Do Calla Lilies Come Back Every Year and How to Care for Them

Calla lilies are a popular choice for gardens and indoor spaces due to their elegant appearance and low maintenance requirements.

They can be grown from bulbs, which can be purchased from a nursery or online supplier, and can be planted in the spring or fall.

To ensure they come back every year, it's essential to plant the bulbs in well-draining soil and provide them with full sun to partial shade.

In general, calla lilies can thrive in a variety of conditions, but they do prefer slightly acidic soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.

The bulbs should be planted 2-3 times deeper than the height of the bulb, and spaced about 6-8 inches apart to allow for proper growth.

With proper care, calla lilies can bloom for several weeks, and the flowers can be cut and brought inside to enjoy their beauty indoors.

To plant calla lilies, set the rhizome into the hole with the "eyes" facing up. Space them 6 inches apart on center in the garden or 4 inches apart in containers.

Calla lilies need well-drained soil to thrive, so use a quality growing mix if planting in containers. Water sparingly when first planted, then more generously once the plants have a few leaves.

Plant calla lilies in the spring after all danger of frost has passed, or when the soil has warmed up to at least 65°F. Bury the rhizomes 4 inches deep and a foot apart, measuring from center to center.

Calla lilies are easy to grow and add a classy look to perennial gardens, cutting gardens, and container plantings. They come in many beautiful colors, including classic white, yellow, orange, pink, rose, lavender, and dark maroon.

Plant calla lilies in the spring after all danger of frost has passed or when the soil has warmed up to at least 65°F, in full sun or partial shade. This will give them the best chance to thrive.

Space calla lilies about 6 inches apart on center in the garden, or more closely in containers (4 inches on center). This will allow for proper growth and prevent overcrowding.

Expand your knowledge: Gardens with Calla Lilies

Water calla lilies sparingly when first planted, and then more generously once they have a few leaves. This will help establish a strong root system.

Calla lilies grow quickly, producing shoots about two weeks after planting, and flowers in 13 to 16 weeks. You can mix early-, mid-, and late-season varieties for a continuous flower show.

Remove faded flowers as needed to keep the plant tidy and encourage reblooming. This will also help the plant conserve energy and produce more blooms.

Calla lilies grow from bulb-like rhizomes, which should be buried 4 inches deep. Big, firm rhizomes give you large plants and lots of flowers, while smaller ones will still grow and bloom, but not as vigorously.

Let the plant rest and go dormant once it stops blooming, especially if you live where it freezes. This will help the rhizomes survive the winter and come back strong in the spring.

Potting and repotting calla lilies is a great way to enjoy these beautiful plants indoors or outdoors. To pot a calla lily, fill a container with fresh potting mix that drains easily and plant the rhizome with its growing tip up, spacing them about 4 inches apart.

Water your potted calla lily lightly at first, until a few leaves appear, and then increase watering to prevent drying out. This will help the plant establish a strong root system.

Place your potted calla lily in a spot with bright, indirect light, such as a sunny window. This will help the plant thrive and produce beautiful blooms.

To keep your potted calla lily healthy, feed it with a liquid fertilizer monthly, following the label directions.

If you live in Zones 8 to 10, you can leave your potted calla lily outdoors to overwinter, but be sure to bring it inside before freezing weather arrives. If you don't live in these zones, bring the pot inside or dig up the rhizomes and store them indoors.

To repot your calla lily, wait until spring and then gently remove the plant from its pot, taking care not to damage the rhizome. Replant the rhizome in fresh potting mix, following the same spacing and watering instructions as before.

You can also let your potted calla lily go dormant by placing it in a cool, dark spot without water for a couple of months. This will help the plant conserve energy and come back strong in the spring.

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Calla lilies can be propagated through division, which involves separating a rhizome from the plant's root ball. This method is a great way to share plants with friends or start new ones.

To propagate calla lilies, use sharp garden shears to separate a rhizome, then wait a week for the cut to cure. Plant the rhizome a few inches deep in a well-draining soil mix and place it in bright, indirect light, watering moderately.

You can also store calla lily rhizomes for the winter by digging them up and leaving them in a warm, dry place where the temperature stays between 65 and 75°F. Leave them there to cure for three days.

Here's a summary of the storage process:

Propagating lilies can be a bit tricky, but with the right technique, you can successfully multiply your favorite varieties. One way to propagate lilies is by using rhizomes, which can be divided to create new plants.

To start, use sharp garden shears to separate a rhizome from the plant's root ball. This is a crucial step, as you want to make clean cuts to prevent damage to the rhizome.

After making the cut, wait a week for the rhizome to cure. This allows the cut area to dry out and form a callus, which helps prevent rot and promotes healthy growth.

Once the rhizome has cured, plant it a few inches deep in a well-draining soil mix. This will give the new rhizome a chance to establish itself and start producing new growth.

Lilies prefer bright, indirect light, so make sure to provide them with plenty of it. Water them moderately, as overwatering can be detrimental to their health.

Here's a summary of the steps involved in propagating lilies using rhizomes:

If you live in a warm climate, you're in luck - you can simply leave your outdoor calla lily rhizomes in the ground over the winter.

In colder climates, it's essential to dig up the rhizomes before the first freeze and store them in a warm, dry place with a temperature between 65 and 75°F.

This curing process takes three days, so be sure to plan ahead and give your rhizomes the time they need to dry out.

Pack the cured rhizomes in a box filled with slightly moist peat moss or sawdust, and store the box in a dark place at 50 to 60°F.

It's also worth noting that calla lilies are perennials, so with proper care, they can come back year after year.

Regularly check on your stored rhizomes to ensure they don't get too dry or start to rot from too much moisture.

Calla lilies are perennials, not annuals, which means they come back every year if you take care of them properly.

Not all calla lily varieties are hardy, but some are. The 'Crowsborough' variety, for example, can withstand temperatures as low as -20 °C.

If you live in a colder zone, you'll need to bring your calla lily indoors for the winter. One solution is to keep it potted and take it outdoors for the summer.

To overwinter indoor calla lilies, choose a bright location without direct sunlight and keep the temperature constant at around 10 °C. No temperature fluctuations are necessary.

Garden callas require more preparation for the winter. Stop fertilizing and watering from the end of August, and dig up the tubers in early October.

Here's a step-by-step guide to overwintering garden calla lilies:

By following these steps, you can enjoy your calla lilies year after year.

Calla lilies are perennials, not annuals, which means you can save your potted plant and watch it bloom again next year.

Many people treat calla lilies as annuals because they receive a potted flower for spring decorating and then toss it when the blooms are done.

You can actually save your potted plant for the winter by providing it with proper care, and it will come back next year.

Calla lilies can be saved and will come back if you treat your plant correctly and store it in a suitable location for the winter.

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