Calla Lily Care after Blooming + How to make Calla Lilies Bloom

Most home gardeners have embraced planting calla for their abundance of colorful blooms and the well-designed tropical-like leaves. The bright shades of red, orange, yellow, and white boost any home’s beauty and ambiance. But what if the seasons come and go without any sign of the long-awaited blooms? That can be very frustrating and more, especially if you are clueless about salvaging the situation.

Whether grown as perennial, where it is permanently in the ground or as an annual dug up and replanted every season, many aspects can decrease calla blossoms’ stamina.

If you are facing the no flowers on your calla lilies situation, all hope is not lost.  Read on, this article is for you.

Do Calla Lilies Bloom More Than Once?

If you have once experienced a single bloom season of the calla lilies, then you know you don’t want to miss more of them. The good news is that the calla, while grown as perennials in hardiness zones 9-12, are sure to produce more than one bloom for you.

Regardless if you have grown them as annuals, don’t give up after a single bloom. The cold locations or winter seasons are not favorable for the survival of calla lilies, hence hindering blooming. However, don’t uproot and dump them when the blooms are done; instead, learn how to care for them during this period to have them longer.

Their classic bloom time is in the summer and fall seasons for 3-8 weeks. Many plants take long for the blossoms to appear, but with calla lilies, they flower within eight weeks of planting. How awesome is that?

But for perfect blossoms, even during this period, adequate temperature, the right amount of light and water has to be present. The longer the calla survives the more elegant blooms you are going to experience.

How to Care For Calla Lilies after Blooming

After the blooming season is gone, allow the calla to ‘die,’ that is, let them have their dormant period. How is that possible, you may ask? Well, quite simple, stop watering the plant. Do not prolong its life; hence, the foliage to wilt and the plant will give the impression to be dead. Store it in a cool, dark, and dry place for 1-2 months.

Subsequently, when the coast is clear, place it back in the light and water it again. Gradually, the foliage will start to spring back up hence the blossoms reappearing.

Since the calla lilies are not winter resistant, preserving and replanting them when summer kicks in will be a great idea. You can either take the plant inside or when it is hit by frost and starts to decline and not to bloom; cut it down to the ground level. Dig up the bulbs and remove the debris without washing them as water may cause them to rot.

Cure them in a warm, dry area for a couple of days and then store them in a box with moist peat moss for the winter in 50F (10 C) temperature conditions. This process of curing makes the outer skin of the rhizomes to toughen and survive the winter. https://youtu.be/rnD_r2bgyvY

How to Make Calla Lilies Bloom

The only solution to a problem is first to identify the root cause. Afterward, fixing will apply smoothly and hence different and better results at the end. Let’s look at the reasons for making your calla not to bloom and how to change that.

1)    Sunlight Deficiency

Without adequate sunlight, no plant will thrive; therefore, Calla lilies like the maximum sun. If grown under shades or in areas with less or no sunlight access, their growth will be stunted. The foliage will discolor and weaken; hence no bloom will appear.

How to fix that: Check if your calla lilies’ sunlight condition is the reason making them not to bloom. If that’s the case, transplant them to a spot where the sun is sufficient and easily accessible.

2)    Water Problem

While lack is a problem, too much of something also tend to be poisonous. In areas where the calla lilies are not receiving enough water, they may not produce any flowers. Conversely, if planted in areas where water is extreme and the plant may also wilt and even discolor to yellow foliage.

How to fix that: Water is essential in the successful growth of the calla lilies. Make sure your calla receives adequate water, don’t under or over water the plant if grown where rain is not frequent, schedule regular watering sessions to stunt its growth. When grown in a pot and you happen to overwater it, drain out excess water or use the right type of soil that absorbs water correctly.

3)    Maximum Nitrogen Levels

How can you tell that your calla lily is suffering from extreme nitrogen levels? Well, for starters, you will begin to notice brown patches on the leaves. Also, the plant will increase and lush than usual. Excess nitrogen makes the foliage to grow more hence stunting the growth of the flowers.

How to fix that: Change your fertilizer to a better ratio of components such as higher phosphorus than nitrogen. This will make your calla lily to blossom.

4)    Soil Conditions

The type of soil is a significant determinant of how your plant performs. What qualifies a particular kind of soil as ideal for growth? The nutrient levels, water retention, and draining abilities make soil great for any development. Calla Lilies thrive best in organically rich, wet, and well-drained soils.

How to fix that: First have your soil tested before growing the calla lilies or any other plant. You should have the pH values tested in the ground to ascertain which nutrients they may be missing. Regularly maintain a 6 to 6.5 pH level. In areas with extreme sun, you should mulch around the plant to hinder the high evaporation of water from the soil into the air. Also, you always improve the condition of your soil by adding compost.

After applying the above remedies correctly as per the problem you have identified, don’t be in a rush to expect immediate blooms. Give it about a month for the new changes to start showing, and be sure to see your calla lilies blooming. Indeed, patience pays!

When Should You Deadhead Calla Lilies?

Deadheading is an essential practice in flowering plants. For most plants, when the flowers die, the petals wilt and fall off. However, the calla lilies take exception in this. When the calla lily flower dies, it turns green on the outside and rolls up into a tube-like shape. The dead flowers are what is termed as spent flowers. This means that they have no more purpose and beauty.

Deadheading or removing spent flowers is vital in many ways. For starters, it improves the appearance of the plant in general. There’s nothing attractive in watching dead flowers hanging off a plant.

Secondly, pruning the spent flowers retains more energy on the plant, making it focus on producing fresh blooms next season. The more the spent flowers continue to hang on, the less likely it is for the plant to bloom afresh.  

Deadhead after every bloom. Always remember that dead weight is never beneficial at any point and should be cut off. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=he_8qcCRZ8A

What Do You Do With Calla Lilies After They Bloom?

‘It’s not over until the fat lady sings,’ they say, and in this case, it’s not over for calla lilies even after they bloom. When they are done blooming, it doesn’t mean they are of no more use and should be replaced with other flowering plants. As a perennial, this plant can be grown for the longest time possible and still serve you with all its benefits. In fact, with the right’ tender, love and care,’ calla lilies are here to stay.

What are the tips for sustaining a healthy owner vs. calla lily relationship?

• Allow the calla lily to enter its dormant stage after blooming by not watering it anymore.
• Cut all the foliage to the ground level once it dries completely.
• Dig up the rhizome and rub off any remaining debris.
• Place the bulbs in either a paper bag or wrap it with a newspaper. Store them in a well-ventilated, cold, and dry area with at least 50 F of temperature.
• When you are sure of no more frost and spring season starts, replant the rhizomes in warm ground.

Parting Shot

The calla lily is an irresistible flower that is remarkably easy to grow and requires very little care. They are most suitable for warm climates. Conversely, you can still grow them in cold areas if you bring them indoors during the winter season. The paramount conditions for calla lilies are sunny spots with moist and well-draining soil. If you take great care of your calla lily, a reward of beautiful blooms in the summer awaits you. The beautiful flowers come from a wide array of striking colors that will enhance any garden’s visual charm.

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Why is My Calla Lily Drooping? and how to Stop the Leaves and flowers from wilting