calla lily sprouting

as I walked through my basement yesterday I noticed that my calla lilies were up. this is the first time I have grown them and tried to over winter them . I brought them up into the warm and light and watered them well any, advise?
laura

Congrats Laura!
They'll need lots of light so they don't get real leggy and fall over. Let us know how they do!
Susan

Hi Laura,

The same thing happened to me year before last. It was a real problem because I had 8 pots!

So I figured out last year. Do you, like me, have windows in your basement? As the days lengthen, the callas say - ah ha! light!- time to grow. So they start to sprout in completely dry soil. The catch is, without sun, as Lakeside so correctly said, they get leggy and fall over. And it's hard to get them lots of light.

So next year please try what I did last year and this. When you put them in your basement in their little pots, make sure the tops are covered. I use cheap plastic pot saucers I get for 29 cents from Ace or even Jewel (seasonal section). The callas will not be exposed to light but they will be able to breathe.

Also, just because they break dormancy does not necessarily mean you have to let them grow. If they are small enough to be covered (which yours is not) you can stop them from growing until you are ready by covering them up. When you are ready for them to resume growing, simply expose them to light and water. I did it with two of them last year. Works like a charm. By the end of the season they had reproduced nicely. And you can introduce them to the outside at your own pace.

Donna

Thanks donna I will try that ! right now they are almost a foot tall and still spikey ( they haven't unfurled into leaves) they are in a east facing window that gets the most sun in my house but next year I will cover the pot and see if your method works better!
laura

Laura,

In the meantime, enjoy your lovely calla!

Donna