From this ultimate guide on how to grow & take care of calla lily, learn about season, potting mix, sunlight, watering, fertilizers, etc. I love having houseplant that produces flower, and if you are just like me, then you are gonna love having calla lily in your home.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Calla Lily or Zantedeschia is a genus that comprises around 8 species of rhizomatous, herbaceous, perennial flowering plants. They are native to Southern Africa. Traditional species of Calla Lily produces white coloured flowers that represent rebirth & resurrection.
Species such as Zantedeschia aethiopica can grow up to 1.2 metre tall, while Zantedeschia rehmannii can only grow up to 60 centimetres tall. Moreover among hybrids, there is colour variation. They produces, white, yellow, orange, green, pink to red single or mixed coloured tubular shaped flowers with pointed tips.
Calla Lily Care Guide
By following these tips, you will be able to care for your calla lilies indoors as well as outdoors.
Growing Season: Tropical to sub-tropical climate is ideal for calla lilies. They grow well in USDA hardiness zones 8 to 10. However, you can also grow them as annuals in cold temperate climate.
Potting Mix: Well drained, sandy loam soil rich in organic matter is best for them. Prepare potting mix with 60% cocopeat + 10% river sand + 30% organic compost.
Sunlight: You can grow calla lilies under bright direct to indirect sunlight. Bright indirect sunlight for 6 to 8 hours is good.
Watering: Apply water only when top layer of soil becomes dry, avoid waterlogging in the pot. Soggy soil can damage calla lily plant.
Fertilizers: Avoid adding nitrogen rich fertilizer as it will promote vegetative growth only. Use well decomposed 1 handful of cow dung manure along with 2 teaspoon bone meal & 1/2 litre liquid onion peel fertilizer once after every 30 days.
Deadheading & Pruning: Keep removing old, dying flowers & leaves time to time to promote new healthy growth in the plant.
Pests & Diseases: Pests such as aphids, spider mites, snails, thrips, & Japanese beetles can cause harm to your plant. Also protect your calla lily plant from diseases such as powdery mildew, leaf spot, gray mould, spotted wilt, blight, etc.
You can buy calla lily from here: Purchase Calla Lily
Planting Calla Lilies
When To Plant: Spring is the best time to start planting calla lilies. Generally from mid February to first week of June you can plant calla lilies.
Where To Plant: You should select a spot where your calla lilies can receive bright indirect sunlight throughout the day & is out of rich from kids and pets.
How To Plant: Place Calla lily bulbs on potting mix in pot and then cover the bulbs with 3 to 4 inches layer of potting mix and apply water gently. It will take around 14 to 20 days for first shoots to appear.
Pictures Of Calla Lily
These are the pictures of various species & hybrids of calla lilies that you will find across the globe.
Calla Lily Winter Care
When & What To Do: During extreme cold winters, calla lilies goes under dormancy. Therefore during winters you will need to take care of these points. Once leaves start yellowing with the beginning of winters, cut all the foliage parts and keep your pot indoors.
If you have planted calla lilies directly in the ground then take rhizomes out after cutting of foliage and store them at around 10 to 13 degrees Celsius. You can plant them again during spring season.
FAQ’s On Calla Lily
All the leaves are completely off the calla lily Should I bring the pot indoors for the winter or can I still planted in the ground?
During winters calla lilies goes under dormancy, remove all foliage parts, bring your pot inside & wait till the end of winters.
What benefits do we get in an indoor canna lily?
Apart from being one of the most beautiful flowering houseplant, calla lilies can also purify air around them. They can remove air toxins such as benzene, formaldehyde & trichloroethylene from the air.
Are there any tips or tricks to make my canna lilies grow super big?
Proper sunlight, watering, & adding fertilizers in adequate amount helps in growing plant to its optimum size. But it also depends on species. You can select traditional white coloured calla lilies as they can grow up to 4 feet high.
My calla lilies flowers stay short but the leaves are tall, what am I doing wrong?
Generally this problem can be due to adding nitrogen rich fertilizers, or adding too little fertilizer. Start adding phosphorus and potassium rich fertilizers to boost flowering in calla lilies.
English 
हिन्दी