The calla thrives not only as a houseplant, but also grows excellently in the garden. Care is important for development, but it is easier than expected.
Calla (Zantedeschia) originally comes from Africa and is also known as Zantedeschia. The elegant plant with the bulb-shaped flowers is suitable for summer planting outdoors in the garden, as a container plant and indoor plant. The colors of the calla flowers cover almost the entire color spectrum, from white to colorful to almost black. The flowers are bracts surrounding the actual inconspicuous and small flowers.
The plant not only sounds fascinating, it is. In addition, the Calla is particularly easy to care for. Provided you observe the most important basics.
4 care tips: This is how calla lilies develop splendidly
» Caution: All parts of the calla are poisonous and can cause skin irritation. Please wear gloves for all maintenance measures!
➔ Location and soil: Calla thrives best here
Calla plants need a sunny or at least light and wind-protected location. A loose, sandy and well-drained substrate is best suited as soil. If the soil is nutrient-rich, all the better. Nevertheless, you should work in some mature compost before planting in the garden or in the tub.
From March to April put the Calla in fresh soil, it may only move outdoors from May, when frost is no longer to be expected. Some varieties are hardy, but low temperatures damage young plants.
➔ Water & Fertilizer: The perfect care for your Calla
From the time of planting in spring until after flowering, calla lilies need a lot of water. The thick root rhizomes must never dry out during this time. Water abundantly with stagnant water or rainwater. Zantedeschien even tolerate wet feet in summer.
During the budding and flowering phase you can fertilize the plant once a week. A liquid fertilizer for flowering plants (such as this one here) provides the plant with all the important nutrients and promotes flowering. if imWhen the last flowers have faded in autumn, the calla lily begins to go dormant. Now stop fertilizing and reduce watering as well.
➔ How to get the calla lily through the winter
You can leave hardy varieties in the ground. However, it is important that you cover the plants well. The alternative, also suitable for all varieties that are not frost-resistant: dig up the whole plant in October and place it in a pot with normal soil. During the winter the calla lily stays indoors, in a light and cool place. Temperatures between 10 and 16 degrees are ideal. The plant only needs to be watered very rarely.
Potted plants can remain in the pot, but are also brought inside the house. An exception is the special hardy Zantede stalks, for example the Calla Crowsborough variety, which tolerates temperatures down to -20° C.
➔ Identifying and combating diseases and pests
Aphids and spider mites are among the most common pests affecting calla lilies. Fight the unwelcome little animals with soapy water or nettle manure.
Calla is generally resistant to diseases, but it can become infested with fungi. Then the leaves take care of themselves and the flower is only sparse. Use standard fungicides. Severely affected plants must be completely removed and disposed of with household waste. Proper ventilation helps prevent rot.