Calla is a flower that came to us from Africa. He will not leave anyone indifferent. These flowers look somewhat unusual and have a certain mystery. Despite the fact that the plant is quite difficult to care for, many gardeners grow it at home.

Description and varieties

Calla is a perennial flower of the Araceae family, growing naturally in Africa and South America. Plant is a close relative of the calliper- the only representative of its genus growing in the Northern Hemisphere. Many people confuse calla lilies and calla flowers, calling them the same. In fact, calla lily and calla lily are different plants, although they look very similar.

Calla includes nine species of perennial plants, which in natural conditions can reach quite large sizes. Only three of them are grown at home:

• Ethiopian;
• Elliot;
• Remani.

Flowers Ethiopian varieties have long dark green leaves, stretched upward, and large white flowers. This variety is one of the largest calla lily flowers. The Ethiopian variety also has several subspecies: Green Goddess, Childsiana.

Calla Elliott- also a rather large plant, with heart-shaped speckled leaves and a yellow-orange flower cover. Flowers often reach a height of 15 centimeters.

Calla Remani- the most popular species suitable for growing at home. The flowers of this variety are smaller and multi-colored. The most common flowers are pink, but they also come in purple, black, and red colors. For example, black calla lilies are rare and highly prized.

Gallery: calla flower (25 photos)

Features of planting

Calla lilies are also loved by many gardeners because they can be grown both at home and in open ground, for example, in the garden.

Before planting at home, you need to buy a calla bulb or divide the root from an existing one. This must be done carefully, breaking off the daughter tubers from the mother one. If the rhizome is difficult to separate, you need to break it off. It is not recommended to cut the root with a knife.

Many people are fascinated by calla lilies at first sight. Glossy green waxy leaves, long tubular stem, delicate flower with a slight curve. The calla flower is a visual illustration of natural quilling. The blanket gracefully wraps around the peduncle, forming a piquant curve.

It comes not only in a variety of sizes, from dwarf mini bushes to large and lush ones, reaching a height of one and a half meters, but also with a huge variety of colors and shades. Severe black, intriguing burgundy, noble lilac, flirty pink, juicy mango - all this is far from a complete palette of colors.

Despite its exoticism, calla elliot, or as they are also called calla lily, are quite unpretentious, easily adapt to new living conditions, but have a number of features in care:

1. Moisture-loving. Watery soil is the natural habitat of the wild species.
2. They do not tolerate direct sunlight.
3. They need constant feeding.
4. Prefer acidic soils.

Where and how to grow callas, in a garden or a flowerpot, is up to you. The types and varieties of calla lilies are amazing in their diversity. Colored and white, large and small - all this is a characteristic of an exotic beauty, which cannot be said about other southern plants. Let's figure out how to care for calla lilies at home. Planting a calla tuber in open ground is the same as for other bulbous plants.

If you do not have the opportunity to grow calligraphy in the fresh air, then by taking care of your indoor flower, you can enjoy abundant flowering several times a year at home. Let's look at the rules for caring for calla lilies at home.

Planting and caring for calla lilies

Proper care of calla lilies should begin with choosing a pot. Which pot is suitable for calla lilies? It should be spacious, about 50 centimeters deep, with a radius of 20-25 cm. With good care, the flower grows quickly.

Soil selection

The correct selection of land for planting calla lilies is of great importance. You can make soil for calla lilies yourself from garden and swamp soil. It should consist of a mix of turf soil, humus, sand, peat and clay.

Growing and caring for the garden

How to plant zantedeschia? Growing calla lilies and caring for them in the garden is similar to indoor care. Choose shaded areas for planting.

Growing garden callas on the site is notable for the fact that you can create flower arrangements in the flowerbed. White zantedeschia goes well with yellow gerberas and purple hydrangeas.

How to grow varietal callas? The tuber must be without damage or rotting, have living buds, at least five centimeters in size. The time to plant tubers is the beginning of spring.

Planting calla lilies in open ground is not much different from planting other tuberous plants. Before planting, soak the tubers for half an hour in a weak solution of potassium permanganate; this will prevent your plant from possible diseases and help identify defects in the bulb. If there are traces of dry rot on the tuber, remove them with a knife and treat the cut with brilliant green. Plant to a depth of 6-7 centimeters, bud up, water the soil with fungicides. Growing calla lilies in pots requires an air temperature of at least 18 degrees, this will ensure rapid germination of the tuber.

Planting and care in open ground

Planting of prepared calla tubers (preparing a tuber for planting in the ground is the same as for indoor cultivation) is carried out in early May. The tubers are planted to a depth of 7-10 centimeters, at a distance of 25-30 cm from each other; after planting, water the soil generously. The first shoots appear 2-3 weeks after planting. During this time, you don’t have to water the soil; the moisture added to the soil during planting is sufficient.

