It is not for nothing that the word “calla” means “beautiful” when translated from Greek. This spectacular flower will decorate the coast of a reservoir, but beginners do not always manage to grow it. After all, for this you need to know some subtleties. We will tell you about them.
Many gardeners love calla lilies not only for their beauty, but also for the vanilla aroma that the flowers emit. By the way, in a non-flowering form this plant is no less attractive due to its rather large and dense leaves. They often have variegated colors.
Tuberous callas need warmth, so in the middle zone they are grown in open ground only from spring to autumn, and in winter the tubers are stored in conditions that are comfortable for the plant. In addition, calla lilies can be grown all year round in a warm room, in a container. But observing the temperature regime alone is often not enough to enjoy the spectacular blooming of calla lilies. Let's see what difficulties beginner gardeners most often encounter and answer the most common questions.
How to store tuberous calla lilies?
First, the tubers are cleared of soil, after which they are dipped into a fungicide solution for 20-30 minutes. After this time, they are dried in the sun for 2-3 days.
Then the wilted leaves are cut off and the tubers are stored in a container with sawdust, peat or vermiculite. The container is placed in a dry room with an air temperature of 10-12°C. In winter, make sure that the tubers do not rot or dry out.
The calla tuber must have a diameter of at least 7 cm. Otherwise, flowers are unlikely to appear from it in the first year
Popular plant species
Exquisite shade is quite rare
Calla flowers - growing and care at home
It is quite problematic to list all types of calla lilies - there are too many of them to be included in one article. Therefore, it makes sense to describe several of the most striking varieties, the cultivation of which may be of interest to gardeners.
Calla elliottiana
A very miniature plant, in the wild it grows only up to 5 cm. But the leaves are dark green, large, beautiful, decorated with many white dots.
The inflorescences have green bases and a golden cover. Based on this species, domestic calla lilies were bred - Red Alert (with scarlet inflorescences) and Black Magic (up to a meter high and inflorescences 15 cm in length).
Ethiopian calla (Calla aethiopica)
This plant species is the largest - when flowering it reaches a height of 100 cm. Also known as Zantedeschia aethiopica.
The leaves are dark green in color, have a shiny surface and are heart-shaped or oval in shape. The underground part has no tubers and consists entirely of flexible roots.
For reference! An interesting feature is that even in winter the plant does not shed its leaves, but grows only in warm climates, as the name implies.
Rehmann (Calla rehmannii)
This species also cannot be called miniature - it can easily reach 70 cm in height. The leaves are dense green and elongated.
In the fall, the above-ground part dies off, only to bloom again in the spring and delight others. The inflorescence has a cover of red, lilac or purple color. Many interesting varieties have been developed from this wild species, including:
- Askari - the flowers have a dark red cover surrounded by a cream-colored stripe.
- Odessa - inflorescences are almost black, with a dark red base.
- Crystal Blush - The flowers are white when they bloom and then change color to pinkish.
- Garnet Glow is a miniature plant (no more than 55 cm), blooms from June to September with large red flowers with a garnet tint.
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.
Possible problems and difficulties
Spider mites can destroy a tender plant
Of course, when growing calla lilies, you can encounter various problems - primarily diseases. Usually this:
- brown rot,
- gray rot,
- anthracnose
All these are fungal diseases. Therefore, treatment should be the same - spraying with fungicides. This usually solves the problem. To prevent it from recurring, you need to make sure that the plant receives enough sunlight and does not suffer from excess moisture. After all, it is in such conditions that fungi that cause these diseases most often actively multiply. However, brown rot can also be caused by excess nitrogen fertilizers.
Attention! When infectious diseases appear on one plant, all neighboring ones should be treated with medicinal preparations to prevent the spread of the fungus.
Sometimes pests also cause problems. Most often it is an aphid or spider mite, and while aphids are usually a nuisance only when grown outdoors, the mite can also infect indoor plants. The solution is quite simple - you can spray the leaves with a soap solution or special preparations (insecticides).
