I don't have a camera, so I can't post photos, but ...
I have a Calla Lily (the old fashioned white kind)that has been around for a few years, in a pot on the patio. Early this spring, it came up as usual, even made a flower. It's been downhill since.
In May it was droopy, and I figured it was unhappy about the lack of rain/humidity that month. I watered it often. In June, the rain started and the Calla continued to droop, and began to get holes in the leaves. I cut off the effected leaves, and it started making new ones, but the rest of the leaves started getting holes in them, too. Now the new leaves are getting all holey even before they mature. I never see anything on it eating it.
The holes are round with yellow all around, and seem to get bigger, until they meet. If I don't cut the leaf off, it eventually disappears, leaving only the stem.
I stopped feeding it, thinking maybe that was the problem, now I'm thinking I should feed it ...
It gets some morning and noontime sun where it is now. I had moved it to a shadier location (filtered morning sun only) and it didn't like that at all, so I moved it back.
Is this some sort of disease, or a very stealthy critter? I check it in the AM, different times during the day, and in the evening. I don't like to spray poison, unless I have to, but I don't know what to do for this plant anymore.
Any advice?
Cheri'
What to do about my poor Calla Lily?
Sounds like Erwinia or botrytis.
gads, that sounds bad. I'm going look it up. Thanx.
Cheri'
Alrighty, looks more like botrytis than Erwinia. Tho I've not seen a grayish thin mass of webbing (mycelium) but the patio does have good air circulation.
So, I should cut off all effected parts and burn them. I guess it's worth a try. I'll also isolate the poor sick thing.
Seems like it would have spread, by now ...
thanx for the help
Cheri'
Sundry, I saved a few that were sick by cleaning off all the bad leaves and planting them in the garden, in a partly sunny well drained area.
Calalily,
I just went out and cut off every affected leaf, which pretty much just leaves the new ones, not uncurled yet. I moved it off of the patio (where so many other plants are living) to a partly shady area, temporarily. I'm going to put it in one of my new raised beds, partly sunny, well drained.
I'm thinking that I should feed it, but naturally it has started raining, again. It's hard to keep anything from being too wet when it rains every day. I may have to bring it inside.
*sigh* And here I thought Calla's like being wet.
Cheri'
I have one in my pond.....
crestedchik, I'm not surprised.
Seems like Calla's are supposed to be bog type plants. I guess what they don't like is being 'moist' all the time. LOL At least, seems like mine doesn't.
Maybe this will save it. The poor thing was on it's way out, before.
Cheri'
I have lots of extra whites so if you need a replacement in the fall,let me know.....
Thank you crestedchik. I might just take you up on that. I feel hopeful about this one, tho.
=)
Cheri'
Cheri, you can always let it go dormant and then start all over.
Hon, did you try your local grocery chains that have a photo stand in their store? I know that in mine, they offer "disposable" instamatic cameras that can be processed onto C.D.'s and/or images. They also are now carrying "disposable" digital cameras too. I would check your stores and if they don't have it, talk to the store manager and request that they do! Where there is a will, there is a way! Good luck!!
Calalily,
If it stops raining long enough, I'm going to get it into it's new home, and see if that helps. If not, I'll try making it go dormant. To do that I should take it inside and stop watering it?
Shirley1md,
I've used the disposable cameras, and am always horrified by the colors. I had a real nice 35mm camera (point and shoot, zoom, auto flash, etc.) that took great pics, but it died last year (one too many trips to the beach). guess I'm spoiled to that. :) My next major gardening equipment purchase will be a good digital camera.
Cheri'
Hi, I also have problems with my white calla lily. How do you make them go dormant? Bring inside and not water? For how long?
I kept the pot in the greenhouse last winter and took it out in the spring. It bloomed but now the leaves are wilting and dying. It must need to go dormant.
Thanks for any help.
Clair
I'm not sure, clairsflowers. BTW, where do you garden? Are ya'll having way too much rain?
Now that I think about it, I'm not sure if my cala went dormant this past winter or not. It's spot on the patio is very well protected, plus, the dryer vents near there (it's where I park the hibiscus and antherium for winter). It gets a lot more sun in the winter, since the trees lose their leaves. I didn't water it, but it got plenty of rain. hmmmmmmmmmm. Maybe our poor calas are just tired!
On the other hand, it's putting up lots of new "eyes?".
Who knows? I wish it could just tell me ... LOL!
Cheri'
By reducing water. Let it go a little longer between waterings till finally it's foliage starts to yellow then you stop watering. Then you remove the tubers from the pot, check for damage, dry them and then store them in peat moss or wood shavings.
Thanx Calalily!
Cheri'
Hi, I am in Wetumpka, Al. and we have had a lot of rain. I will take the poor ones into the greenhouse and let them dry out and them remove them from the container. When do I replant them? How long will they stay stored? So Many Many questions I have. Thanks for the help. Clair
Usually you can store them for several months, then when the little sprouts start to come out on the bulb you plant them and keep them on a sunny windowsill or in a greenhouse.
Hi, Thanks for the info. I will try that and will let you know how it worked. Have a great day tomorrow. Clair
I moved the poor pitiful thing last fall, into the shady-est corner of a mostly sunny raised bed.
WOW!!! It really took off! I just cut a flower to bring in the house, yesterday. There is another bud coming up. It's about 2.5 - 3 ft tall, and bushy bushy bushy! Big green healthy leaves ... =)
Apparently, it was too crowded in that pot. I should have divided it when I moved it, but it was in such bad shape, I was afraid I'd kill it. I just dumped it out of the pot and put it in the ground, without disturbing it at all. I'm going to have to divide it - In the fall, I suppose. All the stems are crowded together in an area the size of the pot it was in.
Cheri'