Callas, or Zantedeschia, are one of the most popular and beautiful indoor plants of the Araceae family. You can also find the names calliper and arum. Calla lilies grow naturally in South Africa.

Description

There are 8 species of this flower in total.

In addition to the type of root system, plants differ in size and color - tuberous callas can have a variety of colors, and rhizomatous callas, photos of which can be found most often, are white.

Interesting signs are associated with this type of plant. So, sometimes you can come across the phrase “calla lilies are the flowers of death.” Where did such an unusual name come from? In the Catholic tradition, indoor calla lilies, like garden ones, are strongly associated with funeral traditions, so their presence in the house was sometimes considered to foretell the death of one of the inhabitants. But this is not the only meaning - it also symbolizes purity and innocence.

Home care

Of all the different types of diseases of indoor plants, owners of calla lilies most often encounter rot - brown, gray and bacterial. Fungal infections are much less common.

Indoor calla lilies do not require much care, but basic principles should be followed:
— It is better to replant calla lilies into new soil once a year, otherwise the plant may develop diseases - the soil is depleted, new bulbs do not have enough space in the pot, and the level of fertilizer reaches a level that is dangerous for the life of the flower.
- Zantedexia is indicated for warmth and light, especially in the afternoon.
— It is necessary to water the plant regularly, especially during the growing season. It should be remembered that multi-colored Zantedexias are more moisture-loving than white ones.
— for normal growth and flowering of calla lilies, it is necessary to maintain sufficiently high air humidity and regularly spray its leaves with a spray bottle.
- For these indoor flowers, drafts can be destructive, so during the dormant period you should monitor the flower especially carefully.
— The top layer of soil should be updated approximately once every three to four months.

Planting and transplanting

How to transplant callas? This can be done every year at the end of the dormant period, in the spring. Simultaneously with transplanting into the ground, you can also divide the tubers of the Zantedexia flower or other species. It is better to use shallow, wide pots.

The bottom of the container should be lined with a layer of drainage about 5 cm in height.

Before planting colored calla lilies, you need to assess the condition of the tubers - you should choose elastic ones with smooth skin. You can soak them in a solution of potassium permanganate before planting or treat them with a fungicide.

To avoid rotting, parts of tubers or rhizomes planted in the ground are best sprayed with a spray bottle, and only after two weeks can they be actively watered.

Lighting

An important component of caring for Zantedexia at home is properly selected lighting. These flowers love diffused light.

In the autumn-winter period, additional lighting with an intensity of 700-800 Lux should be arranged. Otherwise, the color of the callas becomes pale, the cuttings become elongated, and in general the flower becomes less aesthetically pleasing.

In summer it is better to arrange a home garden with these plants on the windowsill on the west or east side of the window, in winter - on the south.

There is a little trick to help make the color of flowers more intense. At night you need to lower the temperature for calla lilies to +16 C, and during the daytime provide bright lighting, avoiding direct rays of the sun.

In winter, you can use fluorescent lamps.

Temperature

Callas develop most actively at a temperature of approximately +15-20 C (during the daytime). At night, this value can drop to +13-15 C. For species with multi-colored flowers, the preferred temperature is from +20 to +24 C and up to +25-28 C during the dormant period.

Humidity

The temperature and humidity required for calla lilies to grow vary depending on the type of flower. Thus, for rhizomatous types, the favorable temperature during the growing season is from +17 to +21 C, during the dormant period from +10 to +13 C.

Zantedexia “loves” air with high humidity, approximately 70-80%, so you need to spray the leaves with soft water and place the pots on trays filled with moss or expanded clay. Tuberous callas should be wiped with a sponge soaked in water every day.

Fertilizer

Like almost any other plant, calla lilies need feeding. If flowers are planted in open ground, you need to apply mineral fertilizer in the amount of 30-40 g per 1 square meter. To care for Zantedexia at home, use balanced liquid substances, for example, Kemira-Lux. It is added to the soil with water during every fourth or fifth watering. Organic fertilizers are more often used for calla lilies growing in the garden.

Watering

During the flowering period, callas of any variety require regular watering; it is necessary to constantly maintain soil moisture. However, you need to ensure that the water in the pan does not stagnate and drain it as the container fills.

At the end of the growing season, it is better to reduce the number of waterings to 3 times a week. In some periods, the soil in which Zantedexia flowers grow may not be moistened at all. Even if the leaves dry out, with proper care the plant will recover over time.

Reproduction

As a rule, calla lilies reproduce vegetatively, for example, in Zantedeschia, the rhizome is divided into parts. This procedure is carried out at least once every four years. After dividing, parts of the tuber should be planted in separate containers. To reproduce colored ones, you need to separate the daughter tubers from the mother tubers.