Planting calla lilies and caring for them is impossible without the main components:

• Lighting. Zantedeschia naturally grows in marshy, shady areas with well-fertilized soil. In the garden, choose darkened areas for planting; if we are talking about an indoor flower, then the north-west windows will be the ideal place.
• Moisture. Plants require good soil moisture and frequent spraying.
• Feeding. Regular application of fertilizers. Zantedeschia loves well-fertilized soil. Apply fertilizers every 2-3 weeks, this will provide you with beautiful and abundant flowering, no worse than in the flowerbeds of Dutch flower growers.
• Warm. Do not forget that the “African woman” loves warmth, so the air temperature should be at least 14 degrees, and the daylight hours should be at least 10 hours.

To grow beautiful calla lilies at home, you don’t have to be a professional gardener; despite its exotic nature, this flower is not too demanding to care for. Caring for rhizomatous callas is not difficult.

How to grow beautiful callas in a pot? Remember, calla rehmann loves spacious pots; as soon as the calla leaves turn yellow, this is a sign for an imminent replanting. The rhizome of calla lilies grows quickly.

Houseplants calla lilies bloom, like orchids, several times a year in the fall and spring. The intensive flowering period for garden calla lilies planted in a pot can last from November to May, provided that you have selected the right fertilizers for calla lilies. Feeding the calla plant should be done every 5-6 waterings. If the soil in the flowerpot is not acidic enough, you can slightly acidify it by watering the flower with a weak solution of vinegar or water with lemon juice.

Should you grow large callas as indoor plants or outdoors? Calla is an amazing home flower! It is a symbol of happiness, symbolizes calm and sophistication. It is believed that it is chosen by original and sophisticated people.

Callas grown in a pot during the warm period will feel great in open ground. Plant callas, like other plants, in prepared soil. Often, after planting in the open air, zantedeschias begin to turn green and grow profusely. In autumn, calla lilies need to be dug up before the onset of cold weather.

Calla lily fertilizer

Remember, you need to apply fertilizers in a balanced manner; alternate mineral fertilizers with organic ones. As an organic fertilizer, peelings of vegetables and fruits, tea leaves, and mullein diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10 can be used. Calla lilies will produce good and strong shoots if calcium is added to the soil. To do this, simply fill the eggshells with warm water and leave for several days, the fertilizer is ready for use.

During the vegetative period of leaf growth, fertilizers with a predominance of nitrogen are best suited. When you realize that the bush is well formed and overgrown with large green leaves and is strong enough to force flower stalks, begin to apply fertilizers with potassium and phosphorus in its composition.

Watering

How to water calla lilies correctly? This is a question many novice flower growers ask. The answer is simple - abundantly, but in moderation. The soil should be moistened as it dries. This exotic flower loves high humidity and well-moistened soil. A tray with water is perfect for these purposes, in which we place the flower pot. As the soil dries, it will absorb the amount of liquid it needs, and the evaporating water from the pan will provide sufficient air humidity.

Calla lily propagation

How should calla lilies be propagated? Zantedeschia indoors reproduces in the same way as garden ones, by seeds and children, the only exception being Ethiopian and varieties bred from this species - it is propagated by dividing the calla rhizome. During the hottest summer period, the leaves of the plant begin to turn yellow and wither. At this time, a period of rest begins, watering should be stopped. The foliage has turned yellow - we begin collecting bulbs and rhizomes. Dig up the rhizomes and place them in a cool, dark place along with clods of earth. After 7-10 days, the leaves need to be cut off. Plant the root in new fertile soil, starting with moderate watering and gradually increasing its intensity.

It rarely reproduces by seeds - this is a long process and not always effective. It is better to germinate calla seeds in the spring. The collected seeds from calla lilies should be placed in a growth-stimulating solution for several hours, the seeds should be placed on gauze soaked in water, and the other end should be covered on top. Seed germination takes a week; it is important to ensure that the gauze does not dry out. After a week, small shoots should appear that need to be placed in the ground. Place the pot with seeds on a well-lit windowsill and cover with glass on top to create a greenhouse effect. It is not recommended to plant the plant in open ground after the first shoots appear.

The most common method of propagation is by tubers. Tubers are dug up in the fall and stored in a dark and well-ventilated place; the optimal storage temperature is considered to be 5-7 degrees. Adult faded tubers produce young shoots, from which a new young flower subsequently grows.

How can you store calla lilies if you purchased the tubers at an earlier period? You can preserve tubers by ensuring proper storage. You need to choose a well-ventilated, cool, dark place. You can store ripe onions in the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator, wrapped in a paper towel. The nodules need to be periodically ventilated and turned over, this will prevent them from possible damage. Calla lilies should be planted in open ground no earlier than May.

How to replant calla lilies

Transplantation should occur without damaging the plant. To prevent possible damage to the root system and leaves, water the flower in the pot generously and leave for 5-10 minutes to soak the soil. After this time, the plant will easily come out of the pot along with the earthen lump. For replanting, choose a pot 3-4 liters larger in volume. Place the bush with a lump of earth in a flowerpot with a drainage layer, fill the voids with substrate.

