Calla Lily Experiment

Did an experiment with Calla Green Goddess. I have to share the bragging rights, because I have a flower coming up. I know it's more than one post, but wanted to share what I did, and how well it worked.

1) Found 2 tubers the same size (about 3.5" diameter) Thanks Dori, great bulbs!

2) Planted Plant no. 1 in 2-gallon nursery pot with miracle grow potting soil

3) planted plant no. 2 in cut off 2-liter coke bottle.

Watered both.....kept them moist, did let them get a little cold weather.

Brought Plant no. 2 indoors January 3rd, 2" of growth, 4 sprouts at that time.

Brought Plant no. 1 indoors January 7th, 1" growth, 4 sprouts...lots of cold burn...I made mistake, but seems to be recovering...

Here is where we stand today: Here is plant no. 2, rootbound, stays moist at all times, but I need to get her more light.....she's already sending out bud.

Here's a picture of Plant no. 2, she is really root-bound, and a bit leggy, but a beaut still.

Here's a pic of plant no. 1, she's in a 2-gallon nursery pot, not rootbound, and not the growth as displayed in no2.

And here's plant no. 2 first bud!!

WOW! what a diff in those. So your pretty safe in saying, they do better when their rootbound? looks like there's no dirt in the coke bottle one but in the top . Can't believe the diff in those two. I have some callas growing in a flower pot in my garage, their doing great even though their not in the light. I don't have a digital camara yet or I'd take a pic, hubby says i'm on the puter enough, he'd never see me if I had a digital camara. LOL I'm still working on that cause I want one so bad.

kathy_ann

According to all I've read, callas bloom better if rootbound. The one in the coke is a little too rootbound for me. Going to move it up to a container 2" in diameter larger...same depth.

Except that its winter. Do Callas bloom more than one time a year? I love them and want them to bloom with healthy flowers in the summer. If we can get them to bloom repeatedly, what a wonder that would be. Please let us know how it continues to bloom.

1/2 of the leaves are now fully open and about 6" long. Flower has opened another 1/2", so you can start to see the green edging. From what I read, the more potbound they are, the better they bloom. I really need to move poor old no. 2 into a little larger container so she has more soil nutrients. Her roots are so tight in the container. Here's how bad her roots are now. She did get to sunbathe yesterday, along with no. 1, and they both put on 1" of growth during the 4 hours they were outside. It was really amazing to see the difference it made in them. Now to cart them all outdoors today when it's nice outside. I've had "the Flame" and "Lavender illusion" bloom continuously for 2 months before.

youve inspired me! I had a cala here that I put into a big pot after my dogs tried to kill it, Ok just the rottie but hes a monster anyway. So this am I went and cut off the bottom of a two liter and put the poor thing in there(there wasnt much left of it after rottie attack), as I was repotting it I did see some new growth finally(attack happened about August) but I did go ahead and packed that puppy into the new container then put it back where I had it. If I dont see a big growth difference thats ok because at least I have more room on the plant shelf. LOL I had no clue they wanted to be squished wich is why I had it in the big pot. Ill let ya know how it goes

Cool Dravencat! I have moved that one up a bit. I didn't give her more depth, but did give her more width, some of the upshoots were getting squished so that they couldn't spread out properly. I have put her into a gallon HI-C container now, still no drainage holes.

Well, since I was lazy and was running out of time last fall, I didn't get all my Calla Lilies put a way for the winter. A couple of them were put in pots (definitely root bound)in my sunroom and forgotten about until recently. I walked into the sunroom and discovered two spathes on a couple of "Green Goddess" Calla Lilies.

Here is the other one.

Beautiful Shirley!!!!!

Thanks spacecowgirl! Believe you me, I was shocked to see them in bloom in my sunroom during the middle of winter! Hopefully, that will mean that their rhizomes will be even larger by next Spring, when I re-plant them in my garden!

Are the leaves on Green Goddess really as big as they look? They look huge and beautiful blooms too.

Yes, the leaves & spathes (blossoms) are exactly the size that you are viewing them. In fact, I had totally forgotten about them until they just bloomed and haven't given them any fertilizer, just water so that their soil doesn't dry out. Plus, they are totally root bound too! Talk about abuse!!

No kidding, sounds like what happens around here to my kids LOL, we just bought them some new "pots" (pants) due to extreme growth spurts of roots and foilage. I also got them some winter covers(coats for frost protection and some nice summer covers(t-shirts) since they have a tendancy to burn when exposed to too much sun. I cant remember the last time we bought them new clothes, they sure dont seem to stay in them very long before they outgrow them.

LOL Dravencat. I think the gardens are cheaper to "clothe!" LOL

;~D

LimeyLisa Kay

spacecowgirl,

Thanks for letting us know about your experiment. I got 'Green Goddess' from the bulb co-op and now I know that I'll have to pot them up so that it will be a mite crowded. I am looking forward to seeing mine bloom as this is the first time I've had them. Since we are still in the throws of winter here it might be awhile, so I'm going to drool over all these for now.