The use of seeds is less preferable due to the low percentage of sprouts emerging. Ripe seeds should be soaked in a growth stimulant solution before planting and placed in a warm place on moistened material. When the first shoots appear, they are planted in the ground. To prevent the planting material from rotting, it is better to moisten the sprouts using a wick. After two months, the seedlings can be planted.

Kinds

The following species are grown at home:

Ethiopian calla (Calla aethiopica) is distinguished by its largest size. Its wide leaves are shaped like a heart, and its funnel-shaped white flowers are painted white. This is the most popular type on the indoor plant market. The most common varieties are Childsiana and Green Goddess.

Calla Elliott grows to about 50 cm. Large, wide leaves are variegated in color, and the flowers are yellow. The bedspread is quite long, reaching 15 cm in length. Often these plants are used to create compositions and bouquets. Elliot's calla lilies reproduce by tubers.

Calla Remani is a compact, rather small species, growing up to 70 cm in height). The flowers can be colored pink, deep purple, red or black, making them especially popular among houseplant aficionados.

Swamp calla (Calla palustris)
In accordance with the name, it grows in the swamps of Asia, North America and Europe.

Medicinal properties

The leaves and roots of plants of the Calla family contain a significant amount of ascorbic acid, as well as starch, flavonoids of organic origin, saponins, etc. Any parts of the plant are used in folk medicine, for example, the rhizome is used for the treatment of bleeding, shortness of breath and flu, as well as for snake bites . The roots are a good remedy for rheumatism, edema of varying degrees of intensity and origin, and dropsy. Leaves boiled in milk are helpful in the treatment of felon and problems with gastrointestinal motility.

The appearance of spider mites that live on the underside of leaves is promoted by dry air and high temperature. They are indicated by yellowish specks protruding on the leaf blades, and later by extensive dried and discolored areas. Control measures - treatment with Akarin, Molniya, Vertimek, Fitoverm, etc.

Calla lilies are also a traditional greenhouse crop. which makes it possible to cut inflorescences in winter.

The advantage of calla lilies is the plasticity of this plant. Depending on the characteristics of the calla lilies, the time of their planting and the dormant period, flowering can be obtained in different months.

Caring for potted calla lilies throughout the year

Natural places for wild calla lilies to grow are floodplains in regions with a warm and mild climate. In our latitudes, calla lilies bloom in the garden in July-August.

Calla is a “short day” culture. During the formation of a peduncle in calla lilies, it requires long-term lighting (at least 12 hours). And then the calla is provided with a shorter daylight hours (at least 8 hours, but no more than 10 hours).

To successfully cultivate this exotic plant, gardeners need to remember that calla lilies must have a pronounced dormant period.

In our Russian conditions, the dormant period for plants is winter.

At this time, I water and feed potted callas not as much or as often as in other seasons. I do this so that the leaves of the plant remain green and juicy without experiencing a lack of water.

In the remaining months of the year, calla lilies in a pot require a balanced combination of organic and mineral fertilizers.

Transfer

It is recommended to replant the feces every spring at the end of the dormant period. Choose a pot for calla lilies that is wide but not too deep, placing expanded clay or other stones at the bottom as drainage. The layer thickness must be at least 5 centimeters.

After transplantation, the temperature of the plant is gradually increased, and after a couple of weeks active watering and fertilization of the soil begin. If you carefully pinch out the young shoots of the plant and replace the top layer of soil, it can live for more than two years without replanting.

Watering

In the wild, kala grows in swampy areas, which is why it requires regular and abundant watering. If you want to grow kala in natural conditions, it is better to place it next to a pond or other constant source of water and moisture.

During the flowering period, water the feces every day, and during the plant's rest period it is enough to do this only once every 10 days. It is recommended to water calla lilies only with warm water and carefully along the edge of the pot.

Calla loves moist air (70-80%), so spray the plant generously about twice a day, thoroughly wipe the leaves and keep the pot in a tray with moist drainage - expanded clay or moss.

Colored callas need less moisture; they just need to gently wipe the green mass, excluding spraying, since water can flow to the roots, easily causing them to rot.

Lighting

Calla is a plant that constantly needs active sunlight, but it is also necessary to protect the plant from direct sunlight. In the absence of light for a long time, the feces may refuse to bloom, giving growth only to the stems of the plant. White callas need bright lighting even during the dormant period; colored callas with a lack of light can lose color and fade.