Types of calla diseases

If not properly cared for, zantedeschias can be affected by fungal diseases. One of the common ones is gray rot. This is a fungal disease that can occur as a result of improper care of your “green pet” and lead to the death of the plant.

The leaves lost their attractiveness and began to fade sharply, the same process occurs with flower stalks - we can talk about root rot. When dug up, the affected bulb has a thin brownish putrefactive coating. The cause, most often, is waterlogging of the soil and the active use of nitrogen-containing fertilizers. With this disease, the substrate is also affected, its further use is strictly prohibited.

To eliminate diseases, you need to get rid of the affected parts of the plant and treat them with special fungicides. The soil in a pot or in a garden plot must be replaced; if complete replacement is not possible, the soil must be treated with a solution of potassium permanganate or antifungal agents.

Pests often do not disdain potted plants. Leaves and flower bedspreads curl and begin to turn yellow - this is a sure sign of aphids. Both tuberous varieties and varieties with rhizomes are susceptible to aphids. Leaves affected by the disease should be treated with a soap solution - this may cause the aphids to retreat. If the leaves are strongly curled and sticky pest secretions are visible on the calla, then this is a serious lesion - you need to use special chemicals to combat aphids.

Calla lily flowers, photos of which you can find on the Internet, are fascinating. The variety of flowers of this amazing plant, brought to us from South Africa, the homeland of calla lilies, is amazing. There are several types of this plant: snow-white with large flowers and dense rhizomes, reaching a height of up to one and a half meters, and another type, striking in its variety of shades, from pale pink to black. The rhizome of this species is a tuber. Caring for calla lilies does not require a botanist education, it’s simple.

Varieties and types

• Picasso. About half a meter in height, the bowl of the bedspread is of a deep purple color with a gradé effect, the color saturation smoothly changes and becomes white at the very edge.
• Black magic (Black Magic) blooms in summer; large yellow blankets with a black center are good in the morning, when the stems and flowers create golden tints. Yellow calla does not mean separation, but speaks of the approach of happiness.
• Red alert (Red Alert and Red Sox) are decorative varieties. Transplanting red calla lilies into a garden plot is a real pleasure.
• Captain Rosette and Samur are the true embodiment of sophistication. The pink flower looks very delicate. Pink varietal callas are a symbol of peace and grace - this is how these varieties can be described.
• Paco (Paco) colored low-growing varieties of lilac color. These outdoor flowers also grow well in pots. In autumn, calla blooms even when the leaves on the bushes are already dry.
• Purple Sensation (Purple Sensation) plant height 40-50 cm. The bright purple color will be saturated, subject to regular feeding.
• Capitan romance (Captain Romance) colored bedspreads grow from 50-60 cm. Light cream color is intertwined with crimson. Romance seeds are sold from mid-autumn to spring.
• Eyed Beauty. Descriptions of the flower cannot convey the beauty of this species. 35-40 cm high, champagne-colored blanket, speckled calla leaves, deep blue spot inside the bowl. It seems that the flower is made of foamiran.
• Florex gold (Florex Gold). Golden with large covers. In winter, the leaves fall off - this is a sign that the calla bulb is ready for winter.
• Garnet Glow (Garnet Glow) bright fuchsia color makes the plant simply the queen of the site.
• Ascary (Ascari) is dark red with a delicate champagne-colored border.
• Chameleon is a soft cream flower with coral veins.
• Crystal Blush is a pale pink color that fades to white. Looks great at weddings.
• Cristal Beauty and Mint Julep. Crystal in your flowerbed! Blooms snow-white.
• Flame (flame) coral-yellow bedspreads up to 10 cm in size.
• Sunshine and Mango. Where, if not on safari, can you see such shades of yellow and coral? Medium-length varieties will bloom from July to October.
• Schwarzwalder (Schwarzwalder) and Captain Prado (Prado) are truly male flowers of dark purple color. With them, any bouquet looks solemn.

If you have not yet decided on the choice of species, then videos and photos of these flowers will help you.

Today, mysticism and esotericism are so closely intertwined with everyday life that it is difficult to imagine our life without horoscopes and dream books, and our home without amulets and talismans. Why does calla bloom in a dream? Dream books prophesy positive changes in a woman’s life.

Esotericists claim that each plant has a certain set of magical qualities and is capable of bringing health, luck, protection from evil spirits into our lives, or vice versa - bringing disaster. Zantedeschia (another name) is considered a flower that brings good luck in women's affairs. The flower is especially powerful during the flowering period. The white flowers of the Albomaculata variety look like delicate bridesmaid dresses. Surrounded by an intangible aura of calm and tenderness, they have a beneficial effect on the feminine energy in the apartment; only good omens are associated with them. And in the language of flowers, the meaning of calligraphy is admiration.

