The calla lily is a native African plant that isn’t even described as a true lily. According to the University of Illinois, the Calla lilies aren’t even actual lilies.
These are herbaceous flowering plants that are unable to survive the winter when left out in the ground. The plants generally begin to grow from a rhizome that looks very much like a bulb.
It’s the same process as an iris flower, and during their lifetime, they are likely to reach a height of around 30 inches. The flowers are usually funnel shaped, and they are generally available in several colors.
The white ones have the most amount of fragrance, though you should know that the calla lilies are also available in colors such as red, yellow, and pink.
In general, calla lilies usually bloom in three to eight weeks after planting. Usually, these flowers are planted in the springtime, and they will begin to produce flowers in the midsummer.
In some cases, they might bloom in the early fall, so the period is usually around three to eight weeks.
However, you should know that there are several factors that influence their growth and flowering. The flowering period of the calla lily depends on the temperature, the amount of light that the plant receives, and the kind of calla lily that you are using.
These are perennial plants, as you already know, so they are likely to bloom in the late spring or during the early months of summer.
Typical Blooming Time
If you are growing the calla lily in a container, you should know that they are going to require proper care. Otherwise, your calla lily is unlikely to bloom at all.
If your calla lilies are not flowering, there are several important things that you need to do. First of all, it’s important to talk about calla lilies that are planted in the ground, and what they require, before moving to the ones planted in containers.
How to Make Planted Calla Lilies Bloom
Calla lilies generally prefer being planted in the ground, and they are going to bloom in the ground without too many issues.
However, if they fail to bloom in the ground, this is probably due to several reasons. Primarily, it could be due to an excessive amount of nitrogen, a lack of water, and a lack of proper sunlight.
If there is excessive amounts of nitrogen in the soil, it is going to cause rapid growth. The amount of leaves on your plant will also be considerably high, and you will also notice a brown layer on the edges of the leaves as well.
An excessive amount of nitrogen is going to encourage the growth of foliage, but will reduce the chances of your plant flowering.
To tackle this problem, one of the best things that you can do is to switch your fertilizer. Instead of using one that comes with a higher amount of nitrogen, you should use one that contains a greater amount of phosphorus.
This is going to cause the calla lilies to bloom in a much easier manner.
Secondly, if you have planted your calla lilies in an area that does not receive a lot of water, it might be a wise idea to take remedial steps. This is one of the main reasons why your calla lily might not bloom.
Lack of water is not just going to stunt the growth of your calla lily, but it causes yellowing around the leaves as well.
In certain situations, the plant is likely to wilt as well. If you are not providing enough water to the calla lily, you should consider transplanting it to another location.
You have to make sure that you plant it in an area where it receives more water, or make sure that you provide adequate water in the area where the plant is in the ground.
The calla lily also likes full sun. If the plant is in a location where it receives partial shade or if there is lots of shade, you can’t expect the lilies to bloom. If they are receiving relatively little light, their growth is going to be stunted.
If you think that the calla lilies are not blooming properly, you might want to take a look at the amount of sunlight that the plant is receiving. If they are not getting enough, transplanting them to a different location that receives more light is recommended.
How to Make Potted Calla Lilies Bloom
The same things that affect the calla lily in the ground also affect the plant in the container. But, you should know that there is another common reason for the calla lily to not bloom in the potted containers.
The answer to that is simple. They do not get a period of dormancy that they are afforded in the outdoors.
The plant needs a period of dormancy, which it gets during the winter months, and if it doesn’t get that, the plant is unable to grow properly.
How to Make the Plant Rebloom
Once your calla lily stops blooming, you have to make sure that you avoid giving it too much water. In fact, let the plant go completely dry. You will notice that the plant will look as if it has died, and the foliage will wilt and fall off.
Then, you need to place the calla lily in a cool and dark place for at least a couple of months. Any room will do in the house.
Once this period has elapsed, you can take the plant out and water it. The foliage will soon begin to grow again, and your calla lily is going to bloom right after.
This is basically the period of dormancy that you are “forcing” the plant to go through.
How to Extend the Bloom
There are several ways by which you can extend the bloom of the calla lily as well. For instance, when the plant is blooming, you need to make sure that it receives consistent moisture.
Do not let the soil dry completely at this time. Along with this, you also have to consider replenishing the soil with nutrients.
Feeding balanced liquid fertilizer to the plant is a great idea, and you should do that at least every couple of weeks until the flowers have completely wilted and died out.
During the fall season, you should also mulch the soil at least once a year. Using rotten garden compost or manure is a wise move as it doesn’t even cost any money.
More importantly, you have to deadhead the plant to extend the blooming period. Get rid of all the flower stems once the blooms have faded as this will free up the energy that the plant needs to rebloom.
You should know that flowers that have opened fully can also be harvested, but you should avoid cutting the tubers.
These are just some of the different ways by which you can extend the calla lily bloom for a slightly longer period of time. As long as you are careful and give the plant everything that it needs, you won’t have much to worry about.
Growing up with a mom who filled her home (inside and out) with all sorts of plants, Lisa got her start in gardening at a young age. Living now on her own with a home and yard full of plants (including an indoor greenhouse), she shares all the gardening tips she’s gained over the years.