Temperature

White and colored callas do not like high temperatures. They provoke the development of pests on the green surface of the plant. During the ripening period, it is better to place the flower in a room with a slight difference in daytime temperatures in the range from 18 to 22 °C. After flowering, it is better to place the plant in a cool room (10-13°C) and give it a rest for 1.5 - 2 months to restore the green mass.

Reproduction

Cala propagates by separating newly emerged bulbs from an already mature plant. The bulb must be planted in well-drained, loose soil, deepened into a small hole (the depth should be at least 10 centimeters). If you plan to plant several bulbs at once, it is recommended to do this at a distance of 12 centimeters from each other to give the calla room for growth and development. The plant must be watered abundantly and placed in a warm but not hot room, excluding direct exposure to sunlight.

Calla is magnificent,

Calla photo

Calla - care at home

Callas can be called one of the most beautiful and sophisticated indoor plants. Callas come in different sizes and shades, so they are often used to create exquisite wedding bouquets. The unusual plant was brought to Europe from South Africa.

How to care for callas

Callas do not require careful care and constant attention. However, the plant will bloom profusely only if you create comfortable conditions for it to grow and develop. Remember to water your callas regularly and use flowering plant fertilizer if necessary. Do not expect that a plant native to South Africa will tolerate drought well. If the roots are constantly lacking moisture, this will affect the appearance of the callas. And it will take a lot of time to restore the health of the flower. Calla lilies grow best in places with high humidity. 24-hour access to moisture promotes not only the healthy growth of flowers, but also their reproduction. When growing such a plant at home, it is worth placing it in the kitchen, where there is high humidity all year round.

Overwatering causes major calla lily diseases, such as anthracnose, sulfur rot or root rot. Elimination of diseases is possible only as a result of antibacterial treatment and normalization of calla lilies conditions (temperature, humidity, lighting, etc.).

Useful substances for calla lilies

Please note that growing callas outdoors is much easier than in an apartment. The fact is that on the site the plant can receive nutrients from the soil at any time. As for growing a flower in a pot, fertilizers will definitely be needed. However, you should not overdo it with fertilizing - nutrients in excessive quantities can act as poison. Therefore, it is initially worth determining whether it is worth using fertilizers at the moment, and only after that start preparing a solution for irrigation. If you want to do without chemicals, you need to regularly change the soil in the pot, but you should do this no more than once a year.

Unfortunately, changing the soil every year is rarely enough to ensure abundant flowering of callas. The constant release of flower stalks can be ensured by timely feeding of the plant.

If the calla lily currently looks good (there are several flowers, and the leaves are evenly green along the entire length), then it does not need fertilizer. Excess bait will immediately affect the appearance of the flower - the leaves will begin to turn yellow and dry out at the edges. It is worth noting that the amount of fertilizer required by callas is inversely proportional to the amount of sunlight the flower receives. That is, if calla lilies are constantly exposed to direct sunlight, it may grow normally without various plant chemicals.

How to grow calla lilies?

The easiest way to grow calla lilies is through a bulb. You can buy bulbs of different types of calla lilies at any flower shop.

Before planting the bulb, you need to inspect it for damage or fungus. If any deficiencies are found, you should definitely disinfect the calla lilies, for example, with a solution of potassium permanganate. Once the bulb develops into a full-fledged flower, it will immediately begin to produce new bulbs. Their number will be limited only by the amount of free space in the pot.

Before planting the bulb, it is necessary to drain the soil to prevent the possibility of stagnation of moisture and rotting of the roots. Calla lilies need to be grown in a warm room, not exposed to frost. Otherwise, the plant may die.

Another way to grow calla lilies is through seeds. Gardeners claim that plants grown from seeds are much more beautiful than flowers formed from a bulb. However, this method of propagation is used much less frequently because it requires much more time. Initially, the seeds need to be germinated by wrapping them in a damp cloth. After a few days, sprouts should appear from the seeds, then you need to plant them in pots. And only after the young plants have grown stronger can each of them be planted in a separate pot.

Callas are the best flowers to decorate your home

Many housewives choose calla lilies to decorate their own homes due to the plant's abundant flowering. With proper care and timely feeding, a small calla bush can have about 14 flower stalks. Each of them will delight others with their beauty for a month and a half. Timely feeding of callas will ensure year-round flowering.

It is better to keep callas in a place protected from drafts. The period of most abundant watering is spring-summer. In September, it is worth reducing the amount of moisture consumed by the plant, and from spring, gradually accustom the plant to sunlight and bait.

