There are several ways to care for your calla lilies after they bloom.
Calla Lilies can safely grow in beds, borders, and containers, where they grow about 1 to 3 feet tall.
There are many things you can do to calla lilies after they bloom — such as deadheading, repotting, or preservation, and so much more.
Calla lilies are tender perennials with amazing stunning flowers.
Traditionally, these flowers are used as Easter arrangements, wedding bouquets, and even at funeral services.
As ornamental flowers, Calla lilies symbolize resurrection, purity, and rebirth.
Deadheading Calla Lilies
Deadheading calla lilies is a great way to promote future flower growth and keep them clean.
Dead foliage can impact future growth, so it’s important to remove it in order to encourage regrowth.
Deadheading can be done by using garden shears or scissors. Just clip off the branch just above the bloom, leaving a short piece at the base of the plant.
Calla lilies are best deadheaded once they have finished blooming, after they roll up into a tube-like shape.
The rolled-up petals can be pruned, but don’t let the plant remain unclipped. Dead stems will obstruct future growth and prevent blossoms from forming. This will help the plant to retain its neat appearance until next spring.
For best results, test the soil before planting a calla lily. Poor soil may affect the water retention and drainage capabilities of the plant, reducing the chances of a bloom. Add some compost to your soil to enhance the pH level.
Make sure that you do not over-water it or bury the roots. Deadheading calla lilies isn’t necessary if the flowering time is over.
Repotting Calla Lilies
Calla lilies can be too heavy for their original containers. To repot a Calla Lily after it has bloomed, you will need to loosen the soil along the pot’s edges and lift the plant out of the pot.
Be careful not to damage the delicate roots! Place the plant in a new, large pot of approximately 6 inches in diameter and fill the pot with fertile potting medium.
After blooming, calla lilies are most vulnerable to disease and pests. If you have not repotted your plant after the bloom, it can develop problems such as leaf spot and blight.
Excessive nitrogen can also encourage the growth of long stems and foliage. Some diseases that calla lilies are susceptible to include armillaria rot, spotted wilt, and dasheen mosaic virus.
Some pests that can cause harm to your calla lilies include slugs, Japanese beetles, aphids, and spider mitts.
Before repotting calla lilies after bloom, you should test the soil pH before doing so. The pH level of the soil is extremely important for calla lilies.
Too low or too high a pH can cause problems for your calla. If your calla lilies do not flower after bloom, you may have an acidic soil or too much moisture. If you’re unsure, ask a gardener for advice.
Preserving Calla Lilies
Carefully examine the soil before fertilizing the calla lily. Calla lilies prefer moist soil, but a wet bulb can lead to root rot. When in doubt, water according to the moisture level on the top of the soil. After blooming, stop fertilizing the calla lily, but make sure to give it a monthly application of bulb fertilizer.
The first step to drying calla lily flowers is to remove any stems and petals. Use tissue paper or acid-free paper. You may also use cardboard or heavy books to protect the calla lily from dust. Once dry, place the bunches upside down in a dark and warm area.
The calla lily should be evenly spaced from one another. Air should circulate around them and the stems and leaves should feel firm.
Next, water the calla lily flowers. This prevents them from drying out while in storage. Use a clean knife to cut the flowers from the stem at the base of the stem. Carefully place them in a deep vase to prevent constricting them.
When cleaning calla lily vases, florists use a solution of bleach and dish soap to remove any cleaning product. After rinsing, rinse the vases thoroughly.
Replanting Calla Lilies
Replanting calla lilies can be tricky, but it’s definitely possible! The first step is to take the plants indoors. If they are blooming in the winter, you can simply cut them off and bring them indoors. But you should not wash or scrub the bulbs!
Before you can fix the problem, you need to identify the root cause. Removing the foliage prevents them from storing energy.
The next step is to check the pH of the soil around your calla lilies. If they’re thriving in your garden, but the soil is too acidic, they won’t flower. If this happens, add more compost to the area around the calla lily plant to improve the soil’s pH.
If you have an extreme climate where sunlight is intense, mulch the soil around your plants so that moisture doesn’t escape.