Calla flower, photos of which can often be seen on the pages of magazines covering interior design and architecture, are not accidental. Masters of the science of Feng Shui, which studies the harmonious arrangement of a house and objects in it, claim that it is better to place zantedeschia in the bedroom in the area where sharp corners and lines intersect. Thus, the flower will smooth out the influence of negative energy, which in turn will improve sleep and bring peace and tranquility to your home.

It is not at all difficult to grow a beautiful and well-groomed flower that will please the eye, the main thing is to follow all the recommendations for care and cultivation.

The calla flower belongs to the Araceae family. The plant, which grows in damp places in South America and Africa, has captivated us with its beautiful large white and colored blankets on its inflorescences. Freshly cut flowers are often used in wedding bouquets, as they vaguely resemble brides' outfits. In this article we will talk about what it means to care for callas at home and in the garden, how wintering is organized and the plant reproduces.

The calla inflorescence is shrouded in a beautiful blanket.

The plant has light green heart-shaped leaves. Varieties with colored flowers (Richardia) can reach a height of 50 cm, and white ones (Zantedeschia) - even 1 meter or more. The plant is grown at home and in open ground. Callas are tuberous and rhizomatous. Wintering conditions differ slightly depending on the species.

The most common types are:

• The Ethiopian calla lily is a large plant with mostly white flowers. It reaches a height of 1 m. This species is rhizomatous. All the rest are tuberous.
• Calla Rehmann is a plant with pink-red inflorescences and a height of up to 50 cm. This species is taken as the basis for growing purple and lilac callas.
• Calla Eliotta blooms profusely with golden yellow flowers and spotted leaves. The size of the bedspread reaches 15 cm. Light-loving variety.

There are other types - joyful calla, fragrant, powerful, amethyst, but they can not be found so often.

Growing at home

The calla plant loves bright light and regular watering, and for flowering it needs a dormant period. The calla lily flower is very similar to calla lilies, but it is a wetland plant.

Lighting and temperature

Callas need bright lighting. If there is not enough light, the plant actively grows stems and the cuttings stretch out. It is better if the light is diffused. The flower must be protected from drafts.

Calla lilies do not like excessive heat. In summer they are kept at a temperature of 22-25°C, in winter it is lowered to 12-14 degrees. White callas during the growing season need a temperature of 18-20 °C. To form leaves and tubers, plants need a difference in day and night temperatures.

Soil and replanting

Callas need acidic soil. The optimal composition includes 2 parts turf soil, 1 part leaf soil, 1 part peat soil and 1 part sandy soil. A ready-made substrate is suitable for flowering crops. When first planting purchased tubers, they need to be kept in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for several hours.

Calla lilies are transplanted every year after the end of the dormant period. The pots are shallow, about 15 cm in diameter. The tubers are planted with the convex side down, not deeply buried. To accurately calculate the required depth, the tuber diameter is multiplied by 3. And the optimal diameter of a tuber suitable for planting is at least 6 cm.

A drainage layer of 5 cm must be placed at the bottom of the pot. After transplanting the tuber, the temperature in the room is gradually increased. When the calla lilies actively begin to grow (after 2-3 weeks), you can actively water and fertilize.

Watering

A barely planted but not sprouted tuber is watered carefully so that it does not rot. The sprouted plant needs to be watered regularly as the top layer of soil dries out. The soil in the pot needs to be loosened periodically. Once a month, you can add a few drops of lemon juice or vinegar to the water for irrigation to acidify the soil.

Top dressing

Callas are fertilized regularly during the growing season. Liquid fertilizer (for example, Kemira) is applied every fifth watering. During the period of active development, it is necessary to apply more potassium phosphate fertilizers and less nitrogen fertilizers, since they stimulate the growth of greenery.

For full flowering, callas need fertilizing.

After the appearance of flower stalks, callas are fed with urea, and during the flowering period - with an infusion of eggshells or potassium, 15-20 g of which is sprinkled under each bush. When applying fertilizers to the leaf, they are sprayed so as not to get on the cover of the flower.

Growing calla lilies in the garden

In open ground, the care requirements are practically no different. Calla lilies should be planted in a well-lit place with acidified soil. If the soil does not meet the requirements, it is dug up before planting, peat or deoxidizers are added, and complex fertilizer is applied at the rate of 30 g per square meter. m.

Callas are planted in May. Tubers are placed in holes to a depth of 5-10 cm, at a distance of 30 cm from each other. Water immediately, after which the next time it is done only after 2 weeks. Shoots appear within a month and are watered regularly, but moderately. The soil should always be slightly moist and not dry out. If complex fertilizers were added to the soil during planting, you don’t have to feed the calla lilies all year.

Callas in open ground.

Tubers, along with stems and leaves, are dug up in the fall, before the first frost. After a week, the above-ground part dries out and is easily separated from the tubers. If small ones have grown next to the mother tuber, it is better to leave them as is. Before winter storage, the tubers are soaked for half an hour in a solution of the “Maxim” preparation and dried.