Callas are perennial flowers that naturally occur in swamps and damp places. This name was given by Carl Linnaeus, he took the Latin word Calla from Pliny’s Natural History. In Russia, these plants were called whitewing (for its resemblance to a swan's wing), marsh grass, bean grass, and bread grass. And in the Urals, the flower received the name of the Mother of God, because it was used as a painkiller. Today they are grown at home and in the garden, used in bouquets, and many consider calla lilies to be a wedding flower. It is a beautiful flower with one white petal on a thick stem. Calla lily leaves are dark green, heart-shaped.

Calla lilies

1. Ethiopian calla lily. The color is most often white, height up to 1 meter. It has roots underground, and not tubers, like other species. Names of varieties of this species:

• Pearl;
• Green Goddess;
• Nikolai.

2. Calla Remanna is a low plant (up to 70 cm) of all shades of pink from light lilac to red-pink. In autumn it sheds its leaves and spends the entire winter in “hibernation”. Fields of pink calla lilies look very beautiful in summer.

• Bolero;
• Captain Rosette;
• Little Suzy.

3. Calla Eliotta - yellow inflorescences with large heart-shaped leaves up to 50 cm in height.

• Selina;
• Firelights;
• Black-eyed beauty.

These three varieties are the ancestors of the selection of calla lilies; it was from them that all the variety of shades that exist today were developed: from white to bright red and black.

Flower symbolism

Callas are a symbol of purity, tenderness and love. That is why it is often used in wedding bouquets. And, at the same time, calla lilies are considered a flower of rebirth, resurrection, so it is called a symbol of mourning. But this delicate flower itself does not carry a negative meaning; on the contrary, it is youth and beauty.

There are several legends about this flower. The plot of all of them is similar: a love story where two young people are not destined to be together, they suffer from this, and in the end the girl turns into a beautiful white flower - pure and immaculate. The calla flower is considered the patron saint of girls, a talisman against the evil eye, illness and troubles with personal life.

It is a good sign to give the newlyweds a bouquet of calla lilies for their wedding. This symbolizes a strong marriage and family happiness. This flower protects a couple from quarrels and disagreements. It is believed that even the image of calla lilies has protective properties. They protect the house from the evil eye, help in creativity and in the fight against stress.

This flower looks good in a bride's bouquet. You can make a bouquet with white tones or take plants of unusual colors: red, purple, yellow. The bouquet will be interesting if you combine black calla lilies with soft pink flowers, they will emphasize the velvety quality of the calla lilies.

Calla lily propagation

Depending on the type, these plants are propagated in several ways:

1. Tubers. They start selling at the end of February. You need to choose healthy, dense tubers, then they will bloom this same summer. After purchase, they should be stored in a cool, dry place.

1. Dividing the bush. The Ethiopian species does not form tubers; it has a developed root system. Therefore, to reproduce them in the fall, it is necessary to carefully break out the baby from the main rhizome. It is placed in a pot and stored in a humid room at a temperature of 12-15 degrees. By spring, the root will sprout and can be planted in the ground.
2. Seeds. This is the most exotic way to grow calla flowers, as it requires a lot of effort and time. They must first be soaked in a growth stimulator for 5-6 hours. After this, they must be wrapped in a wet cloth and placed in a warm place for 6-8 days, remembering to moisten the fabric. During this time, the seeds should germinate. Then they are sown in boxes and kept in a warm room until germination. Then you can plant calla flowers in open ground.

Advice: if you are not a fan of experiments and you do not have free time, buy tubers or ready-made calla flower seedlings from a garden nursery.

Growing in the garden: planting and care

If you purchased calla lily tubers, then in April they need to be planted in the ground. At a house temperature of 20-22 degrees, the tubers are planted with the tubercle up in pots, sprinkled with 2-3 cm of soil. There is no need to water, it is better to water after 5-7 days and then make sure that the soil does not dry out.

In early June, sprouted tubers are planted in beds to a depth of 10 cm. For low and medium varieties, the distance between plants is 20-35 cm, and for tall calla lilies - 50 cm.

If you propagated by dividing the root or by seeds, then plant your sprouts in open ground in early summer, when the threat of frost has already passed.

To admire calla lilies all summer, you need to give them enough:

• Sveta;
• Heat;
• Moisture;
• Fertile soil.

So this plant should be planted in a well-lit place. You need to feed every two weeks with fertilizer for corms. It must be remembered that nitrogen fertilizers enhance the growth of foliage, but potassium fertilizers promote the formation of flower stalks.

Calla lilies love moisture and need to be watered frequently, but in moderation. The soil should always be moist, but not turn into a swamp.

To stimulate the formation of flower stalks, you need to remove those flowers that have already faded.

An important point: callas do not tolerate Russian winters, so they need to be removed from the beds. Before frost hits, the above-ground part of the plants is removed, leaving 2-3 leaves, and the tubers are dug up. They need to be stored at a temperature of 5-7 degrees.

