Can i plant calla lilies outside

Sasha Degnan is a freelance writer and educator specializing in gardening and horticulture. She has nearly 25 years of experience in the propagation and care of plants. By Sasha Degnan Updated July 26, Related Articles. Callas require about 1 inch of water weekly during the summer, or enough to keep the top 6 inches of soil moist. Water once or twice a week deeply so the moisture penetrates the root zone.

Calla lilies can become invasive in some areas. Remove flower stems after they bloom and before they set seeds to prevent self-seeding, and dig up the roots and divide them regularly so they don't spread to unwanted areas. Either pot up and start into growth indoors for earlier flowers, or plant outside after the frosts.

Plants raised indoors need to be gradually hardened off or acclimatised to the outdoors by standing out for increasing periods of time. If growing calla lillies in the ground, improve soil by adding plenty of well-rotted compost or a proprietary soil conditioner. Space plants cm apart. Regular watering is important to maintain the handsome lush growth of calla lilies. Ideally, keep compost moist but take care not to over-water either.

Once flowering shoots of calla lily appear, feed every three to four weeks with a liquid fertilizer high in potash, such as liquid tomato fertilizer. Regularly remove dead and faded flower stems and leaves.

Once flowering has finished, continue feeding and watering calla lily for several weeks, still taking care not to over-water, until the leaves start to die back.

Bring potted plants indoors before the frosts and leave in the pot whilst dormant. Calla lilies growing in the ground should be dug up and the rhizomes stored in trays of just-moist compost for the winter, in a cool frost-free place. In late winter, repot the roots into moist compost and place in a warm spot to start into growth. Aphids may be a problem, particularly on plants growing indoors. Calla lilies do tolerate wet soil like the area around garden ponds and streams.

These flowers suffer heat stress when temperatures go above 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Normally the callas enjoy full sun, but if your area is hot then plant in a location with afternoon shade.

Loosen the soil to the depth of 12 inches with a shovel. Break the dirt clumps up with the edge of the shovel. Add a 1-inch layer of compost and a 1-inch layer of sand. Mix this into the top 6 inches of soil. This improves the drainage and provides the calla lilies with a source of slow release nutrients.

Be the first to hear about product specials, timely lawn care and gardening tips to make your yard beautiful. In their native southern Africa, callas are evergreen perennials found along stream banks and moist areas. In the North, take your pick.