Wednesday, February 8, 2012

How can I save my calla lilly?

My husband gave me a potted calla lilly which I keep as a house plant. It flowered once and has not produced anymore flowers. I have it in a ceramic pot about 8 inches wide and also repotted it in potting soil months ago. Recently, it had been on a rapid wilt...I have given it "flower food" sticks, but I am afaid it is on it's last leaf. I'm afraid that my recent watering efforts have made it worse. It gets morning sun on my kitchen table. If I loose this last leaf, it is goodbye for my lilly? Can I save it? Am I giving it too much water?

How can I save my calla lilly?
I don't think that there is anything wrong with your plant. There are a number of different callas (officially called Zantedeschia.) They all grow from rhizomes, like bearded irises do - similar to bulbs, but more like a thickened root. Anyway, most of the callas, especially the ones that are likely to be sold as pot plants, die back in the fall and will come back in the spring. I suspect that your plant is at that place in its normal life cycle. Decrease the watering and let the leaves die back naturally. Then just store the root in a cool dark place until spring (like you would a dahlia or canna in a cold climate) and replant it in fresh soil next spring. It should come back just fine.
Reply:If you want to keep it as a houseplant, same deal: it will go dormant until spring, then replant it in a pot with fresh soil. Report It
Reply:I was successful with calla lillies and the ones I had were in sandy soil. I had them outisde for over 20 years and did not overwater. They liked it dry for the most part. Also, you may want to try terre cotta as it breathes and is more natural. They are a beautiful plant.
Reply:water
Reply:Ask any garden center...like earlmay, or go to a plant nursery and see what they say. I've had lilly's b4 and they are very sensitive...too much water can kill it. You only need to water them when the soil is nolonger moist... and only give fertilizer as often as the instructions on the fertilizer package says. you might have to re-pot it in different soil, house plants usually have to have a special soil. I have seen house plant potting soil in the stores. But like i said, if you're not exactly sure, take it to a plant nursery or any garden center and see what they say.
Reply:Mine always die off and come back.

I grow outside ( california) and just give them a general fertilizer.

They only get sun a few hours a day.
Reply:probably overwatered it. it should dry out a little between waterings. sounds like "wet wilt" to me. Sometimes it is best to chalk it up to a learning experience.


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