How To Take Care Of Your Outdoor Calla Lily Plant?

Calla lilies are a beautiful perennial that adds grace to gardens, containers, and cutting gardens. They grow from dense rhizomes and can be grown outdoors as a garden specimen, in containers, or indoors as a houseplant. Frost-free conditions are essential for calla lily hybrids, which are tender. To care for your calla lily, follow these instructions:

1. Plant calla lilies in well-lit windowsills, conservatories, or heated greenhouses.
2. Water calla lilies regularly, but not overly. Once flowering shoots appear, feed them every three to four weeks.
3. Keep compost moist but not over-water. Calla lilies thrive in humid and moist conditions and may need protection from hot afternoon sun. Plants will go dormant when temperatures drop below 50 degrees.
4. Bury calla lilies 4 inches deep and a foot apart, measuring from center to center. Water only when soil is dry up to one inch under the surface.
5. Start calla lilies outdoors in spring after all danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed to at least 65 degrees.
6. Provide bright indirect light for your calla lily. Water when 50% of the soil volume is dry.
7. Add humidity to maintain even soil moisture and reduce watering needs. Mulch can help keep soil moisture even, reduce watering needs, and keep weeds away.

Do calla lilies grow better in pots or in the ground?

Calla lilies are suitable for houseplants, patios, or seasonal outdoor bedding displays. They should be planted under the soil surface with the rhizome’s eyes facing upwards. A loam-based compost like John Innes No. 2 or a good multi-purpose compost is suitable for pot planting. Plant one rhizome to an 8″ pot or three to a 16″ pot. Cover the pots with decorative stones if desired. Water freely during the summer months and feed with a fertilizer every two weeks.

Caring for calla lilies involves lifting them before frosts and storing them in trays of compost in a cool, dark, frost-free location. Do not overwater and ensure that the rhizomes are covered with decorative stones if desired. In most areas, the foliage will be affected by frost and slightly blackened.

How often should I water calla lily?

To ensure the health and longevity of your Calla Lily, choose a location with diffused light and a humidifier. Water your plant once or twice a week, depending on the environment, and ensure adequate drainage to mitigate risks like root rot. Calla Lilies have a bloom window of 3-8 weeks, and after this, their leaves will naturally turn yellow, signaling their dormancy phase. Minimize watering and prune yellowing leaves during this period.

If you have a green thumb for outdoor gardening, consider relocating your Calla Lily to a sheltered spot near buildings in USDA zones 8-10 or below for better survivability. This plant thrives as a perennial in USDA zones 8-10.

Why is my outdoor calla lily dying?

Calla lilies are particularly susceptible to overwatering and root rot due to their sensitivity to wet soil. Additionally, the leaves may exhibit curling or drooping characteristics. The occurrence of yellow leaves is less common and may be attributed to a number of factors, including inadequate watering, nutritional deficiencies, or infestation by pests. To prevent overwatering, it is necessary to replace the soil that has become soggy with fresh, dry soil. Furthermore, it is important to ensure that the plant does not receive direct sunlight.

What happens if calla lilies get too much sun?

Calla lilies flourish in environments illuminated by bright, indirect light, but are not conducive to growth when exposed to direct sunlight. To prevent leaf scorch, it is recommended that a source of bright, indirect light be provided in the vicinity of a south- or west-facing window. This will permit the plants to receive an adequate quantity of light without being directly exposed to the sun’s rays, thereby ensuring that their foliage remains fresh and healthy.

Should I cut dead flowers off my calla lily?

Calla lilies do not drop petals when their flowers are done blooming, but once they die, they roll up into a tube and turn green on the outside. These spent blossoms on calla lily plants have no purpose and should be clipped off. Deadheading calla lily plants doesn’t cause the plant to create more blossoms, as each calla is designed to produce a certain number of flowers. Deadheading calla lily plants is important for two reasons: first, it looks better with a neat and tidy green plant, and second, it is important for growing large, healthy rhizomes for next year’s flowers.

Spent flowers tend to turn into seed pods, which use up resources better left for other tasks. Deadheading calla lily plants allows them to focus on creating a large, hardy rhizome, allowing them to focus on getting ready for next year.

Do calla lilies need a lot of water?

Calla Lilies require a balance in moisture, with soil kept damp but not waterlogged. Watering should be once or twice a week, depending on the environment. Proper drainage can help mitigate risks like root rot. Calla Lilies have a bloom window of 3-8 weeks, followed by a dormancy phase with yellowing leaves. Minimizing watering and pruning yellowing leaves is recommended. If you have a green thumb for outdoor gardening, consider relocating your Calla Lily to USDA zones 8-10 or 7 or below for better survival chances.

How often should I water Calla Lily?

To ensure the health and longevity of your Calla Lily, choose a location with diffused light and a humidifier. Water your plant once or twice a week, depending on the environment, and ensure adequate drainage to mitigate risks like root rot. Calla Lilies have a bloom window of 3-8 weeks, and after this, their leaves will naturally turn yellow, signaling their dormancy phase. Minimize watering and prune yellowing leaves during this period.

If you have a green thumb for outdoor gardening, consider relocating your Calla Lily to a sheltered spot near buildings in USDA zones 8-10 or below for better survivability. This plant thrives as a perennial in USDA zones 8-10.

Do calla lilies like sun or shade?

Calla Lilies thrive in bright, indirect light, mimicking their native environment under a canopy. Too much direct sun can cause a botanical sunburn. To maintain optimal growth, observe your Calla Lily’s behavior and adjust the light exposure accordingly. As seasons change, adjust your sunlight strategy accordingly. In spring, increase light to wake your plant from its winter nap, protect it from harsh rays in summer, and consider artificial lighting in winter to keep it from dozing off. By adjusting your sunlight strategy, you can ensure your Calla Lily receives the necessary warmth and avoids the harmful effects of direct sunlight.

Do calla lilies bloom all summer?

Calla lilies, perennials, bloom in late spring or early summer and can be categorized into early-season, mid-season, and late-season. They typically last 6 to 12 weeks. To enjoy these flowers all season long, mix them with other varieties. Choose varieties that suit your garden needs, with lower-growing ones ideal for borders and taller ones for the back of the garden. Learn how to grow and care for Asiatic lily plants.

Should I cut dead flowers off my Calla Lily?

Calla lilies do not drop petals when their flowers are done blooming, but once they die, they roll up into a tube and turn green on the outside. These spent blossoms on calla lily plants have no purpose and should be clipped off. Deadheading calla lily plants doesn’t cause the plant to create more blossoms, as each calla is designed to produce a certain number of flowers. Deadheading calla lily plants is important for two reasons: first, it looks better with a neat and tidy green plant, and second, it is important for growing large, healthy rhizomes for next year’s flowers.

Spent flowers tend to turn into seed pods, which use up resources better left for other tasks. Deadheading calla lily plants allows them to focus on creating a large, hardy rhizome, allowing them to focus on getting ready for next year.