After studying the article and remembering the basic rules, even a novice gardener can easily grow gorgeous flowers on a windowsill or in the garden. At the same time, today there is definitely an opportunity to choose a variety of calla lilies that no one else has.
How to grow calla lilies as a container crop?
To plant calla lilies, use a pot with a diameter of 30-40 cm. Drainage made of expanded clay or sand is placed at the bottom of the container, and a permeable nutrient soil mixture is poured on top. Tubers are planted to a depth of 3-5 cm (this depends on their size) and watered abundantly. The pot is placed in a well-lit room with an air temperature of 13-18°C.
After the first leaves sprout, the calla lilies are transferred to a warmer place (with a daytime temperature of 22-25°C and a night temperature of at least 8°C). There should also be a lot of light here.
Moist soil and good lighting are necessary conditions for the appearance of calla lilies.
Every 14 days, it is recommended to feed calla lilies with complex fertilizer for flowering plants. Then, after 1.5 months from the date of planting, it will delight you with the first blooming flowers.
Varieties
Ethiopian
A frequent guest at weddings, anniversaries and other celebrations. A distinctive feature is the white color of the bedspread, the elongated ear of yellowish color.
Details about Ethiopian calla lilies and their cultivation are described in the video:
Bolotnaya
It has a powerful root system that grows over the surface of the soil and suppresses neighboring plants. This flower is completely poisonous. The bedspread is two-color - green on the outside, white on the inside .
Elliot
A profusely flowering plant. The flowers have a rich yellow color. It is grown only by tubers.
Remani
The smallest flower. The height of an adult plant reaches 40 cm . The color of the bedspread ranges from bright pink to red.
Description of Calla Remani - in this video:
How to grow calla lilies from seeds?
Seeds are sown superficially in a container with loose soil (for example, a mixture of peat and sand in a ratio of 1:4). An interval of about 8 cm is maintained between them. The container is placed in a well-lit place with an air temperature of at least 18°C. When the seedlings become crowded, they are planted in separate pots. Callas grown from seeds bloom 2-3 years after sowing.
Do not forget that calla lilies are poisonous, especially their tubers. Therefore, when planting, wear protective gloves and isolate the flower from small children and pets.
Zantedeschia: care at home
Decembrist flower - how to plant and care
Considering the fact that calla lilies are native to Africa and South America, we can draw a conclusion about the conditions that they need for full growth. A warm, humid climate is key to successful planting.
To maintain favorable conditions, you need to know how to care for calla lilies and choose a suitable place for growing them. Homemade flowers in a pot of this kind require compliance with a list of certain parameters. Everything you need to consider when caring for callas at home is described below.
Lighting
Callas are very demanding when it comes to lighting. These homemade flowers in a pot are best placed on a bright windowsill. Sunlight should be diffused during the day and direct in the evening. Morning scorching rays can be detrimental to the plant. For full development, they need to receive the required amount of light for 12 hours.
Callas need a lot of light
Note! If it is not possible to find a sufficiently illuminated place in the apartment, you can add additional light to the plant using a phytolamp.
It is necessary to light the plant even during the dormant period. After the leaves begin to yellow, place it in a sunny place and gradually reduce watering. Due to sufficient illumination during this period, many root shoots are formed that must be removed.
Temperature
Like many other plants native to southern countries, callas require a warm climate.
The optimal temperature in summer is 20-22 °C during the daytime and 16-18 °C at night. In winter, it is better to reduce the indicators to 3-4 °C.
Important! White callas prefer a cooler climate, unlike colored ones. In summer it is better not to increase the temperature, keeping it at 20 °C, and in winter - 15 °C.
Maintaining the temperature regime is very important, especially in order to obtain inflorescences. It is also worth considering that these flowers do not tolerate drafts and sudden temperature changes. The transition to cooler winter conditions should be carried out gradually.
Humidity
It is this indicator that often causes problems when growing callas. These plants require very high humidity levels, 70-80% at a minimum.
