How To Look After Calla Lilies In Winter

You look after calla lilies in winter by moving them into dormancy, which is exactly what they need to rest and recharge for the next bloom season.
 
If you’ve been wondering how to look after calla lilies in winter, the answer depends a lot on your climate and whether you’re growing them in the ground or in pots.
 
Calla lilies in winter will not survive freezing temperatures outdoors, so knowing the right steps for your zone is the key to keeping them healthy.
 
In this post, we’ll cover why winter care matters, how to look after calla lilies in winter step by step, and what to do if you can’t dig them up.
 
Let’s dive into this winter care guide so your calla lilies come back strong next year.
 

Why You Need to Think About How to Look After Calla Lilies in Winter

Calla lilies in winter are not naturally cold-hardy, and that’s the most important thing to understand.
 
These beautiful plants come from warm South African regions, so they’ve never evolved to handle frost or freezing ground.
 
If you live in USDA zones 8 and warmer, you can often leave calla lilies in the ground year-round, but they still need a dryish rest period.
 
For everyone else, learning how to look after calla lilies in winter means storing the rhizomes indoors where they stay cool but not frozen.
 
Getting this right prevents rot, dehydration, and premature sprouting, all of which ruin your chances of summer flowers.
 

The Dormancy Trick for Calla Lilies in Winter

Calla lilies in winter actually want to go dormant, so don’t panic when the foliage starts yellowing and dying back.
 
That dieback is a natural signal that the plant is storing energy in its rhizome for the next growing season.
 
Your job is to let that process happen rather than trying to keep the leaves green.
 
Once the leaves have turned brown and crispy, you know it’s time to step in with proper winter care.
 
This dormancy is also why you should stop watering as much in late autumn, as wet soil during dormancy is a recipe for rot.
 

What Happens If You Ignore Winter Care

If you don’t figure out how to look after calla lilies in winter, you’ll likely find mushy, moldy rhizomes by spring.
 
Frost turns the water inside the rhizome cells to ice crystals, which burst the cell walls and kill the plant.
 
Even a light frost can damage the top growth, but a hard freeze will usually kill the entire rhizome.
 
That’s why you need a plan before the first frost date hits your area.
 
Taking a little time now saves you from buying new calla lilies every single year.
 

How to Look After Calla Lilies in Winter: Step-by-Step Guide

Now let’s get into the actual how to look after calla lilies in winter process, starting with lifting and moving your plants.
 
This guide works for both garden-grown calla lilies and potted ones, though pots have a couple of extra options.
 
Follow these steps carefully, and you’ll be rewarded with lush growth and elegant blooms next spring.
 

1. Cut Back the Foliage First

Before you do anything else, wait until the first frost has killed the leaves back naturally.
 
Then use clean, sharp scissors or pruners to cut the dead foliage down to about 2 inches above the soil.
 
Removing the old leaves helps prevent fungal diseases from developing during storage.
 
And don’t worry if the leaves look totally brown and sad, that’s exactly what they should look like now.
 
Leave the cut stems in place for a few days so the rhizome can heal over the cut areas.
 

2. Lift the Rhizomes Gently from the Soil

Use a garden fork or a spade to loosen the soil around each plant, staying about 6 inches away from the stems.
 
Gently pry the rhizomes up, being careful not to slice into them with your tool.
 
Calla lily rhizomes are actually quite shallow, so they’re easy to lift with just a little care.
 
Shake off the loose soil, but don’t wash them with water yet, as wet storage encourages rot.
 
If you’re lifting from a pot, just tip the whole rootball out and gently tease the rhizomes apart.
 

3. Cure the Rhizomes Before Storage

Curing is the step that many gardeners skip, but it’s vital when learning how to look after calla lilies in winter.
 
Lay the rhizomes out on a tray or newspaper in a warm, dry, well-ventilated spot for about 3 to 5 days.
 
A garage, shed, or covered porch works perfectly as long as it’s not freezing and stays dry.
 
This curing period lets the outer skin dry and any tiny nicks or cuts to callus over.
 
After curing, brush off the remaining dried soil with your hands or a soft brush.
 

4. Store Them in a Cool, Dark Place

Once cured, place your calla lily rhizomes in a box, paper bag, or breathable mesh bag.
 
You can also layer them in peat moss, perlite, or dry sawdust to help absorb any excess moisture.
 
Keep them in a cool dark place where the temperature stays between 45°F and 55°F (7°C to 13°C).
 
Good spots include an unheated basement, a garage that never freezes, or a cool closet.
 
Check on your calla lilies in winter once a month and remove any that feel soft or look moldy.
 

5. Water Potted Calla Lilies Sparingly Indoors

If you’re keeping calla lilies in pots and want to overwinter them indoors, the care is a bit different.
 
Instead of lifting them, just move the entire pot into a cool, dim room after the foliage dies back.
 
Keep the soil barely moist, watering only every few weeks to stop the rhizome from drying out completely.
 
Don’t let the pot sit in standing water, and don’t fertilize during this rest phase.
 
This method works great if you don’t have space to dig up and store rhizomes.
 

Common Mistakes When Looking After Calla Lilies in Winter

Even with the best intentions, it’s easy to make a mistake when caring for calla lilies in winter.
 
Here are the most common pitfalls and how to avoid them so your plants survive until spring.
 

1. Storing Them Too Wet

The number one killer of stored calla lily rhizomes is excess moisture.
 
If you store them in a sealed plastic bag or damp peat moss, they’ll quickly develop rot and turn to mush.
 
Always use dry material for packing and make sure your storage container allows some airflow.
 
When in doubt, drier is always better for calla lilies in winter storage.
 

2. Checking on Them Too Late

You can’t just stash them away and forget them until March, because problems can develop quietly.
 
Mark your calendar to check your stored rhizomes every 3 to 4 weeks.
 
When you check, gently squeeze each one to make sure it’s still firm, and toss any that are soft.
 
Also look for signs of sprouting, which means the storage spot is too warm.
 
If you catch issues early, you can often save the other rhizomes before rot spreads.
 

So, How Do You Look After Calla Lilies in Winter?

You look after calla lilies in winter by cutting back foliage, lifting the rhizomes, curing them, and storing them cool and dry.
 
Calla lilies in winter need a dormant period that mimics their native dry season, and you’re simply recreating that indoors.
 
Whether you’re storing bare rhizomes in peat moss or keeping potted plants in a cool room, the core rule is the same.
 
Keep them cool, keep them dry, and keep them in the dark until spring returns.
 
With this simple winter care, your calla lilies will be ready to burst back to life when the soil warms up again.
 
Happy gardening, and enjoy those gorgeous blooms next season.