Once the flowers fade, you’ll want to remove the rhizomes. Leave them in a cool, dark place. Once they emerge from the dormant stage, the rhizomes will start to grow again!
This is an excellent time to replant your calla lilies. The tubers will not flower until they’ve spent two months in a dark environment, so you don’t want to overdo it.
Avoiding pests
To ensure your calla lilies thrive and stay healthy, you should avoid pests and diseases. Pests and diseases can cause poor growth, wilting, and even death.
Crown rot and root rot are separate problems that affect calla lilies. Crown rot symptoms include yellowing at the leaf margins, while root rot symptoms involve water-soaked lesions on the foliage. Other common problems include powdery mildew, rust, and leaf-spot disease.
Calla lily plants need a cool, dry location to thrive. It is best to place them in a garage or basement to maintain a cool, dry environment. Planting them too deep in shade can result in lower flowering times and basal collapse.
Avoid misting calla lily flowers to prevent botrytis petal blight, which spreads rapidly. To prolong the life of your calla lily blooms, use potassium-rich fertilizer. Regular use of a standard fertilizer at monthly intervals will support strong foliar growth.
While calla lilies are resistant to many common pests and diseases, some common ones may still need a little extra care. For example, they’re susceptible to bacterial rot, aphids, and gray mold.
Fortunately, there are ways to protect them from these pests without harming their beauty. But it doesn’t have to be difficult! You can do it yourself with a little tender love and knowledge!
Avoiding slugs on Calla Lilies
If you have trouble preventing slugs from eating your calla lilies, you may consider growing ferns instead. These plants are relatively low maintenance and are low on the slug’s menu.
They also produce small, delicate flowers. Ferns are also suitable for rock gardens. Despite their attractive appearance, they don’t attract slugs.
The best way to prevent slugs from damaging your plants is to trap them early in the morning. Slugs usually feed at night and will leave large holes in your plants.
You can also trap them with damp newspaper and boards.
You should place one trap per square foot of your garden. You can also use cabbage leaves, grapefruit skins, and cut potatoes. Be sure to cover the trap with a cloth to prevent rainwater from dilution.
A proper fertilizer is essential for healthy calla lilies. It should be organic, as it increases the soil’s water holding capacity.
Add organic matter weekly. Calla lilies need a consistent level of moisture but too much or too little moisture can lead to root rot. To find out how much moisture your calla lilies need, stick your finger into the soil.
Avoiding mites on Calla Lilies
Calla lilies are susceptible to bacterial soft rot and botrytis, two types of fungal diseases. Both cause gray mold to form on plant parts and can damage the flowers and rhizomes.
Water calla lilies frequently and plant them far enough apart to allow air to circulate around them.
You should also avoid overwatering them, as they attract pests and act as a source of food for pathogens.
Furthermore, weeds planted near calla lilies may act as host plants for aphids and thrips, which can transmit viruses to your plants.
Plant white calla lilies in a sunny area, and keep their foliage moist. Place the plants one to two inches apart.
Keep a saucer of water near the bulbs to maintain moisture levels. Spider mites feed on the white calla lily’s juices, which turn the leaves gray. Spider mites can be easily removed by spraying the leaves with water, but you should also consider releasing predatory insects that can kill the mites.
Avoiding rot
One of the most common causes of root rot in calla lilies is soggy soil. You can prevent this by using good-quality potting soil and watering your lilies more frequently.
To help them breathe, you can poke holes in the bottom of their containers with pins. If you don’t have any drainage holes, you can also use peat moss, perlite, vermiculite, or pine bark in their containers.
The goal is to keep the soil light and fluffy. If your container doesn’t have drainage holes, you’ll want to adjust the amount of water you give them accordingly.
Conclusion
Fertilizing calla lilies is another common cause of plant rot. High-nitrogen fertilizers stimulate foliar growth, but stunt flower growth.
Make sure to replant your calla lilies in pots indoors, and keep them in cool temperatures until they grow.
Be sure to water them regularly throughout the winter. Be sure to water them daily or every other day, as well, as this will ensure that they stay healthy and happy.