To maintain such high performance, you can resort to the following:
- The pot with the plant is placed on a tray with pebbles or expanded clay. By constantly moistening this pan, you can achieve a slight increase in humidity;
- A more effective way is to use a humidifier. By placing it in close proximity to the flower, you can increase the humidity to the required level.
Watering
Callas require regular watering. The soil moisture requirements for white callas are different from those required for colored ones.
The most frequent and abundant watering is needed during the flowering period. After its completion, the degree of moisture is gradually reduced. White callas are watered during the dormant period, but colored ones are not.
Important! Water for irrigation should be settled and moist. Watering with cold water is bad for the health of the plant.
Feeding
All types of this flower require regular feeding. They should be applied during the period of active growth and flowering once every two weeks.
Indoor calla is very responsive to fertilizing with complex mineral fertilizers. Specialized stores have ready-made mixtures specifically for this type of plant.
Care must be taken when applying fertilizers. Excess minerals can lead to flower disease. Particular attention should be paid to fertilizers containing nitrogen; an excess of this substance can cause a lack of flowering.
Pot size
During the period of active growth, callas quickly expand their root system and consume nutrients from the soil in large quantities. In this regard, it is necessary to periodically change the pot and soil.
Replacing the soil is also necessary when signs of disease are detected. In this case, you should resort to emergency transplantation, regardless of the phase of flower development.
Common growing questions
- Is a shaded, not entirely dark place suitable for overwintering tubers? For storing tubers, lighting does not play a role. Many gardeners store them in refrigerators, where the light, as you know, turns on only when the door is opened.
- Is it possible to take a pot of calla lilies outside in the summer? Experts recommend taking rhizomatous callas outside in the summer. Tuberous species also tolerate garden conditions well.
- After purchasing a calla lily in winter, how and when should it be sent to rest in this case? In such cases, you should observe the flower. As soon as it begins to turn yellow and dry out, this will be a signal about the need for rest.
- Is it necessary to disinfect the pot if the tubers are rotten, and what is the best way to do this? After rotting, be sure to disinfect the flower pot. If it is made of durable materials, it can be boiled. If it is plastic, it is treated with alcohol.
All callas are divided according to the principle of organization of the root system into tuberous and rhizomatous. Despite their external similarity, these are different plants that require special care. If you do not follow the rules, the flower will not bloom and may even die.
What does the flower symbolize and its meaning?
Previously, Calla was considered the flower of death, and it was often used to make funeral wreaths. But over time, the attitude towards the tropical beauty has changed dramatically. And now she is considered a harbinger of happiness and a strong marriage. So Calla is often used to make wedding bouquets. This culture also helps to find a soul mate and protects the home from negative thoughts from the outside.
Attractive Calla will decorate any interior. And even a novice plant grower can grow it at home. To do this, it is enough to provide the culture with minimal care, and it will reward you with unusually beautiful flowers.
general description
According to scientific taxonomy, calla or calla lily is a herbaceous plant from the genus Calla, which is part of the Araceae or Aronicaceae family. The genus is monotypic and consists of a single species – the marsh whitewing (Calla palustris). Previously, it included other plants of the family, and they are still commonly called “calla lilies.”
Calla palustris
For example, this is the name given to representatives of the genus Zantedeschia - Ethiopian Zantedeschia (Z. aethiopica) and Elliott's Zantedeschia (Z. elliottiana), most often cultivated as indoor plants. Now they have no relation to the genus Calla, but some sources indicate that “Whitewing” and “Calla” are the Russian names for the genus Zantedeschia.
Z. aethiopica
Z. elliottiana
In nature, callas grow in both hemispheres in tropical and subtropical zones, in zones with a temperate climate, and are also found in subarctic regions. The tropics account for about 90% of species. The marsh whitewing grows only in a humid environment, for example, near water bodies, in swampy areas, so it is practically not used in indoor floriculture.
