Calla lily cultivation methods and precautions

Calla lily , also known as water lily, water taro, Guanyin lotus, morning glory, spathe taro, calla lily , etc., is a perennial herb. It likes a warm, humid and sunny environment, and grows well in fertile, humus-rich clay loam with good water retention properties. Calla lilies usually begin to bloom during the Spring Festival, and the peak flowering period is from March to April. The suitable temperature for its growth is 10℃-25℃. It is not cold-resistant and the night temperature needs to be kept above 10℃. Let’s learn about the cultivation methods and precautions of Calla Lily.

1. Put it in the basin

When potting Calla Lily, it is advisable to use a cylindrical pot about 20 cm deep. You can use fertile paddy soil, or mix fertile garden soil, leaf mold, and sandy soil in a ratio of 4:3:2, and then add a small amount of superphosphate. After the first flowering in early spring or in autumn, dig out the bud balls that sprout around the rhizome of the mother plant, plant 3-4 tubers evenly in the pot, cover with 3-4 cm thick soil, and the distance from the soil surface to the pot mouth should be 3-4 cm. After planting, compact and water enough, place in the shade to keep moist. After germination, move to a shade shed or a place with scattered light for maintenance.

2. Watering

After the seedlings emerge, keep the soil in the pot moist, spray water on the leaves every day, and increase the amount of watering as the number of leaves increases. Water frequently during the growing period, and spray the ground around the pot with water in the morning and evening to increase the air humidity. Especially when the flower stalks are growing, there must be no lack of water, otherwise it will affect the quality of the flowers. After flowering, as the temperature rises, the growth gradually slows down and watering should be controlled to keep the soil in the pot moist but slightly dry.

3. Fertilization

In addition to applying base fertilizer during planting, apply thin liquid fertilizer once every 15 days or so during the growing period. You can use decomposed cake fertilizer water. During the peak growing season, apply a mixture of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in thin liquid fertilizer once every 15 days. When fertilizing, avoid pouring fertilizer water into the leaf sheath to avoid leaf rot. Stop fertilizing after flowering.

4. Daily maintenance

Calla lily is not cold-resistant, the night temperature should not be lower than 10℃, and some varieties should not be lower than 16℃. When the temperature is above 25℃ or below 5℃, Calla lily will go dormant. Increasing light can inhibit the plant's excessive growth. When the air is dry, spray water around the pots to increase humidity. When the leaves are lush, thin them out in time to facilitate the emergence of flower stalks; after the flowers fade, cut off the remaining flowers and flower stalks to avoid nutrient consumption. Cut off diseased and yellow leaves at any time to maintain ventilation and effectively utilize nutrients. Wipe the leaves with a sponge or soft cloth dipped in water every 5-7 days to keep them fresh and clean.

5. Control the flowering period

Flowering period control mainly depends on the control of temperature during the growth period and the adjustment of the planting period. Generally, the tubers will bloom 5-6 months after planting. If the growth environment temperature is maintained at 13℃-20℃, there is sufficient fertilizer , and the air humidity and light conditions are suitable, it can bloom continuously without a dormant period. The temperature of home potted plants drops in winter, and the flowering period is delayed. Increasing the temperature can promote early flowering.

The above is an introduction to the cultivation techniques of Calla Lily. Calla Lily is mainly propagated by division. After flowering, the small balls around the tubers are peeled off and planted in pots respectively. After about 2 years of cultivation, the Calla Lily propagated by division will bloom.