Rest period

At the end of autumn, the leaves and stems of the plant begin to turn yellow and dry out. At this time, you need to reduce the frequency of watering. If calla lilies grow in a pot, you don’t have to dig up the tubers, but simply place them in a cool place for the winter. The container is kept at a temperature of 12-14 degrees for 3 months.

After soaking in a fungicide solution, tubers dug from open ground are dried and stored in a paper bag. In spring they are planted in fresh potting or garden soil. Rhizomatous calla lilies overwinter a little differently.

To ensure peace, reduce watering in March and place the pot in a cool place. The plant will shed some leaves, but this is normal. This way it is stored for 1.5-2 months, after which it returns to its usual living conditions and is watered abundantly.

Calla flowering

Callas bloom in spring and summer. The calla flower is inconspicuous, but the spadix is ​​covered with a large white or colored blanket. Each inflorescence lasts about 2 months. We need to monitor his condition. As soon as the blanket turns green, the flower must be cut off, preventing the seeds from ripening (unless you plan to grow calla lilies from them). This procedure stimulates the growth of the tuber and the splendor of flowering.

Calla may not bloom due to the lack of a dormant period.

If the calla lily does not bloom

Calla often does not bloom due to the lack of a dormant period. It is mandatory to give the plant 2-3 months of rest. Also, the lack of flowering can be caused by other reasons:

• Poor watering. During the growing season it needs to be more frequent.
• Inappropriate pot. When planted in a cramped container, the plant stops growing and blooming.
• Feeding with nitrogen fertilizers to promote leaf growth.
• Surface planting of a tuber. If the calla lilies are not planted deep enough, side shoots will actively grow, and flowering may not occur.

To stimulate flowering, it is necessary to give the calla a rest period and follow the rules of care, remove excess leaves, and plant the babies. For lush flowering, the plant needs space.

Difficulties in growing

Both garden and potted callas are susceptible to pests and diseases. Most often they are attacked by spider mites, aphids and whiteflies. Acaricides (Sunmite, Aktellik, Vermitek) and insecticides (Fitoverm, Aktara) are effective in combating them.

Calla lilies often have leaves that turn yellow. This may be due to both preparation for the rest period and errors in care. If it is not time for the plant to overwinter and the leaves turn yellow, it means that it is kept in too bright light, the air in the room is dry, and the watering is not adjusted correctly.

Due to errors in care, calla lilies may turn yellow and dry out.

Calla lilies diseases

Due to errors in care, plant diseases also occur.

• When affected by gray rot, a coating of characteristic color appears on any part of the calla lily. The disease spreads by wind, through contaminated water and soil, and through dense plantings. To combat it, fungicidal drugs are used.
• Root rot leads to massive leaf wilting and the plant droops. The appearance is promoted by increased humidity and temperature in the room, and abundant watering. You should stop watering the calla lilies for a while, if necessary, replace wet soil with fresh soil, and treat the flower with a fungicide solution (Fundazol, Rovral).
• Bacterial rot is accompanied by darkening of peduncles, roots, and the base of leaves. Areas become wet. The diseased plant must be destroyed, since the pathogen remains in the areas until they are completely decomposed.
• Anthracnose is a disease in which round brown spots appear on the leaves of calla lilies, gradually merging into one large one. Damaged parts of the plant are removed, and healthy tissues are treated with fungicides.

Reproduction

Calla can be propagated by seeds and by dividing the tuber and rhizome. The first method is more complicated, since calla lily seeds have poor germination. Dividing the tuber allows you to get a 100% result.

Germination of seeds

Before planting, ripened seeds are soaked in a root-stimulating solution. For its preparation, the preparations “Epin”, “Kornevin”, “Zircon” are used. The swollen seeds are left on damp gauze in a warm place and wait for germination.

Seeds are planted in the ground immediately after hatching. At this stage, there is a high risk of their rotting, so the container is placed on wick watering. With this method, several thin cords of material that conducts water well are inserted into the drainage holes, after which the container is filled with soil.

The container with the sprouts is placed above a container of water, but so that the bottom does not touch it. It turns out that some ends of the cords are in the soil, while the others are dipped in a container of water. The wick method automatically regulates soil moisture. Seedlings are planted in separate glasses 2 months after germination.

Tuber division

For white calla, the rhizome is divided into several parts so that at least one bud remains on each. The sections are dried in the fresh air, sprinkled with crushed coal and each part is planted in a new pot.

Calla lily tubers.

In tuberous calla lilies, daughter tubers are separated from the mother tuber. They are planted in the ground in early April, deepened by 2-3 cm. They are kept at a temperature of 22 degrees, providing enough space in the pot. The first watering is carried out after a week, and then constantly ensure that the earthen ball does not dry out. Sprouted tubers can be planted in open ground at the beginning of summer.

