Calla Lilies

Calla Lilies
2342 South 40th Street
(402) 483-7891
7000 South 56th Street
(402) 423-1133
www.campbellsnursery.com
Calla lilies are elegant flowers available in colors ranging from white to cream, yellow, and pink. They are
often associated with weddings. Fortunately, calla lilies are easy to grow in the home garden either in containers or in the soil.
Planting:
If you plant calla lilies in containers, use a loose, well-drained potting mix. DO NOT use topsoil since topsoil may cause root rot diseases. Put several handfuls of potting mix in the bottom of the pot and spread the
lily roots out over it. Add more potting mix until the top of the rhizome is covered with one inch of potting
mix. Press firmly on the mix to steady the rhizome. Water lightly until the leaves are about four inches tall
then keep the soil moist for the remainder of the summer. Potted calla lilies prefer to grow in full sun. Feed
calla lilies on a regular basis with bulb fertilizer that is low in nitrogen. Excess nitrogen will turn the flowers green.
If you grow calla lilies in your garden, choose an area with full sun that is protected from harsh winds.
Calla lilies require a well-drained soil with a lot of organic matter. Prepare the bed by covering with 4-5
inches of peat moss or compost on the soil. Bone meal or bulb fertilizer can be added to encourage rooting.
Spade this in to a depth of 12 inches. Plant the rhizomes so the top of the rhizome is one inch below the
soil surface. Firm the soil around the rhizome and water lightly. When new leaves are four inch high, increase the watering and keep the soil relatively moist through the rest of the summer.
Over-Wintering:
If you want to keep your calla lilies for next year, be sure to keep them very moist through the summer, and
fertilize them regularly to encourage vigorous, healthy growth. In September, let the soil should dry out
and remove the rhizomes from the containers or the garden soil. Let the rhizomes dry in the sun for 3-4
days. Do not let them to freeze. Dust the rhizomes with a fungicide and store them in sawdust or peat moss
in a root cellar or other place that stays about 50oF. They can be started again indoors in late winter, or
planted outdoors after danger of frost has passed.