Calla Lilies is a hardy perennial, but they can also be treated as annuals in zones 8-10.
After the flowering season is over, you can save your calla lily plant as a potted annual and plant it again the following year.
You can even save the blooming plant, as it can be saved as a potted annual in cooler climates.
If you’re looking for sleek and elegant flowers with pliable stems, Calla Lilies is the go-to option.
This graceful silhouettes produce delicate blooms that can be damaged easily.
So how long does Calla Lilies last? Calla Lilies can stay all-year round when handled with care, but they can remain fresh for 7 to 10 days when plugged. Potted calla lilies, on the other hand, can last up to 4 months in an active growth stage.
How to care for calla lilies
To maintain the beauty of your calla lilies, you must understand how to properly care for them. You should provide a consistent amount of water for at least two months a year.
They require fertilizer, but do not overdo it.
A little extra fertilizer will produce better blooms the following year. Make sure the soil in your calla lily’s pot drains well. It should also receive some light and fertilizer to keep it from dying or becoming weak.
The word “calla” means beautiful in Greek, and the flower’s name derives from this fact. Many of us are familiar with the myths surrounding this flower. In one story, the god Zeus gave his wife Hera a son named Hercules so she could nurse him.
The boy eventually developed into a beautiful flower that poured milk into the ground and sky. The flowers of the calla lily are the result of these droplets of milk.
To propagate your own calla lily, you can leave the rhizome in the ground.
When it has begun to grow and the leaves have started to die off, you can divide it into sections and replant it in an empty container.
The soil should cover the plant about an inch above the roots, but do not pack it too tightly. It will need additional water than usual to grow. It may take up to a year for the flower to reach maturity.
During cold weather, calla lilies need moisture and good drainage. Keep the soil temperature between 50 and 60degF to prolong their bloom.
Breeders are continually creating new cultivars with longer bloom periods. For instance, ‘Black Star’ is an unusual variety, featuring funnel-shaped flowers atop deep green foliage and burgundy tips. You can plant ‘Black Star’ with a light-colored plant to give it a striking look.
The rhizomes of calla lilies should be planted at least four inches apart. They should be lightly watered when they first emerge, but once they start to produce leaves, water them regularly. For best results, water your calla lilies once every month.
Make sure you fertilize them regularly with liquid fertilizer. After that, plant the calla rhizomes in containers that provide light.
Repotting calla lilies
When to repot calla lilies, you should carefully consider what they like. Ideally, they should have six hours of dappled sunlight.
Repotting requires moving the plant to a new pot that is at least two to three inches deeper than the old one.
After repotting, the calla lilies should be placed in the larger pot. It is important to avoid crushing the delicate roots during the transplanting process, as this can result in damage to the plant.
After repotting, it is important to make sure that the Calla Lily remains consistently moist. After repotting, give it weak liquid plant food every three weeks.
Place the new container in a sunny window, where the temperature is at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Don’t fertilize until the roots have rooted completely. Once this is done, it is safe to repot Calla lilies outdoors.
Repotting calla lilies should be done at least once a year. The potting mixture should be kept moist without becoming soggy. If you do not water it regularly, it will develop problems and may die.
To help retain moisture, apply a general-purpose fertilizer to the soil about once a month. Once the plant blooms, you can stop fertilizing.
Calla lilies grow between two and three feet tall. They are an excellent choice for the front or middle of a flowerbed.
Their foliage is beautiful throughout the growing season, and the flowers last for up to two weeks in a vase. However, if you don’t have the space to plant a calla lily outside, you can take it indoors where it will survive the winter.
When repotting calla lilies, be sure to take a look at the soil and pH levels of the soil. If the soil is too dry, the plant may suffer from leaf spots and mildew. The humidity may be too high or too low.
A high pH level will result in more flowers. Lastly, be sure to check the quality of the calla lilies you buy. They are worth the effort.
Cutting calla lilies
If you are not sure how long your calla lilies should last you can always cut them at an angle.
Cutting at an angle will allow the most water to reach the bloom, ensuring that your flowers are at their freshest.
Always cut the stems of callas at a 45-degree angle to maximize water absorption. Make sure to remove any leaves that hang below the waterline, as this will introduce harmful bacteria to the water. Place the cut stems of callas in a cool room and away from direct sunlight.
Ensure that your cut calla lily stems have all of the same qualities as the fresh flowers. If a stem snaps off easily when bent, it is not fresh.
Remove plastic sleeves from the stems before cutting them. Remember, the stems of calla lilies bruise easily if improperly handled. So, be gentle while cutting your calla lily stems.
Deadheading your calla lilies will make the plant look neat and appealing during the winter. It will not result in more blossoms, as the plants are designed to have a fixed number of flowers each year.
Once the flowers have faded, you can keep the foliage on the plant until spring. You should also remove the spent blooms to keep the plant looking tidy and beautiful. Afterwards, you can wait to plant the plant again and admire it in the spring.
Once you’ve cut your calla lilies, keep them in a vase until they’re needed. Wedding calla lilies should be removed from water at least 30 minutes before they’re needed.
The cut stems can be sealed with melted wax, wrapped with a cloth, or tied with ribbon. It will last for seven to ten days if properly taken care of.
Calla lilies need moist soil and full sun, so they don’t like very dry soil. You can plant calla lilies after the danger of frost has passed.
However, calla lilies grow best in zones 3-10 and are only hardy in zones 8-10. If they’re planted correctly, calla lilies can survive in partial shade, too.
Pruning calla lilies
If you want an indoor flowering plant that is not seasonal, consider growing a calla lily.
These beautiful flowers are not only great for the house, but they can also be grown in plant containers.
Because they do well in colder temperatures, they can even survive the winter in a container. Pruning your calla lily is one of the easiest ways to make it last longer.
To prune your calla lily, you first need to identify when the bloom is finished. Typically, the flower stem will die back after the bloom has finished.
When the flower has finished blooming, you can prune back the leaves from the base to increase the plant’s life and help it bloom more.
Remember that cutting the flower stems will not hurt the calla lily plant, but it will ruin the overall aesthetic.
Once you have determined when to prune your calla lily, it’s time to plant it in its new pot.
Make sure to use clean cutting tools and remove dead or diseased stems from the base of the plant.
For the best results, prune your calla lily every four weeks to prevent the tuber from forming. But it can take up to four weeks for the plant to bear fruit.
In zones 3 to 7, calla lilies can be treated as annuals. If you live in a climate that is too cold for your plants, you can dig up the bulbs and overwinter them indoors. However, this may not produce the same results next year.
In addition, the fertilization will also conserve energy for the next blooming season. Soak the soil in fertilizer after pruning your callas in early spring until the foliage turns yellow.
Conclusion
After the Calla Lilies has sprouted, it will need to be pruned for the following spring.
A calla lily can last for many years. In the spring and early summer, it will begin to flower.
However, you should give it a rest for 2 or 3 months each year to ensure a long, beautiful blooming season the following year.
During this rest period, you should refrain from feeding your calla lily and allow it to go into dormancy. During this time, you should also prepare it for winter.