Growing at home: planting and care

To grow calla lilies at home, you need to prepare a well-lit place with a temperature of 22-25 degrees in summer and at least 14 degrees in winter. It is necessary to protect the calla flower well from drafts and shade it from the bright sun.

Each tuber needs a pot of about 2 liters.

You can pour ready-made soil into it and fertilize it with a special mixture for rooting bulbous plants. The tubers should be planted with the tubercle facing up, lightly sprinkled with soil on top. Thus, planting home calla lilies is no different from planting garden ones.

Homemade calla lilies, like flowers, can be fed in the future with fertilizer for corms.

You need to water the flowers with caution, not allowing the soil to dry out, but also not over-moistening it.

Calla is an amazing flower that blooms from mid-spring to mid-autumn. But only if there is at least 10 hours of daylight. You can illuminate the flowers with a fluorescent lamp and feed them with liquid fertilizers if natural conditions do not meet these requirements.

In winter, these plants are dormant and often shed their leaves. Therefore, flower growers on their windowsills replace callas with other flowers, for example, Decembrists.

Lovers who grow plants at home consider indoor callas to be the most beautiful indoor flower. It’s hard to disagree with them; a huge single-leaf flower with a bright spadix attracts attention, and the flower itself pleases for a whole month.

Calla lilies are native to southern Africa, but the modern range of this plant has spread far beyond the continent. Relatively recently, it was possible to find such a flower in our latitudes only in swampy areas, but thanks to the work of botanists, growing calla lilies at home is now quite an ordinary event. The domestic calla plant appears in people's homes, not only for its appearance. This flower is an accurate barometer; drops form on the leaves right before the rain. Let's take a closer look at how to care for your home calla lilies.

Thanks to the hard work of botanists in breeding this plant, today we have the opportunity to cultivate a large number of different types of domestic calla lilies.

Calla elliottiana- a profusely blooming flower variety, characterized by a special love for illuminated places and regular watering. The flower is painted in very contrasting colors: its outer part is yellow-green, and its inner part is bright yellow.

Ethiopian calla (Calla aethiopica)– this variety rightfully ranks first in popularity. Calla lilies flowers are white with a yellow core; the only leaf of the flower is folded into a funnel and widens towards the top. The dense leaves of this species can be up to 45 centimeters in length, and the stem grows up to 1 meter.

Rehmann (Calla rehmannii)– a miniature variety (up to 50 cm in height), distinguished by its bright flower color from pink to deep red. Red calla lilies served as the starting point for developing varieties with variegated colors.

Amethyst– the choice of sophisticated people. Delicate shades of inflorescences intertwine with the aromas of sea air, creating an atmosphere of comfort and luxury. This variety of flower has become an integral part of royal women.

These are not all types of indoor calla lilies; thanks to selection, new varieties appear on the market every year. New indoor calla lilies are distinguished by increasingly variegated and sophisticated colors.

Features of caring for home calla lilies

Plants of this culture differ in many ways from other indoor inhabitants; this puts a certain imprint on the care of calla lilies. Caring for calla lilies at home is not difficult, but you need to pay attention to all the requirements.

Watering

The basis for the full growth of a plant is watering. The nature of this plant implies the presence of a large amount of water in the soil, as well as high humidity. Lack of regular watering will lead to stunted growth. The white indoor calla lily, which is native to swampy areas, loves water the most.

Homemade calla flower, water when the top layer of soil dries 1 centimeter for white callas and when the top layer dries 2-3 centimeters for colored varieties. Colored callas also like regular watering, but to a lesser extent than white ones. The remaining water in both cases is drained after 15 minutes. Water for irrigation should be at room temperature. Flower growth occurs best at high humidity, about 80%. The leaves of the flower are sprayed twice a day or wiped twice with a damp cloth. It is also worth putting moss or expanded clay on the tray.

After flowering ends, the frequency of watering will be significantly reduced, and after a couple of months, watering should be stopped altogether. You cannot immediately put your flower into a dormant state; you must give it time for the root to reach the desired state. The dormant period of a flower is up to three months, but this value can shift depending on the conditions of the plant.

Lighting

Growing calla lilies at home should be done by providing the plant with sufficient lighting. Indoor callas love light, especially in winter. In poor or incorrect lighting, the plant may not bloom, only stems may grow, colored varieties may lose their bright color. Indirect sunlight and direct morning and afternoon sun are best. Direct sunlight from the summer sun can harm the flower.

