Here is the link to the Calla Lily Co-op, Many are only $1.48 each, great deal, hope you join us:)Anita
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/813937/
Calla Lily Co-op
Anita, you're a co op fiend, LOL! These are not only cheap, but really nice callas. All of mine from last years co op were amazing.
This pot of Black Forest only had 3 bulbs.
Neal,
It takes 1 to know 1:)Anita
Hehehehehe.....and to enable so shamelessly!
oh I wish I could grow them but I have one I'v had for years and all I get are pretty leaves ??
Gloria
Gloria,
I'm not sure about that, I know I have some that had flowers for the first 4-5 years & did not flower last year? Will see if they do this year, maybe they run out of flower power after so many years?
Would be a good question to ask a person with the right answer.:)Anita
thanks Anita I asked on the calla forum a while back but dident get an answer but I grow my leaves every year in hopes it will flower may be this year LOL
Gloria
glevely, they are heavy feeders, so that could have something to do with it. The rehmannii types (the colorful, smaller forms) need sun to bloom well too. I have heard many say they get blooms the first year from bulbs, and for a couple of years thereafter they only get leaves, even with good care. It has been explained to me, that the bulbs are often treated with blooming hormones, making them bloom heavily the first year, and they can take a year or two to recover. As I understood last year, I don't believe Pacific Callas hormone treats theirs (although I can't remember where I got that). This will be my 2nd year with many of these, so I'm curious how they'll perform. I grew them all in pots and fed them regularly, so we'll see.
What do you feed them I'm getting ready to start watering mine so thay will get started for this year its been about 3 years since they bloomed they were yellow when I got the
Gloria
Any blooming plant food or all purpose plant food should be fine. I don't use chemical fertilizers and have been trying various fish fertilizers and now I'm trying one called Chick-a-Poo, for obvious reasons, LOL.
thanks I'll give it a try this year but if no blooms the I think it will have no home (hopefully that will scare it lol)
Gloria
Gloria, you may want to try planting them in the ground. They overwinter here for a lot of people, and DGr tusseemussee has them return in her zone 5 garden in Indiana (in a protected spot). If its their last chance anyway, nothing to lose. It would probably be best if you choose to do that, to let them remain dry till planting time in spring. Mine typically get sprouts in storage, but don't seem to mind waiting to get them going.
good idea gemini I dident think that they would grow out side here for any reason but I know just the right place to do that here if it works I'm in big trouble LOL
Gloria
Glad to enable....err....I mean....help, LOL!
ya ya I know LOL thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gloria
Neal,
Do you know what kind she grows in zone 6? do you think I could do it in zone 5?
Oh, man I so wish I could leave them all out, but I know I can't.:)Anita
She's actually in zone 5 (Indianapolis), and I've been searching but can't find the pic she had posted over a year ago. She has several varieties and colors in a protected courtyard area and mulched; she said they all return well.
I think its definitely worth a try for you Anita, perhaps just 1 of each variety the first year as an experiment. They need good drainage in winter so they don't rot, but if you have an area that benefits from the warmth of the house foundation or other structure, I bet they'll overwinter for you.
Thanks Neal,
Will give it a try with some of my older ones.:)Anita
Do you know what kind they are? The large, white calla (Z.aethiopica) and its selections tolerate and even enjoy much wetter conditions than the colorful hybrids. They all like plenty of organic matter and are heavy feeders during the growing season. I like to use bone meal for bulbous plants, but beware that it can attract dogs. When I amended all over with it that was fine, it was when I put it in the holes with the bulbs that I found my bulbs dug up the next day.
I have a BIG fence, (good for Dogs, still get the random cat) so digging up yon bulbs won't be a problem. The variety I bought is a "mix" (shame faced), but My Freesia mixed Bulbs worked great... I am trying Callas for the first time, I have a very shady garden, 4-5 hours of roaming sun each day, and it wouldn't work any other way where I live, lol.
I will get a good amendment and use some of my own mulch when I get them in the ground, and then toss a bit of bone meal in with them. I would ordinarily use a 10.10.10 fertilizer after they are established, but something with a higher Potassium ~correct me if I am wrong, going by memory here~ potassium for the first month?
Thanks!
fernman in LV
You're right, and they'll appreciate 10-10-10 once they're growing too. They're hogs, lol.