Although an outdoor plant by nature, the Calla Lily will perform wonderfully as an indoor plant. Keeping this rhizome happy indoors is a matter of paying attention to some very basic growing conditions.

Can I plant my calla lily outside?

Calla lilies are hardy in USDA plant hardiness zones 8 through 10. … When planted in water, the rhizomes can remain outdoors as long as the water doesn’t freeze at the planting depth. You can also transplant your callas into pots and grow them as houseplants.

What is the difference between a canna and calla lily?

Cannas grow anywhere between 1 1/2 and 8 feet tall with a spread of up to 6 feet, whereas callas are generally more restrained, growing to only 2 or 3 feet with a 2-foot spread. Canna and calla leaves bear some resemblance to one another in that they are both long and wide, tapering at one end.

How do you keep calla lilies alive indoors?

INDOOR CALLA LILY CARE

  1. Keep the soil moist, but not soggy.
  2. Provide bright, indirect light.
  3. Apply liquid fertilizer monthly while in flower.
  4. Keep away from heating and ac vents.
  5. Reduce watering when the plant enters dormancy (November)
  6. Cut the leaves off at soil level once they’ve died.

Do calla lilies need sun?

SHADE AND SUN: In warm climates, calla lilies grow well in full sun or partial shade. In cooler areas they grow best in full sun. ZONE: Calla lilies are winter hardy in zones 8-10. In colder areas they can either be grown as annuals or can be dug up in the fall and stored indoors for replanting the next spring.

How do you keep calla lilies blooming?

The foliage will die back and the plant will appear to be dead. Place it in a cool (not cold) dark place for two months. After this, bring it back out into the light and resume watering it. The foliage will regrow and you calla lily plant will start to bloom shortly thereafter.

Where is the best place to plant a calla lily?

full sun They prefer to be located in full sun or partial shade in warmer climates. Calla lilies are typically planted in the spring. However, wait until the threat of frost has passed and the soil has warmed sufficiently before planting calla lilies. Calla lilies should be planted rather deep, about 4 inches (10 cm.)

Will calla lilies spread?

The calla lilies as most other bulbs, spread by producing even more bulbs. These bulbs can be dug up, and replanted in another location. In tropical climates (zones 8-10), calla lilies can be left in the ground over winter without trouble.

Do calla lilies grow well in pots?

Pots for calla lilies should be at least 10 to 12 inches (25-31 cm.) in diameter and well-draining. While calla lilies need consistently moist soil, improper drainage can cause rots and fungal diseases. The planting medium should also retain moisture but not stay too soggy.

Are calla lilies invasive?

Because of these characteristics, white calla lilies are considered an invasive species in coastal parts of California (but not in the Sacramento Valley). … The Pink Calla Lily (Zantedeschia rehmannii) is a popular species producing brilliant pink flowers.

What is the inside of a calla lily called?

Calla lilies The tuber-like rhizomes must be dug up and stored inside over the winter. Callas have a broad, trumpet-shaped flower called a spathe that wraps around the finger-like spadix. The spathe is actually a modified leaf and may be white, yellow, peach, orange, red, pink, purple or bicolored.

Are arum lilies and calla lilies the same?

While calla lilies, also known as arum lilies, have the same showy spathe as plants in the arum family, they are not true members of the Araceae group. However, since they are very recognizable plants, their appearance helps explain what arum members look like with exception to height, spathe colors, and leaf sizes.

Do you deadhead calla lily?

Calla lilies don’t require regular pruning, but you should deadhead the flowers as they wilt. Removing parts of the plant should not kill it. … Cut them back at the soil level and dispose of any plant debris, and they’ll come back in the spring.

How often do you water a potted calla lily?

Don’t water your calla lilies too heavily, especially after initially planting them. Once the rhizomes are established, you can water the plants once a week or more frequently if experiencing especially hot or drought-like conditions.

How long do calla lilies live indoors?