Mine has now almost hit a height of 3'. The spathe is still tight, but beginning to open up, a little bit at a time. The leaves are reaching almost 8" in length, and the roots fill the pot more everyday. She's also drinking a lot more water. Haven't fertilized yet, am planning on doing that this weekend. She is being moved, because she needs to expand out width wise a bit. Lilyfan, do not plant more than one of the bulbs from co-op in a pot. If your green goddes is anywhere like the ones I got, they were already the size of a baseball. This one bulb will fill a 10" pot easily! I have them filling out 2-gallon nursery pots, not as much vertical growth, but lots of horizontal growth, and a really full, spread out plant. I'm going to be using the Aethiopica ones in a pond this summer.

Here's a pic of Calla No. 2 today. She's grown almost 6" in height since the 16th.

Ummm, where? Invisable!

I have lots of those invisable calla lilies! Problem is I can never find them again after I get them! LOL

;~D

LimeyLisa Kay

spacecowgirl, thanks for the advice. Mine are about the size of tennis balls. I was thinking about putting one in a 16" pedestal pot and the other 2 in a five gallon nursery pot. What do you think? I have pots of all sizes and even shapes. People find out like to garden and they give the pots to me rather than throwing them away. Works out pretty good for me!

Thats what happens when anyone finds a frog around here. They know I have tree frogs and they bring them to me. I usually just put them in my garden to keep all the nasty bugs at bay.

Sounds good lilyfan, but remember, callas like water. They can be used as marginals in a pond. They also like to be rootbound to bloom. This is calla no. 2, taken on 1/22. She is getting re-potted today, still with no drainage, to see if being rootbound with standing water really is her "thing". She has put on 7" of height since the 16th, and has 8 new leaves coming out. Spathe is almost open, and it's absolutely awesome!

Shirley - You can forget your plants and they look like that!!! I am on constant patrol for problems (bugs and whatever else the plant gremlins send my way) and never have things that look like that in my sunroom. What is the ambient temperature in yours and orientation? Do you add supplementary light in winter? Are you just naturally gifted or have you made a special deal with the plant fairies?

Hi jagonjune,

BOY, it must be CCCOLD up your way and we complain when it gets below freezing with a couple of inches of snow on the ground! LOL!! Schools will definitely be delayed or possibly closed when we get any significant accumulation!!!

Back to this bloomin' wonders that thrives on total neglect (Callas)! As I mentioned on Jan. 20th, "Yes, the leaves & spathes (blossoms) are exactly the size that you are viewing them. In fact, I had totally forgotten about them until they just bloomed and haven't given them any fertilizer, just water so that their soil doesn't dry out. Plus, they are totally root bound too! Talk about abuse!!"

I do remember to water them 2-3 times a week though! LOL!! I won't fertilize the majority of them until I place them in the garden in late Spring. Now with this variety, "Green Goddess'" that decided to bloom in the middle of winter, I will feed them lightly by the end of this month, because they are using up a lot of their energy being in bloom.

The plants in our sunroom (which is heated between 65-68 degrees F) will experience significant fluctuation in temperatures. Since the room has glass on all three sides, plus skylights, the menagerie of plants ALL receive an abundance of direct, as well as, indirect light.

The Calla Lilies are located along the Northside window (without touching the glass!). They receive indirect light and cooler temps. than across the room on the Southside. During the wintertime, the daytime temps. usually are usually 70-75 degress & drop at night to 60-65 degrees. During the summertime, Cactus probably would grow successfully on the Southern side of that room. The summertime temps between noon-3:00p.m. (with the a.c. going) can reach 85-90 degrees and then drop at night to around the mid 70's. Also, during the summer the humidity levels will be 90-100%, inside & out, with a ceiling fan to circulate the air running a minimum of 12-18hrs. a day.

My DH does move 98% of the plants outside on our deck or into our garden by the end of April/beginning of May. The only two plants that stay inside year round in our sunroom are a split leaf Philodendron and Bird-of-Paradise plant, that can't fit through the doorway!!!

We have a humidifier hooked up to the furnace, plus a small supplemental "stand alone" unit in the sunroom to try to keep the levels between 60-65% R.H. During the wintertime, my DH has to refill the little humidifer unit daily!

Guess the Callas must be happy growin' there, because they are still in bloom!

Tonite is goin to be a beaut - it is currently minus 27C and headed to minus 34C by mornin. But it builds character right!! Your sun room sounds lovely - mine is all along the back of the house which faces north so not a lot winter sun. It is only a 3 season room - not double glazed or anything - will add heat starting mid march so as not to break the bank. The transplants can move out there then - have 2 1000 watt metal halide lights as well and every nook and cranny will have plants. Will post pictures in the springtime.