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You can get a calla lily to rebloom by mimicking its natural seasonal cycle, which involves a period of dormancy followed by a gradual return to active growth.
Getting your calla lily to rebloom isn’t about luck, it’s about understanding the plant’s specific needs.
If you’ve been wondering how to get calla lily to rebloom after the first flush of flowers fades, the answer lies in tricking it into thinking it’s back in its native South African habitat.
The secret is that calla lilies need a clear “off” season to store energy before they can produce new blooms.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the exact steps to trigger calla lily reblooming, from dormancy to watering tricks, so you can enjoy those elegant flowers again and again.
Let’s dig in.
Why Your Calla Lily Isn’t Reblooming
The main reason a calla lily won’t rebloom is because it hasn’t experienced a proper rest period.
Calla lilies are rhizomatous perennials, meaning they store energy in thick underground stems.
If you keep the plant actively growing all year with consistent watering, it will focus on producing leaves instead of flowers.
To trigger calla lily reblooming, you must force the plant into dormancy for about 2 to 3 months.
1. The Necessity of Dormancy for Reblooming
Forcing your calla lily into dormancy is the single most important step.
As the leaves naturally yellow and die back in late summer or autumn, this signals the plant to enter its resting phase.
During this dormancy, the rhizome is storing all the carbohydrates and nutrients it will need for the next blooming cycle.
Without this rest, your calla lily simply won’t have the energy reserves needed to produce new flower stalks.
So, to encourage reblooming, you must allow the foliage to die back completely without removing it too early.
2. When to Stop Watering for Reblooming
The moment you notice the leaves starting to turn brown, cut back on watering gradually.
Stop watering your calla lily entirely once the foliage is fully withered.
This dry period is what actually triggers the rhizome to harden off and prepare for storage.
Many gardeners fail to get a calla lily to rebloom because they keep watering it through the winter, preventing the rest cycle from starting.
3. Storage Temperature for Future Blooms
After the leaves have completely died, it’s time to lift the rhizomes from the soil if you live in a cold climate.
Allow the rhizomes to dry for a few days in a shaded, dry spot.
Then, store them in a paper bag or a box filled with dry peat moss or sawdust.
Keep that storage container in a cool, dark place with a temperature around 50 to 60°F (10 to 15°C).
This cool, dry storage is exactly what your calla lily needs to reset its internal clock so it can rebloom.
Step-by-Step Guide to Force Calla Lily Reblooming
Once you understand the dormancy requirement, you can actively force your calla lily to rebloom on your schedule.
Here’s the exact method to get consistent results.
1. Cut Back the Faded Foliage
As you prepare for the next blooming season, cut the dead leaves down to about 1 to 2 inches above the soil line.
Do this only when the foliage has turned completely yellow or brown.
If you cut too early, you’ll interrupt the energy absorption process, which is essential for calla lily reblooming.
2. Lift and Clean the Rhizomes (If Applicable)
If you live in zones colder than USDA zone 8, you should dig up the rhizomes before the first frost.
Gently shake off the soil and rinse them to remove any lingering dirt.
Inspect the rhizomes for any soft spots or rot, and discard any damaged sections.
Clean, healthy rhizomes are far more likely to rebloom when you replant them the next spring.
3. Repot or Replant After Rest
After your calla lily has rested for 2 to 3 months, it’s time to wake it up.
About 8 to 10 weeks before you want flowers, place the rhizome in fresh, well-draining potting soil.
Position it with the “eyes” (the little bumps on top) facing upward, and cover it with about 2 inches of soil.
Water it thoroughly once, then place the pot in a warm, bright location.
This sudden change from cold and dry to warm and moist is the signal that triggers the calla lily to rebloom.
Essential Care Tips to Get Calla Lily to Rebloom Faster
Even after dormancy, your calla lily needs consistent care to actually push out those blooms.
Here are the critical factors for successful calla lily reblooming.
1. Provide Ample Bright, Indirect Light
Once new growth emerges, your plant is ready for light.
Place your calla lily in a spot with bright, indirect sunlight for at least 6 hours a day.
Direct, harsh afternoon sun can burn the leaves, but too little light will result in leggy growth and no flowers.
The more consistent the light, the better your chances of getting a calla lily to rebloom.
2. Watering Schedule That Encourages Blooms
After the initial watering at planting, water your calla lily regularly to keep the soil evenly moist, but never soggy.
As the flower stalks begin to emerge, you can increase the frequency slightly.
Reducing watering in the fall is what stops blooming, so increasing in the spring is what starts it.
This water cycle is a major part of how to get a calla lily to rebloom on time.
3. Feeding for Flower Production
Start feeding your calla lily with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer every two weeks.
Once you see the first flower buds, switch to a high-phosphorus fertilizer (like a 15-30-15 mix) to promote more blooms.
Phosphorus is the key nutrient that drives flower production in calla lilies.
Common Mistakes That Prevent Calla Lily Reblooming
Sometimes, you do everything right, but the reblooming still doesn’t happen.
Here are the most common pitfalls that sabotage your efforts.
1. Too Much Nitrogen in the Soil
Nitrogen promotes lush, green leaves at the expense of flowers.
If you use a high-nitrogen fertilizer, your calla lily will look gorgeous but will refuse to rebloom.
Always check the N-P-K ratio on your fertilizer and lean towards one with a higher middle number (phosphorus) once the plant is mature.
2. Not Letting Leaves Die Back Naturally
It’s tempting to tidy up yellowing leaves, but resist the urge.
The plant is actively pulling energy from those leaves down into the rhizome.
If you cut them off prematurely, you are literally removing the fuel needed for the next bloom.
3. Planting Rhizomes Too Deep
If you bury the rhizome too deeply, it may not have enough energy to push the flower stalk through the soil.
Always plant them at a depth of about 2 to 3 inches.
If planted deeper, the calla lily will focus all its energy on reaching the surface rather than producing a bloom.
So, How to Get Calla Lily to Rebloom Successfully?
You can get a calla lily to rebloom successfully by forcing a dormancy period, then reintroducing warmth, water, and light.
Absolutely, calla lily reblooming is possible when you respect the plant’s natural growth cycle.
Remember that these plants are not rebloomers in the same way as roses or geraniums.
They are seasonal bloomers that require a clear seasonal signal, which is dormancy.
If you provide the dry winter rest, the cool storage, and the spring warmth, you will get a calla lily to rebloom reliably every year.
Have you ever tried forcing your calla lily into dormancy before?
So give this method a try and enjoy those gorgeous blooms again.