In flower shops or greenhouses you can purchase both adult flowering callas and tubers. The price for an adult plant varies depending on the variety. Callas 30 cm high cost about 1,200 rubles, 40 cm - 1,600 rubles. Tubers are cheaper, but they still need to be germinated and wait for the first flowering.

When choosing a plant, carefully examine the leaves and stems - they should have a uniform color corresponding to the variety, and be free of signs of disease or pest damage. If you buy tubers, choose dense ones, not flaccid ones - these can shoot arrow-shaped flower stalks already in the year of planting.

If you properly care for your calla lily and give it time to rest every year, the plant will certainly delight you with flowers.

). Other common names include arum, trumpet, pig and mini calla lilies. Homeland - South Africa; usually grown from a bulb or rhizome.

These are excellent houseplants, great for bedrooms, living rooms and various flower arrangements, symbolize grandeur and beauty, and when combined with different attributes and colors can convey a wealth of meaning.

What calla flowers look like

Regardless of the selection of calla lilies, the flowers have a characteristic appearance. Flowers on long petioles, basal leaves associated with a thick rhizome. The inflorescence is located on a leafless stem and consists of a spadix and a spathe. The spathe is a large, bright, funnel-shaped bract that surrounds a spadix covered with tiny flowers. The leaves are usually 6-14 cm long, 5-11 cm wide, and bright green. They are shaped like arrowheads and have white or silver flecks.

Calla flowers in the photo

Calla lily care

If you have started growing these flowers in your garden, then it is time to start taking care of them. It is a hardy plant with very few requirements, but there are some soil nutritional requirements that you should take into account. Just because these plants are considered weeds in their country of origin does not mean that calla lilies will automatically grow on your soil! However, if you give it a little time and put in the extra effort, the results will be obvious - a large number of beautiful and healthy flowers.

The main care for callas consists of timely watering, fertilizing and loosening the soil.

Watering while caring for calla flowers

Pay proper attention to watering during the daily care of calla flowers. The plant originally grew in tropical swamps; this means that it will always require a lot of moisture, and will not tolerate dry periods or neglect of watering from the gardener. Either water the plant regularly, especially on hot summer days, or plant it in an area where it can get plenty of water without wet soil. If you have a small pond in your garden, it would be great to plant it close to the pond. But remember one detail - the plant needs a lot of water absorption, and artificial ponds have no contact with the ground around it. If you simply follow these requirements, the flower will fill your garden, guaranteed.

Feeding when caring for callas

Growing calla lilies and caring for them also requires regular feeding. For people living in climates where the temperature never drops below freezing, it would be fun to have calla lilies in bloom all year round. This is doable, but takes a little more work and attention from the gardener. Although the plant should receive fertilizing once a year, this will not be enough for constant flowering, then it needs to be done more often. A regular feeding schedule twice a month or adding liquid fertilizer to the water or compost to the soil will definitely keep your flower blooming all year round without experiencing any stress. However, still keep an eye on your plant so as not to overfeed it. Signs of overfeeding include burnt leaf edges, indicating excess nitrogen. The less sunlight a flower receives, the more nutrients you need to give it in order for flowering to proceed favorably. Therefore, strive for the correct placement of the flower in your garden and control everything properly.

How to grow calla lilies in pots

When growing calla lilies in pots, the rules are slightly different. The plant still needs a lot of water, even more than the free-growing variety, since much of the water is lost in the pot, but now follow a different feeding system. He will need feeding if it turns out that the supply of nutrients in the pot has been exhausted, but it may also be the other way around - a layer of fertilizer may lie in the soil. It is also very important that callas are replanted in new soil every year, since otherwise there is a high risk that the plant will die. The soil will become depleted, new bulbs will begin to take up space, diseases in the soil and toxic levels of fertilizer will increase - side effects may appear.

Simply change the soil once a year and your calla lilies will be much happier and healthier.

Planting calla lilies with bulbs

Planting calla lilies with bulbs is the easiest way to quickly get a beautiful flowering plant. Calla lilies are one of the most beautiful flowers you can grow in your garden. This exotic plant with trumpet-shaped flowers and its light aromas create the impression that a piece of heaven is on earth.

They propagate quite easily using bulbs or rhizomes and are quite hardy to any weather conditions that might occur. Now you can briefly familiarize yourself with how calla lilies grow and how to plant them correctly.

What is an onion

The bulb, or rhizome, is where the plant grows from. Although the bulb is not exactly a root, it resembles a very large and thick root extension from which shoots will grow. Once the bulb has accumulated a sufficient supply of water and nutrients, it begins to sprout, which, over time, through the process of photosynthesis, will supply energy to the entire plant. Simply put, the bulb is what allows us to enjoy the beauty of these flowers.

You can purchase these bulbs, or rhizomes as they are correctly called, at local stores if you are satisfied with the type of plant.

