Calla newbie here. Okay, so this is the first year I have any success with Callas, and they are doing great. I noticed a few spathes laying over and I was going to cut them off, and when I lifted them I found them to be very heavy with what looks like seeds maybe? If they are and I want to harvest them, do I need to wait for them to dry on the plant or what?
This may be a better picture.
They are seed pods, there will be small, hard seeds inside when they mature. You should leave them to dry completely, I leave them until the plant dies back and that can be well through winter with some. I find they germinate best here in early June, you will have warmer springs so an earlier sowing will probably be OK.
I also leave them on the plant in a cold greenhouse over winter, that doesn't harm them here.
Yes, those are the seed pods...I leave mine until they look like they are turning yellow/brown....here in Georgia....then I bring them up on my porch to dry out a little...I actually shell mine like we do peas..lol I have planted them immediately in my garden soil, I have saved them and let them dry out and planted them the following Spring as well...I have had great luck with these either way they are done. Good luck! Enjoy! It is a great way to increase your Calla as they are so easily grown from seed!
Thanksfor the advice Looks like I will have tons so I will try both ways. Another question; I know with many plants removing flowers and seed pods encourages more blooms, is the same true with callas?
Tricky question! Somehow I think not, when you buy the corms they are often treated with a hormone which promotes flowering.
Many corms/bulbs will have grown their eyes, which may produce flowers, in the previous season. After flowering the corm grows and builds it's store for the next season.
A larger, more mature corm will usually produce more flowers but from what I read they say younger corms are better, the older ones becoming outgrown. I have found that is not entirely true, after 2 or 3 years they split into several corms, some making very large 'new' corms.
I agree, Janet, I have some older ones that just keep on keeping on getting bigger and better every year!
Janet, do you plant yours in pots and bring them in for winter? I have a few that I planted in the ground last year and they have returned this year, to my surprise, but most of mine are in pots.
I put mine in the ground.