How long do calla lilies live indoors? In the appropriate climate, calla lilies can live all year round. For proper calla lily care, the plant should be allowed to die back for about two months every year. This will allow for the flowers to rest and come back with even better blooms in the next growing season.

Do calla lilies need lots of water?

When to Water Calla Lilies Water outdoor calla lilies regularly, providing sufficient water to keep the soil evenly moist. If the soil doesn’t drain well, improve it by adding compost or other organic materials. … Remember that calla lilies in pots will dry out much more quickly than lilies planted in the ground.

Do calla lilies bloom all summer?

The bulb-like structure of calla lilies grows well in a planter or in the ground in warm weather. … If left in the ground, the plants are considered annuals because the roots will die when frozen. The flowers bloom in the late spring and throughout the summer.

Do calla lilies come back every year?

Many people treat their gift calla lilies as annuals. They receive a potted flower, or buy them for spring decorating, and then toss it when the blooms are done. In truth, though, calla lilies are perennials and you can actually save your potted plant and watch it bloom again next year.

Do you cut off dead canna lily flowers?

Cannas should be deadheaded on a continual basis to encourage re-blooming. To do this, cut off the spent flower stalk directly above the second flowering node, which should be just opening.

Will calla lilies rebloom after cutting?

Unlike many other flowers, calla lily deadheading won’t cause the plant to create more blossoms. Each calla is designed to create a certain number of flowers, sometimes one or two and other times as many as six. Once those blooms have died off, the plant will only show foliage until the following spring.

Why are calla lily leaves turning yellow?

Yellow leaves are a sign of problems in the roots of the plant, for a number of different reasons. Yellowing leaves, known as chlorosis, is sometimes caused by a nutrient shortage in the soil, most often nitrogen, iron, zinc or some other trace element. … Another common reason for yellowing calla lilies is root rot.

When can you plant calla lilies outside?

spring Plant the calla lilies outside when the weather is warm and dry in the spring. Planting calla rhizomes in cold wet weather causes them to rot. Choose a location that contains moist soil. Calla lilies do tolerate wet soil like the area around garden ponds and streams.

What do you do with calla lilies after they bloom?

How To Store Your Calla Lilies For Spring Planting:

  1. Reduce watering after your Calla Lilies have finished blooming for the season and the leaves start to turn yellow.
  2. Once the foliage dies back completely, cut it down to the ground.

How often do calla lilies bloom?

The plant usually blooms for about six weeks during the late spring and early summer. Keeping the plant potbound encourages more blooms. Calla Lilies may be forced into bloom at any time indoors; it all depends on when the bulbs become available and when they are planted.

What is the best fertilizer for calla lilies?

Incorporate well-rotted compost, bone meal, or cow manure into the soil to begin a gradual feeding process. You may also want to give the tuber a bi-weekly diluted fish emulsion to stimulate growth. Remember, feeding calla lily plants is only part of the equation.

Can calla lilies grow inside?

Calla Lily as a Houseplant Keep your indoor calla lilies continually moist and never allow them to dry out. You can even keep a little water in the saucer that it sits in but be sure that it doesn’t sit in standing water for too long. … Calla lilies inside prefer temperatures between 65 degrees F.

Are calla lilies Hardy?

Calla lillies flower from early to late summer on sturdy upright stems. … Most calla lilies are frost tender and the rhizomes or fleshy roots can be stored over winter and then replanted the following spring. The exception is white arum lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica) which is hardy outside in mild areas.

When can I divide calla lilies?

When to Divide Callas Most growers prefer to divide calla lilies in spring, especially in warm climates where you can leave the rhizome in the ground year round. In cooler areas, you might prefer to divide the rhizomes in late summer or fall when you dig them up for winter storage.

Why is my calla lily drooping?

The leaves may become limp and drag if you have given the plant too much nitrogen fertilizer, which encourages leafy growth. They will also droop if the soil condition is too dry or too wet. The problem can also simply be that the blooms are too large.