Temperature

Regardless of the type, homemade calla lilies in a pot require maintaining the temperature within normal limits, as well as the absence of sudden changes. During the growing season, white varieties require maintaining a temperature of +18...+ 20 degrees, colored varieties +20...+ 24. After flowering, the tubers stop watering and are kept at a temperature of 25 to 27 degrees for about 30 days, then the temperature is slowly reduced to 10 - 12 degrees. The finished tubers are placed for the winter, covered with sawdust.

Note. A slight difference in temperature between day and night has a positive effect on the growth of tubers and leaves of the plant.

The soil

The soil for calla lilies needs to be acidified, approximately pH 6-6; it is very useful to add peat and sawdust to it. The following mixture is best suited for planting calla lilies:

• turf land (2 parts);
• leaf soil (1 part);
• peat (1 part);
• sand (1 part).

Often, properly selected soil is not enough for the full growth and development of a flower. Therefore, in summer, care at home involves planting a flower in open soil. An alternative to this method would be every two weeks. Before flowering begins, you should not overdo it with nitrogenous mixtures; when flower stalks appear, urea is added, and with the beginning of flowering, eggshells are added.

Transplantation and propagation

Proper planting of calla lilies is the key to success. Tubers are sold from January to April; when purchasing them, you should pay attention to their elasticity; the skin should be light. Before planting, the tubers are dipped for half an hour in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. This procedure helps protect the tuber at an early stage from diseases and identify damaged areas. If, after dipping into potassium permanganate, defects appear, they can be carefully removed with a knife and then treated with brilliant green.

Growing calla lilies at home will go without a hitch if you choose a wide pot, because this indoor plant loves the space provided to the root system. Planting and replanting occurs as follows: first, a hole is made, up to 5 cm deep, then a tuber is placed in it no deeper than 10 cm. Watering during this period should be treated carefully to prevent the bulb from rotting.

Experienced gardeners know how to grow calla lilies from seeds at home. To do this, the seeds are germinated on a paper towel and, after signs of growth appear, planted in pots, no more than 2 seeds per pot. You should choose the usual soil for seedlings, watering through the bottom of the pot; if the top layer of soil has dried out more than necessary, you can lightly irrigate it with water from a sprayer. The appearance of shoots is a signal to replant the callas, but before placing them in a new pot, the existing roots should be thoroughly washed. The further life of calla lilies in pots follows the rules and subtleties described above.

Note. After planting, indoor calla lilies may not appear from the pot until they have formed a root system, so do not be discouraged if indoor flowers have not appeared within a month.

You can propagate your home calla flower using seeds yourself, moreover, this process can bring unexpected results. This is due to the fact that you will have to pollinate the flower yourself and it is almost impossible to predict the final result.

A more stable method of propagation is to divide the tuber; for this, tuber shoots are separated during transplantation. Considering the fact that the indoor flower is such a sissy and requires replanting after flowering, you do not need to guess and wait for the moment when it is necessary to get the plant and separate the tubers.

Diseases of home calla lilies and care during this period

Even with proper care, callas are susceptible to various diseases.

1. 1. If your indoor calla lily has been attacked by aphids, it is often enough to wipe the leaves with a solution of soapy water. In case of a strong attack, you can use Actellik or Bison.
   2. Gray rot, which affects all parts of the plant, is fungal in nature, so the flower must be treated with various fungicides (Vitarox, Rovral).

On a note. If your calla lily does not bloom at home, then most likely you made a mistake at the replanting stage. For example, you placed a tuber that was too large in a pot or did not maintain the temperature conditions.

1. Another popular problem is the difficulty with why calla lily leaves turn yellow. This event may be preceded by both calla disease and lack of soil nutrition, poor watering or excessive amounts of direct sunlight.
2. If previous diseases of calla lilies had a certain treatment, then bacterial rot, alas, cannot be treated with anything and such a flower must be disposed of.
3. Calla lilies affected by anthracnose have damaged brown leaves that need to be removed and the plant treated with fungicides.

Knowing how to care for calla lilies at home, you can enrich any windowsill with a beautiful blooming flowerbed of delicate flowers.

Every year, after a period of rest In summer 18-22, during the rest period 10-15 During the period of active growth and flowering - daily, during the dormant period - once every 10 days During the flowering period - 2 times a day Diffused lighting, partial shade A dormant period is required for flowering

Lighting

Calla is a light-loving plant, but the lighting for its growth and flowering must be diffused. Does not tolerate direct sunlight.

The flower can be grown in partial shade, it can even tolerate shade, but such lighting negatively affects its flowering.

Poor lighting may be the reason why calla lilies do not bloom or bloom very sparingly.

On hot summer days it is especially important to protect the flower from the scorching rays of the sun. To do this, the pot can be moved to a floor stand and/or covered with a translucent curtain.

