Bulbs: Calla Question, 1 by wallaby1

wallaby1 wrote:
If the bulbs are deep enough, and in very free draining soil, they are likely to survive, but I still have to try mine in the ground. With lots of leaf compost incorporated that will help keep the soil open, and give them good natural food which I think can also help with hardiness.

I overwinter mine in a cold greenhouse, in their pots and they have, so far, done well even with prolonged cold and frosts but they do get some protection. I would think if it froze for a long spell to fairly low temps like it did when I first got Cameo it would be risky (pots in the greenhouse froze solid), but your climate probably heats up more quickly than ours, and lengthy cold can make a difference.

You should start with the bulbs with at least 3" of soil on top, they should pull themselves lower as mine went to about 8" deep in the pots, that depth is fine for them and should miss the frosts. The problem might arise if it is too wet and cold for a lengthy period, with being deep the sun will take longer to warm the ground to that depth so they can grow. This is why I have started with pots, and when they have multiplied I can risk some in the ground. Cameo and Majestic Red made 6 and 8 bulbs each, MR I got in 2003 in a small pot already flowered, it made tiny new bulbs and flowered in 05 and 06. I separated the bulbs this spring, 4 very large, the largest was 3.5" long and they were deep and heavy.