It can be found on the underside of leaves. Wash the leaves with soapy water. In particularly advanced cases, the use of chemicals will be required.
- Aphid. Small green dots occupying the bush will lead to yellowing of the leaves and buds. First, try using a soap solution. If this does not help, purchase special chemicals.
Uniqueness of the plant
When growing calla flowers in the garden, it is important to take into account their origin, because the type of underground part - tuber or rhizome - depends on it.
Different types of callas have different growing conditions. The Ethiopian species has a rhizome and all resulting hybrids prefer shaded areas, where there is always high humidity. This species is recommended to be planted near water bodies. In such conditions, the bushes grow in width. Throughout the summer, huge callas will delight you with their blooms.
Another type of flower does not tolerate waterlogging. Sunny areas, partial shade and shade are suitable for them.
When growing calla flowers in the garden, it is worth considering their individual growing seasons. The Ethiopian species sheds its leaves, but there are varieties that always remain green.
Plants are demanding regarding the composition of the soil. They grow only on fertile soil with slightly acidic and acidic pH levels. This composition is extremely rare in gardens. Therefore, the area where it is planned to grow the plant is pre-prepared by laying an acidic substrate. The simplest solution is to purchase special ready-made soil for calla lilies.
Care errors
If you are not lazy and properly care for your calla lily, it will look young and beautiful. If the grower does not act correctly, the appearance of the flower will deteriorate significantly.
- Calla does not bloom. Due to lack of light and fertilizing during the growing season. If you haven’t replanted a flower for a long time, it won’t lose color either.
- The leaves dry out and turn yellow. Possible overmoistening of the soil mixture and low temperature in the room. The same symptom will be observed in dry air and too high a temperature.
Feeding
Every gardener should know how to feed callas for abundant flowering and how to do it correctly. To form a lush bush with a large number of peduncles, the plant needs high-calorie nutrition. Usually, in the spring, a special soil mixture for calla lilies is added to the garden bed, which contains the necessary nutrients, as well as forty grams of complex mineral fertilizer for each square meter of soil. With this option, subsequent fertilizing is not carried out.
In other cases, it is necessary to carry out additional feeding once every two weeks. For this purpose, fertilizers intended for tuberous or bulbous plants are used. The solution is prepared according to the instructions.
When applying fertilizers, it is worth limiting the concentration of nitrogenous fertilizers, as they negatively affect flowering and only contribute to the growth of green mass. But to stimulate the production of flower stalks, the bushes are fed with potassium fertilizers. Potassium is added in the form of a solution, at the rate of a spoon per bucket of water. Water the plant carefully at the root.
If the soil in the selected area is alkaline or neutral, then it is worth periodically acidifying it by pouring acidic water (to prepare the solution, dilute vinegar essence or citric acid in water).
Folk signs
This noble plant is even mentioned in the Bible. It turns out that it was the calla lily that grew near the cross with the crucified Jesus. Therefore, it is considered a good sign to keep a pot with a coil in your home. He will definitely bring faith, purity and good luck to the house.
Calla can protect your home from bad energy. If there is a quarrel between husband and wife, you should bring the flowerpot into the bedroom, and soon they will make peace. And if you place a pot near a sick person’s bed, he will invariably get better.
The presence of calla lilies in the office will facilitate successful negotiations and conclusion of deals.
Albomaculata
Beauty with the aroma of vanilla - this is how this flower can be described. Its large goblet-shaped flowers are set off by long dark green leaves covered with shimmering silver-white scattering. Growing no more than 60 cm and planted mainly in open areas, this variety with its graceful outline makes an indelible impression on others.
Kinds
We are used to seeing white callas. They look noble, and a snow-white blanket envelops the inside of the flower, which can be yellow, pink, greenish or orange. They usually bloom in May and are pleasing to the eye until the end of summer. They have rhizomes.
Mixed callas surprise with perianths of various colors and shades. The breeders tried to ensure that there were a great many of them. They belong to tuberous crops.
At home, they most often contain the following types:
- Elliott is a profusely blooming species with a contrasting color: greenish on the outside and yellow on the inside, with white spots scattered on the leaves;
- Ethiopian - the leaves grow up to 45 cm in height, and the stem and flower on it stretch up to a meter;
- remanna - grows up to half a meter, possessing bright pink and red flowers;
- amethyst – has a pleasant aroma and violet flowers.
Be sure to try growing these beautiful elegant flowers at home. You can use them to form bouquets and present them to your loved ones or brides. Just a little attention to the plant, and it will repay with beautiful and lush flowering.
Varieties
Basically, the differences between varieties are in the shade of the flower and the preferred growing conditions: in the garden or on a home windowsill. The roots are rhizomatous only in the ancestor of the species - the Ethiopian calla lily, and in the colored varieties the roots are in the form of tubers.
Rehmann (calla rehmannii)
A low type of calla lily up to half a meter long. The bracts are painted in pink-red colors.
Eliotta (calla elliottiana)
A light-loving species of Zantedeschia, blooming profusely with yellow buds. The leaf shape is more heart-shaped, with white splashes on a green background.
Ethiopian (calla aethiopica)
The most common type of calla lily, grown both for indoor decoration and for floral bouquets on an industrial scale. The flowers are a classic white hue, sometimes with greenish veins .
The height in the pot does not exceed half a meter, and when planted in a garden plot it can increase to one and a half meters.
Amethyst
The amethyst species is a frequent inhabitant of home window sills . The flower is a bright amethyst color, which is why it got its name. The leaves are longer than the peduncles and cover them with themselves. The flowers have a pleasant fresh aroma.
Vermeer
The color of the calla cover on the outer edge remains white, but inside near the inflorescence it is burgundy-violet. The cob stands out against this background with a bright lemon color. Even the leaves of this species are distinguished by their unusual coloring with small white specks.
Schwarzwalder
One of the most spectacular varieties of Calla lilies has an almost black color, which shimmers with burgundy shades in the sun. Starting to bloom in mid-summer, this plant pleases others until the end of September and exudes a surprisingly captivating aroma. It is worth saying that another variety called “Cantor” stands out with the same color, but with a purple tint, and the “Black Star” variety is distinguished by its dark burgundy flower filling. These almost black Callas complete our selection.
Beneficial properties of zantedeschia
Zantedeschia (calla lily).
Photo Calla is one of the folk remedies for diseases. It has analgesic properties and is used to treat poisonous snake bites.
Without treatment, the plant is poisonous, but when exposed to heat and drying, the toxic substances in it evaporate. A decoction or tincture of crushed rhizomes helps with dropsy. Osteomyelitis is treated with calla lily leaves boiled in milk.