Callas need good lighting all year round. She prefers long daylight hours, so in the fall and winter it is recommended to supplement the plant with artificial fluorescent or phytolamps.

Temperature

This is a plant with a pronounced dormant period, which lasts 2 months a year and begins after the end of flowering. From the beginning of the growing season, a stable temperature with small average daily differences is needed.

It is best to keep the flower in a room at a temperature of 18-22ºС. This plant does not like heat; at temperatures above 27ºС, its leaves begin to dry out, despite the air being humidified. Cold is also detrimental to it, although Ethiopian calla can tolerate a short-term drop in temperature of up to 5ºC.

During the dormant period, the temperature of the plant should be within 10-15ºC.

Watering

This is a marsh plant for which abundant watering is vital. When growing it in pots, the lump of earth in and flowering should never dry out. You need to water daily, but it is better from below through a tray. When watering from above, care must be taken so that water does not fall on top of the tuber or at the growing point.

During the dormant period, water approximately once every 10 days.. The soil should be slightly moist at this time. To water the plant, only warm, settled, soft water is used.

Due to insufficient soil moisture, calla lilies stop growing.

15 minutes after watering, all the water that has flowed into the pan is drained. This will prevent rotting of the root system.

After flowering, the frequency of watering for all species is reduced to once every 7-10 days. After 1-2 months, colored callas must stop watering until the end of the dormant period (end of February).

Spraying

To maintain the air humidity necessary for the plant, it must be sprayed frequently. In summer, in hot weather, you can spray twice a day - early in the morning and after sunset.

Calla responds well to moistening the leaves with a wet sponge or cloth. During the dormant period, the plant is not sprayed, since it lives mainly off the tuber and is not affected by air humidity.

The soil for callas needs to be very fertile and acidified. They will not grow in alkaline soil.

Peat must be present in the substrate for calla lilies.

The best soil mixture for growing them is the following: turf soil, peat, humus and coarse sand in a ratio of 1:1:2:1.

For white varieties, you can use a purchased substrate for flowering aroid plants. Another option is to prepare the soil mixture yourself by mixing one part each of humus, sand and leaf soil, adding ¼ part clay and 2 parts turf soil.

For all types of calla lilies, add 1 tbsp per 3 liters of substrate. spoon of superphosphate.

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Fertilizer

Plants are fertilized during growth and flowering. The plant responds very well to feeding with superphosphate twice a month. You can also use complex fertilizers for flowering plants. During the dormant period, you should not feed the flower.

Calla lilies especially need feeding when there is insufficient lighting.

Before flowering, you should not overuse fertilizers with nitrogen. so that the intensive growth of green foliage does not drown out the formation of buds. After the flower stalks appear, calla lilies can be fertilized with urea. During flowering, organic feeding with an infusion of eggshells is recommended.

It is useful to alternate root feeding with leaf spraying. It is important to ensure that drops do not fall on the flowers.

Humidity

The marsh calla plant prefers high humidity in the range of 70-80%. It is not easy to achieve such a microclimate in an apartment. To increase humidity, the plant is sprayed at least 2 times a day..

It is also useful to place the flower pot in a deep tray with wet sand or expanded clay. The substrate should always be moist, but not wet, and there should be no water in the pan.

Peculiarities

For long and abundant flowering, calla should rest for 2 months a year. The rest of the time is spent growing and flowering. The dormant period for plants occurs at different times, especially when kept in an apartment.

To organize a dormant period for the plant, it needs to be watered less often after flowering, and then almost stop watering. The leaves of the plant turn yellow and dry out, and it goes into a dormant state. Some gardeners do not stop watering and fertilizing after flowering has ended. This way it is possible to achieve a second flowering in the season, but after this a period of rest is already necessary for the plant.

Typically, calla lilies have dormant periods in July and August or January and February.

Their dry leaves are cut off and the pot is removed to a cooler and darker place. After the rest is over, they are transplanted to new land. Now it is important to properly awaken the plant so that it begins to grow intensively and blooms soon.

Experienced gardeners recommend waiting until the plant wakes up on its own., and immediately after transplanting, pour it well with water acidified with lemon juice. For 0.5 liters of warm water you need a few drops of lemon juice. As a rule, new leaves appear within 1-2 weeks.

Trimming / Support / Garter

During the growth and flowering of the plant, you can sometimes remove yellowed and drying leaves. At the beginning of the dormant period, when all the leaves of the plant have dried, they should be.

As such, pruning is not applied to calla lilies. Only dried leaves are cut off. The procedure is carried out during the dormant period, when the plant does not bloom.