Formation of new bulbs in calla lilies and reproduction

Like most other plants with bulbs, also known as rhizomes, they spread by increasing the number of bulbs. A bulb in a certain area may eventually spread throughout the entire area if this process is not stopped. In such cases, you need to dig up the excess bulbs and throw them away, replant them, or simply give them to relatives and friends. This must be done regularly, since the plant will divide constantly and this process itself will not stop.

Planting calla bulbs

Planting calla lilies using a bulb is very simple. They are quite hardy and will grow in almost any soil, although it must be well drained or the bulb will begin to rot. The planting site should almost always remain in the sun, but if the climate is very hot and very sunny, then the plant should be planted in light shade. The bulb should be planted horizontally with the sprouting ends up in a small hole about 10 cm deep. Of course, regarding depth, follow the instructions on the bulb package if the depth differs from our recommendations. If you want to plant more than one bulb, they should be spaced at least 12cm apart, this will give them enough space to really grow well. Water the flowerbed generously to encourage the bulb. Callas have difficulty withstanding even minor frosts - if you live in a temperate climate where the temperature drops below zero, then you can plant them in a pot in the same way as in the ground until the frost passes. Just remember that flowers should be replanted once a year.

Completion of the growing season

As long as the plant is kept in moist soil, it will continue to grow, bloom and eventually spread. If nothing is done to prevent it, it can end up taking over the entire flower bed, and although this would be beautiful, it is rarely what the garden owner wants. Like most other flowers that grow from a bulb, calla lily rhizomes produce new bulbs that look a little like potatoes. These new bulbs can be dug up at any time and either discarded or replanted. Therefore, a gardener, if desired, can make an entire garden from one bulb.

How to grow calla lilies from seeds

Although most people prefer to simply divide the bulbs to propagate the plant, seed propagation is a known method. Some stores have a wide variety of seeds in stock and will order them for you if they are out of stock.

But if you have an additional interest in certain species, contact friends and neighbors who grow calla lilies and ask to collect the seed pods as soon as they are ripe; try growing flowers from scratch. Usually calla lilies from seeds retain all the decorative properties of their parents.

Growing calla lilies seedlings

Before you think about planting calla lily seeds for cultivation, you need to germinate them. This is done simply: you need to place the seeds on a folded damp paper towel lying on a plate. After this, you need to cover the seeds with another part of a folded damp paper towel and place the whole thing in a dark and cool place. Make sure to keep the paper towel damp, but never wet, as this can cause the seeds to rot. After a couple of days, the seeds should show signs of growth, and those that don't seem to be growing can be discarded. With other seeds you can move on to the next step.

Pre-seeding

There are many reasons why you don't need to sow seeds to grow calla lilies directly in the garden among birds and mice. There are many dangers for small seeds out there, so it's best to sow them in a small pot so they can come up strong and healthy. There is special soil for seedlings, which is sold in the store, it works great. As a general rule, it's best to plant two seeds in each pot, just under the top layer of soil. The seeds will still be in danger of rotting at this stage, so it's best to feed the soil through the bottom of the pot, but if the surface of the soil gets too dry, just spray a little water on top.

As soon as the plant shows signs of further growth, it is time for the next sorting - the weak ones must be discarded, and the stronger seeds that have produced good shoots, prepare for the next step.

Replanting calla flowers

After a while, you can plant calla lilies for real, in large pots or in your backyard. The sprouts must get used to regular soil. Before transplanting, you need to thoroughly rinse the roots; you must do this extremely carefully so as not to introduce any new bacteria or diseases that accompany them in the new place of residence.

The flower is large enough to handle without watering, so give it plenty of water, but don't overdo it, and then just sit back and wait for it to bloom.

Reproduction of calla lilies by seeds - feel like a breeder

The most exciting thing about propagating calla lilies from seeds is that you can never be sure of what you will get. To get seeds, it is possible that you yourself will have to play bees, pollinating flowers. The thing about pollination and all other sexual reproduction is that the result will not have traits from both parents - the poop grown from seed will in fact rarely look like either of its parents. With luck, you might end up with a completely new species growing in your yard.

Kinds

Callas are conventionally divided according to the shade of the flower into the following varieties:

Flowers are most often given in the form of bouquets. Since the era of the Ancient World, great attention has been paid to the design and ceremony of giving these bouquets. The combination of calla lilies was not only a beautiful composition, but also a meaningful message, because each variety and color of the plant had its own meaning.

Floriography, which means "language of flowers", developed in the Middle Ages, when ladies were expected to secretly communicate with their lovers. Perhaps this topic is too broad and multifaceted, so it is advisable to limit ourselves to one flower.

The cruel and merciless leader decided to marry a girl from a neighboring tribe. Not accepting her refusal, he attacked the village, wanting to achieve his goal by force. Having captured the unfortunate woman, the leader began the wedding ceremony.

