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To grow calla lilies in the garden, you need to provide them with the right balance of sun, moisture, and well-draining soil.
These elegant flowers are surprisingly easy to grow once you understand their basic needs.
Whether you’re planting them in garden beds or containers, the process for how to grow calla lilies in the garden is straightforward for beginners and seasoned gardeners alike.
In this post, we’ll walk through the essential steps, from choosing the best planting spot to caring for them through the seasons.
Let’s dig in and get your garden blooming with these stunning trumpet-shaped flowers.
How To Grow Calla Lilies In The Garden: The Core Principles
To grow calla lilies in the garden successfully, you need to mimic their native South African habitat, which means warm temperatures, bright light, and consistent moisture.
These plants aren’t true lilies, but they behave similarly in terms of their growing cycles.
Understanding these core principles is the first step to mastering how to grow calla lilies in the garden.
1. Choose The Right Planting Time
The best time to plant calla lily rhizomes is in the spring after the last frost has passed.
They are tender perennials, meaning they won’t survive freezing temperatures.
If you’re wondering how to grow calla lilies in the garden in cooler climates, you can start them indoors about four to six weeks before the last expected frost date.
This gives them a head start, so they bloom earlier once you transplant them outdoors.
2. Pick The Perfect Location
To grow calla lilies in the garden with abundant blooms, choose a spot that gets full morning sun but some afternoon shade in hot regions.
In cooler climates, they can handle more direct sunlight throughout the day.
The key here is to avoid intense, scorching midday heat which can stress the foliage.
A location near a pond or a low-lying area of your garden is often ideal because these plants love moisture.
3. Prepare The Soil Properly
One of the most common mistakes is planting calla lilies in heavy, waterlogged soil.
To grow calla lilies in the garden effectively, you need rich, loamy soil that drains well yet retains some moisture.
Amend your garden beds with plenty of compost or aged manure before planting to improve the soil structure.
This organic matter provides the nutrients they need and helps maintain the even moisture they crave.
4. Plant At The Right Depth And Spacing
When you’re ready to plant, dig holes about four inches deep.
Place each rhizome with the pointed side facing up, and cover it with soil.
Space your calla lilies about one to two feet apart, depending on the variety.
This spacing ensures good airflow, which helps prevent fungal diseases while also giving them room to spread and multiply.
Best Practices For Growing Calla Lilies In Garden Beds
Once your rhizomes are in the ground, your ongoing care routine is what truly determines how well they perform.
Let’s look at the best practices to grow calla lilies in the garden for a spectacular summer show.
1. Water Consistently And Deeply
Calla lilies are thirsty plants, especially during their active growth and flowering periods.
They prefer consistently moist soil, which means you’ll need to water them regularly, perhaps once or twice a week depending on rainfall.
A deep watering is far more effective than a light sprinkle because it encourages deep root growth.
Be careful not to let the soil become waterlogged, as this can rot the rhizomes.
2. Fertilize For Abundant Blooms
To grow calla lilies in the garden that are full of flowers, you need to feed them regularly.
Use a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer, like a 10-10-10 formula, every four to six weeks during the growing season.
Once the flower buds begin to form, you can switch to a fertilizer higher in phosphorus to encourage even bigger and more colorful blooms.
Stop fertilizing once the foliage starts to die back in autumn.
3. Mulch To Retain Moisture
Applying a two-inch layer of organic mulch around your calla lilies is a game-changer.
Mulch helps the soil retain moisture, which is crucial for these moisture-loving plants.
It also keeps the soil cooler in the summer and suppresses pesky weeds that compete for nutrients.
Use shredded bark, straw, or leaf mold, and keep the mulch a couple of inches away from the stems to prevent rot.
4. Deadhead Spent Blooms
Regular deadheading is a great way to encourage your plants to produce more flowers.
As the blooms fade, cut the flowering stem back to the base of the plant.
This prevents the plant from putting energy into seed production and redirects it toward creating new blooms.
It keeps your garden looking clean and extends the blooming period significantly.
Overwintering And Dividing Calla Lilies
Depending on where you live, caring for calla lilies over the winter varies significantly.
It’s essential to understand whether you can leave them in the ground or if you need to lift them.
1. In Warm Climates (Zones 8-10)
In these warmer regions, you can grow calla lilies in the garden as true perennials, leaving them in the ground year-round.
Cut back the foliage after it dies back in the fall, and they will naturally go dormant.
Mulch heavily over the winter to protect them from any unexpected cold snaps.
They will spring back to life once soil temperatures warm up again.
2. In Cooler Climates (Zones 7 And Below)
If your area experiences hard freezes, you’ll need to dig up the rhizomes in the fall to survive the winter.
Wait until the first frost kills the foliage, then carefully dig them up.
Let them dry in a warm, airy place for a few days, then brush off the excess soil.
Store them in a box with peat moss or sawdust in a cool, dark, and dry spot, maintaining a temperature around 50-55°F (10-13°C).
3. Divide For More Plants
To grow calla lilies in the garden with more vigor and abundance, divide the rhizomes every two to three years.
Do this in the spring when you’re planting new ones, or in the fall when you’re storing them.
Look for small offshoots or “pups” attached to the main rhizome.
Gently separate them, ensuring each piece has at least one “eye” or growth point.
This not only gives you more plants for free but also prevents overcrowding, which can reduce blooming.
Common Challenges When Growing Calla Lilies In The Garden
Even with great care, you might encounter a few issues when you grow calla lilies in the garden.
Problem-solving is part of the fun of gardening.
1. Pests Like Aphids And Spider Mites
These tiny insects love to feast on the tender new growth of calla lilies.
You might notice distorted leaves or a sticky residue (honeydew) on the plant.
You can combat them with a strong spray of water from your hose or by applying insecticidal soap.
Encouraging beneficial insects like ladybugs in your garden is a great natural control method.
2. Root Rot From Excessive Moisture
The biggest enemy of calla lilies is sitting in soggy soil.
If your soil doesn’t drain well, the rhizomes can quickly develop rot.
Symptoms include yellowing, wilting foliage, and a foul smell from the soil.
The solution is to ensure your planting site has excellent drainage from the start, considering raised beds if necessary.
3. Lack Of Blooms
If your calla lilies are growing plenty of leaves but no flowers, it’s usually a sign of too much nitrogen.
Switch to a fertilizer low in nitrogen and high in phosphorus to promote blooming instead of foliage growth.
Also, ensure they are getting enough sunlight; insufficient light is another common reason for poor flowering.
So, How Do You Grow Calla Lilies In The Garden?
To grow calla lilies in the garden, you need to provide them with rich, moist soil, a sunny to partly shaded location, and consistent care throughout the growing season.
You start by planting the rhizomes in spring at the correct depth, then you ensure they get regular water and balanced fertilizer to encourage those beautiful blooms.
Finally, you protect them from cold winters by either mulching heavily or lifting the rhizomes for storage.
With these steps, you’re well on your way to enjoying a stunning display of these elegant, sophisticated flowers in your own outdoor space.
Happy gardening.