In most cases, the plant does not need support or garter.. However, if the calla lily has reached an impressive size or has become very elongated, you can carefully tie it to a support. This will prevent the pot from tipping over and injuring the flower.

Diseases

Callas are susceptible to some infectious and fungal diseases. Of these, the most common are gray rot, root rot, wet rot and anthracnose.

With gray rot, a dirty gray coating appears on the affected areas of the plant. All parts of the plant are sick. This disease can only be combated by using special antifungal drugs (Vitaros).

The development of root rot is promoted by stagnant water in the soil and poor drainage.. The tubers of the plant rot, and the above-ground part withers. The plant should be transplanted into another soil, drainage should be improved, and treated with fungicidal preparations.

Wet rot affects rhizomes, peduncles, and leaf bases, which darken and become soft. Treatment for this disease has not been developed; diseased plants are destroyed.

Insecticidal preparations are used against pests

Anthracnose is manifested by the appearance of brown round spots on the leaves of the plant, which enlarge and lead to the death of the leaf. The above-ground part must be treated with a fungicidal preparation, and its diseased parts removed.

Calla lilies are affected by aphids and red spider mites. These pests are destroyed by insecticidal preparations.

Problems

Sometimes it takes a long time for a plant to bloom. There may be several reasons for this. The most common is the absence of a rest period. It should be remembered that before flowering begins, the plant must rest for at least 2 months.

Calla may not bloom due to lack of feeding. On the contrary, heavy fertilizing with nitrogen fertilizers leads to blackening of the edges of the leaf blades.

Another common reason for the lack of flowers is low lighting. A plant that begins to bloom may stop blooming if the air humidity is very low.

But even with high humidity, if the air temperature is above 27ºC, the leaves and flower stalks of the plant may begin to dry out and wither.

Reproduction

calla lilies are babies that form on the tuber of the plant. They are separated during transplantation. To grow young plants, you need a shallow container with good drainage.

The soil mixture is poured into the container and young tubers are planted in it.. The distance between them should be at least 10 cm. The cuttings should not be planted deep in the ground; their upper third should be on the surface. Young plants are watered abundantly, and the temperature is maintained within 20-14ºС.

Growing calla lilies from seeds at home is a very troublesome task, but it helps to preserve and improve varietal characteristics.

Before sowing, the seeds are soaked for 5-6 hours in potassium humate, a growth stimulant. Then they are laid out in a container with a damp towel, covered with it and placed in a warm place for a week.

It is important to ensure that the seeds do not dry out during this time.. After germination, the seeds are sown in moist soil and placed in a warm place. Watering is carried out regularly. Grown seedlings are transplanted into individual pots.

Transfer

Calla lilies to new land after the end of the dormant period. This may be in early spring or early autumn.

The plant tuber is removed from the pot, the soil is removed along with the old roots.. If children have formed on it, they can be separated and planted in separate pots. Then the tuber is planted in the same pot in a new earthen mixture.

It is necessary to pour a drainage layer of fine expanded clay. The plant tuber is buried approximately 2/3 into the soil so that all growth points remain on the surface. After transplantation, water the plant rarely - once a week until new shoots appear. After this, abundant watering is resumed.

Calla - flower of death

Sometimes you can hear that calla is. Where did this statement come from?

One reason is that in European countries there is a custom of bringing white flowers to funerals. And often these are calla lilies. This plant can also sometimes be found on the graves of the deceased. However, other white flowers are also brought to funerals, such as lilies, roses, carnations or chrysanthemums.

Some argue that calla lilies do not look like real flowers, but rather like wax figures. Their yellow cob resembles a candle, and their white bract resembles a funeral shroud. However, such statements are purely subjective opinions, not supported by substantiated facts.

Today, almost no one remembers that calla lilies are the flower of death.. This myth has not been confirmed. Nowadays they give kalydas for various holidays and are used to create bouquets, including bridal bouquets! These are universal flowers that can be given to both women and men.

Calla is a very beautiful, graceful flower that exudes a subtle, pleasant aroma. It helps improve immunity, eliminate stress and depression. Gives vigor and improves mood!

Description of the plant and species

Calla is a beautifully flowering representative of the Araceae family, whose homeland is considered to be South Africa. The plant delights with its austere, amazing beauty and many colors.

The calla lily houseplant has bare stems with large leaves shaped like a heart or an arrowhead. Tall peduncles at the top turn into a single-petal flower, which consists of a spadix and a funnel-shaped bract.

Many varieties of calla lilies of various colors have been bred, including even black. Popular types:

Video

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Now you know everything about growing calla lilies in a pot and caring for the flower at home.