The bride in a beautiful white dress tried to throw herself into the fire, but the gods spared her and turned her into a wonderful flower. Since then, according to this legend, the calla flower protects girls and helps them to be strong and decisive in the fight for their happiness.

One day, the daughter of one of the gods fell in love with a young man of an Indian tribe. The divine parent made the girl invisible, but could not prevent the lovers from meeting.

The young man felt the presence of his girlfriend during meetings and once gave her a blanket made of beautiful flowers. The father took pity on the lovers' hearts and restored his daughter's appearance. Callas came from a blanket of flowers that fell to the ground.

Description of the plant

The name of the flower means “beautiful” in Greek. Simple and pure beauty - an elegant petal hugs a yellow pyramid or, if you prefer, a candle.

In combination with the subtle aroma of vanilla, this evokes a feeling of enthusiastic admiration, reaching the point of admiration. The purity of the lines and shape of the buds is amazing.

Calla lilies, or calligraphy in other words, is plant of the aroid family. Grows wild in the shade near marshy shores. Originally from Africa, it came to Europe, where it has been grown for two hundred years.

The Ethiopian variety, which grows up to one meter in height, produces white flowers. Other colors come from other species that grow up to half-meter plants.

These plants are unpretentious. By changing the water in the vase every day, you can prevent this flower from wilting for a long time. When planted in pots, these flowers require only moisture.

Plant varieties:

1. Whitewing.
2. Calla (Ethiopian).
3. Zantedeschia.
4. Richardia.

There are about 28 species in total.

Usage

Despite its apparent simplicity, this is a very complex plant. People attribute it with magical properties:

Bouquets, especially wedding ones, or for celebrating anniversaries, are very noble and refined. A bouquet of this plant as an offering to a beloved girl means a lot.

But here we must take into account the fact that some people associate calla lilies with death. Bouquets of these flowers are not uncommon at funerals. Although they are no more flowers of death than any other plants.

Rather, at mourning events they symbolize hope for rebirth in the higher heavenly realms amidst purity and peace.

Values

Calla lilies can help connect two hearts. How? A bouquet of elegant white flowers in your hand will definitely attract the gaze of other people, among whom may be your future chosen one or chosen one.

One of the roles of these plants is that they serve as talismans, protecting family happiness in the house. In the bride's bouquet they are symbols of a strong and happy marriage. They also personify femininity and the beauty of youth.

A bouquet made from callas alone or containing them in combination with other flowers is truly a royal gift. He emphasizes the beauty of a woman or the nobility of the hero of the day, to whom it is given on special occasions. For the petal of this plant looks like a royal robe wrapped around a golden crown in the middle of the inflorescence.

Plants growing in pots on the windowsill fill the room with an atmosphere of pleasant warmth and tranquility. No wonder they, among other things, are symbols of well-being. In the ancient past, it was generally believed that they would protect the family from quarrels.

Another meaning of these plants: according to popular belief, they will protect young girls from gossip and the evil eye. Often miraculous abilities were attributed not only to the flowers themselves, but also to their images. On walls, curtains, curtains, tabletops, vases, jugs, boxes.

These plants increase immunity, give snake venom antidote. At the same time, they serve as a supplier of raw materials, which are one of the main elements of various poisons!

One of the practical properties is weather prediction. In preparation for collecting moisture, the plant opens its luxurious petal to the maximum. Before hot, dry weather, the petal is curled tightly around the central candle.

Popular beliefs

Quite a large number of people consider calla lilies to be flowers of grief; they are often brought to funerals. In Great Britain, for example, it is not even customary to give them to living people.

But this is just one of the beliefs that you don’t have to adhere to, it’s just that white color is not only a symbol of innocence and purity, but also sign of mourning and sadness. And, although white is suitable for expressing grief, it does not attract it into the house.

By the way, some people adhere to the ban on giving white to elderly women, since such a gift, in their opinion, is a harbinger of death. But strictly speaking, calla lilies have nothing to do with it, since such a ban, in the form of a sign or belief, applies to absolutely any white flowers, be it roses, chrysanthemums or other varieties.

Another curious sign: these flowers can be given in pairs, because they are considered an exception to the rule that a bouquet for a gift to a living person must necessarily contain an odd number of flowers. The couple, presented as a bouquet, represents a symbol of family. Strong, united and happy.

So, basically the entire range of meanings of a flower is dual character. On the one hand, purity, youth, family happiness, admiration. On the other hand, there are mournful notes.

If someone is afraid, then, of course, they should not give or accept a bouquet of these flowers as a gift. But others should remember that calla lilies, even those used in mourning ceremonies, are by no means flowers of death. Moreover, other flowers can also accompany people on their final journey.

But no one rejects roses, chrysanthemums and lilies on this basis. Therefore, callas do not deserve oblivion and neglect. And they are very appropriate for special events (weddings, anniversaries, holiday events and official meetings). And these same flowers should serve a good gift to your loved one on a romantic date.