My calas did not bloom

Last summer I had five different areas where I planted calas, I only had 3 or 4 blooms in all, Can someone please tell me what I am doing wrong? Each of the plants had beautiful foilage and very large,but no blooms, I love them and I want them to bloom.. Any help would be appreciated,

Hi 9283,

I have read so much conflicting advice on callas it is hard to know where to go. Most "experts" say they're tender bulbs that have to be lifed in the fall in zones 7/8 and colder. I read on one site that they're likely to be herbaceous perennials in zone 7 and father north, and on others that they won't survive temps below 10-20F. Some sites say they like partial shade, and others say full sun. They do like lots of water, and very moist soil in any case.

I will tell you what worked for me. I planted a bunch of calla roots, different types, in the spring here in N. Texas two years ago. Got some flowers the first year, but not a lot. The second year I forgot about them and completely neglected them, thinking at the time they wouldn't survive winters here and that the summer sun was too intense for them.. Some were in pots, always outside, but most were in the ground. Mine were all in full (Texas) sun. Well, second year they ALL popped up again, and with many more flowers than the first. They bloomed over a wide period of time, from the beginning of May through mid-June. I have read that partial shade will promote longer flowering stems, and mine to be honest were on the short side. Most of them in my back yard were in a raised bed that stays somewhat moist but not overly so. So...I would say, make sure they're getting enough sun, and make sure they're not getting too much nitrogen...you could try fertilizing with a higher phosphorus-content fertilizer. In general, with most plants, nitrogen promotes leaf/foliage growth, and phosphorus promotes flower development. Try something like "Bloom Booster" from Miracle-Gro. I am sure in your area they're getting sufficient moisture. What zone are you in? You seem awfully far north to treat callas as an outdoor plant.

Steve
Thank you for your reply. Yes it gets very cold here in NC Two of my five bunches have been in the ground for a couple of years and they are living very well.

The foilage is huge-some three feet tall ,so I will try your solution and add some phosphorus early this spring. Steve, thanks again for your help.
Bob Offutt

I've heard that some of the varieties, particularly the colored varieties not only need to be lifted, but also dried out somewhat in a dark room. This will encourage them to bloom more the next year and also prevents rot. The regular white calla can't be dried out or they just shrivel up.

--Emily

I planted 90 callas every year for the past 3 years in a customer's garden, storing and re-using the tubers as this is whatt he customer wanted. Then I saw a segment on P. Allan Smith's show in which he said,re-used tubers will only have 1- 2 flowers a season, and you should get new ones every year if you want good flowering. He said they have to have a special temperature treatment- and some have a hormonal treatment as well to promote flowering. All I could find on his website was this:


Quoted from website:

Rein Wjnker, Calla Lily Distributor, Holland - Rein guides Allen around a calla lily farm and explains how to grow these beautiful flowers.

Calla lily bulbs are available for purchase in the spring. Plant them about 4 inches deep in full sun to partial shade.
Don't be disappointed if you calla lilies do not bloom as well the second year. It is common for them to produce only one year of bloom.
'Captain Rodin' is a lovely calla lily that is cream with a purple blush

Cindy