Calla lilies growing in the open field in a suburban area

Calla lilies growing the right way: how calla lilies differ from other plants, the birthplace of calla lilies, the most famous species and varieties of calla lilies, how to plant calla lilies in open ground correctly and simply, how to properly and easily care for a plant, how to properly prepare bulbs for storage in winter.

Calla lilies growing: short

Garden calla lilies began to appear on flower beds of suburban areas and dachas more often, for example, than five years ago. For fear of making mistakes in growing and caring for an exotic plant, it was not so popular in Russia. Summer residents prefer to plant this plant, since, in addition to its beautiful appearance, it blooms for a long time. All this can be observed after simple care of the plant, but there are also small subtleties in its content. Do not be afraid to make a mistake, as there are no special difficulties in growing and care!

Calla lilies cannot be called only a houseplant, it grows well in open ground in suburban areas. The main thing is to provide the plant with proper care, which does not have any particular difficulties. The content of this plant is slightly more complicated than the traditional plants we are used to, for example, roses, tulips, peonies. Experienced gardeners every year demonstrate the reality of growing a plant from the tropics in the harsh climate of Russia.

Calla lilies come from the Aroid family, their homeland is South Africa. The peculiarity of wild calla lilies is that they grow only in warm climates. And garden calla lilies can grow safely in any conditions. This is due to the fact that the tropics are characterized by a temperature of eighteen degrees, as well as its frequent drops to a hotter side. Garden calla lilies are accustomed to cold and warmth, and to normal, optimal temperature.

Calla lilies are compared to growing dahlias. Calla lilies, aka Calla lilies, are not a traditional plant in Russia, so their similarity to dahlias can help you great. The similarity, of course, does not manifest itself in appearance or territorial habitats, similarities in the rules of care and cultivation.

Calla lilies cultivation: species and varieties

Not all species and varieties are able to not only bloom for a long time, look beautiful, but also survive in our harsh climate, unfortunately. First, select the variety of kcal that you will plant in the future. Going to any specialized flower shop, you will see the variety of varieties of this plant. If you cannot make a choice, you can always ask a salesperson or a consultant for help in the store. Some varieties are capable of growing in our country, but the flowering will not be so long and beautiful. The most common species in Russia that grow well in our climate, have a beautiful appearance and bloom for a long time are:

- "Calla Rehmannii" (Calla rehmannii).

- "Calla Ethiopian" (Calla aethiopica).

The varieties obtained from the "Ethiopian calla" species are more popular than other varieties. Due to the fact that the plant is exotic for Russia, it will not be easy to grow it in our climate. However, it is possible, if properly cared for, the plant grows up to one meter in height, with large flowers and a pleasant aroma.

How to grow calla lilies in a flower pot or outdoors?

Tubers do not always guarantee the quality of planting or its existence in general. The same is not given by seeds of other species and varieties of plants, there is no one hundred percent guarantee of a first-class result.How to save your time, energy and nerves for the spent care and cultivation of garden calla lilies plant? This is possible if you spend time on pre-selected plant tubers.

To begin with, we will choose large tubers that do not have signs of old age, namely lethargy, softness and wrinkledness. Experienced gardeners advise using the tubers of a plant that has already taken root in your area. Such tubers of the garden calla plant can be found through special sites and groups on the theme of the garden and vegetable garden, in markets, bazaars, in ordinary or specialized flower shops, and can be purchased from gardeners or summer residents who have had the practice of growing this plant on their site.

If you try to grow a garden calla plant from tubers brought from other countries, they may not take root, they will live a maximum of one year and die. Such tubers give their first flowers much later than hardened tubers.

The place for planting calla lilies must be warm, sometimes falling under the sun's rays, this will have a positive effect on its health and growth. It is not recommended to plant the plant in a windy place, partial shade, partial or full shade, but it is also not worth planting in the sunniest place because of possible deciduous burns. The wind can severely ruffle the garden calla plant, cause serious damage to it and simply kill it.

Carefully select the composition of the soil, the growth of garden callia depends on it. The soil should be with a maximum high fertility and a weak acid level. Carefully add the top dressing so as not to overdo it. Fertilizers are added to improve the soil and accelerate the quality of plant growth, but if you overdo it, the plant will start to rot. Make sure that there is no excess nitrogen in the soil. If you do not have soils that meet these requirements, you can plant garden calla lilies on clay soil, before that fertilize it with peat and sand (fifty to fifty).

It is recommended to plant calla lilies in the spring, when there is no frost. In the first week of May, the bulbs will be able to take root in the soil and start growing soon. Check the weather forecast, frosts can come unexpectedly and destroy not only the garden calla plant, but also the rest.

We make landing holes up to ten cm deep. The distance of the calla lilies from each other should be about fifty cm.Do not:

- Tamp the soil when planting.

- Press the bulb into the ground with all force.

- Compact the soil.

- To level the ground.

Just transfer the bulbs to the holes and gently cover them with earth. After planting the plants, a simple, but with some peculiarities, care begins.

There is an interesting and rather unusual way of growing this plant. You can try the germination method using tubers that are planted in a garden pot, then cared for and then transplanted into the open ground. It is necessary to plant in a flower pot in the middle of spring. Flower primer can be purchased at specialty flower shops.

How to care for calla lilies in a flowerpot or outdoors?

Plant care is eighty percent of the way to great results if you want a healthy and beautiful flower. Taking care of calla lilies in a flowerpot is very simple, almost as easy as it is for the plants you are used to. All you need to do:

- Monitor the soil moisture level by watering it three times every seven days

- A week before planting the bulbs in the open ground, they need to be hardened.

- Handle the root carefully when transplanting the plant.

Special care is needed, as the plant is exotic for our climate. Flowering begins in the second month after transplanting. They bloom until September. It is important for the plant to form its roots correctly. After the transplant, you should not immediately run after the watering can, only after the sprouts appear, you can begin to carefully water them. Water no more than twice every seven days.

Absolutely uncomplicated, the most important rules for caring for a plant:

- Water the plant when required.

- Feeding a plant several times in its life, as excessive feeding only harms the plants.

- Weeding the soil.

- Loosening the earth.

Top dressing is used when planting a plant. Throughout the life of the plant, it should be fed several times so as not to spoil the health and growth process. Calla lilies are disease-resistant and less attractive to parasites, so there should be no difficulties in terms of prevention. The only parasite that can visit your plant more often than others

- whitefly. They do not cause very strong harm, but it is still worth purchasing a special agent against parasites.

Proper storage of calla tubers

In the autumn, we collect the bulbs of the plant and prepare them for the cold weather. Before the onset of frost, we dig up the bulbs, wash them from dirt, place them in a room with a temperature of at least six and not higher than sixteen degrees.