Growing Calla Lilies

Calla lily plants are beautiful flowering plants that are native to southern parts of Africa. Even though the name suggest that it is a form of lily but actually, it is not. More and more people are interested in growing calla lily because it is found in wide range of colors. You can find these delicate flowers in so many colors starting from white, light pink, yellow, purple and so on. They enhance the beauty of any landscape and also look attractive as houseplants.

Growing Calla Lilies Outdoors

As calla lilies originally belongs to the tropical climate, it grows well in warm and humid climate. Following are the important aspects that have to be taken into account that will guide you on how to grow calla lilies in your garden:

Select a Location
First of all, select a location in the garden that receives full sun in the morning. The area should also be partially shaded in order to provide protection against the midday heat. The heat tend to make the flowers stressed out.

Soil Preparation
The next step in how to grow calla lilies is to select the correct soil and prepare it well. This plant grows in almost all types of soil provided the soil is loose and well drained and the climate is humid. These plants grows really well in moist soils where most other plants fail to survive. If there is a small pond in your garden, then plant the calla lilies near it. A wet, sandy soil which is slightly acidic in nature is ideal for proper growth of calla lily plants.

Planting the Tubers
The ideal time to plant the bulbs or tubers of calla lily is the spring season. Make sure that the tubers you are planting are dry. Place them four inches deep into the soil which will provide them with a lot of moisture. Care should be taken so that the pointed end of the tuber is faced in the upward direction. Keep a gap of 12 to 14 inches in between two bulbs. Once you have finished planting, saturate the soil with water.

Calla Lily Care
You do not have to work very hard for calla lily care. Water the tubers frequently until the shoot of the plant appears. While watering the bulbs make sure that the soil is moist but not soaked in water. Adding a layer of mulch to the area surrounding the plants will further help the soil to retain maximum amount of moisture. Another advantage of mulching is that it keeps growth of weeds at bay. During the growing season, fertilizer should be added to the soil once in a month. With this kind of care, calla lily will start blooming within 60 days.

Tips on Growing Calla Lilies Indoors

If you live in a cold area, you have to grow the plant indoors. When you are growing the lilies in pots inside the house, then you have to follow certain guidelines. They are as follows:

• You should plant the bulbs into rich potting soil, during later part of the winter. It should be followed by watering of the soil with warm water.
• Keep the container in a warm, shady area of your house until the shoot makes its appearance. During this period, the soil should be get enough water to keep itself damp.
• As the plant grows, it should be exposed to sun. Keep it near a sunny window.
• Add fertilizer to the soil, only if the nutrients of the soil is exhausted. Otherwise, fertilizing is not required.
• Re-potting the lily once in a year is a must, as the soil tends to get exhausted after a growing season.

If you are thinking of growing calla lilies from seed, then let me tell you that the process is slightly more difficult. First of all, you have to pre-grow the seeds in damp paper towel. Then you have to pre-plant them in sowing soil in a small pot till the plants are slightly strong and healthy. After that, you can replant them in larger containers or a garden.