Can I plant calla lilies outside?

Calla lilies are cold hardy and can be grown outdoors year-round, but you may keep them for several years as houseplants before they become too large. Over time, their leaves turn yellow and die back, making the plants look leggy.

Do calla lilies come back every year?

Many people treat their gift calla lilies as annuals. They receive a potted flower, or buy them for spring decorating, and then toss it when the blooms are done. In truth, though, calla lilies are perennials and you can actually save your potted plant and watch it bloom again next year.

Can you plant calla lilies outside in the ground?

Planting callas



Blooms can last for months. In Zones 8 and warmer, plant rhizomes outside in spring about 4 inches deep, preferably in a damp location with a bit of afternoon shade. Let the leaves yellow and die back over winter, but don’t dig the plants since they’re dormant, not dead.

How do you take care of calla lilies outside?

Outdoor calla lilies need to be watered when the soil gets slightly dry. However, take care not to overwater them as they dislike soggy soil. Typically, outdoor calla lily bulbs will start to sprout within eight weeks of planting – all they need is well-drained, porous soil.

When can I plant my calla lily outside?

When to Plant: Calla lilies should be planted in the spring after all danger of frost has passed. In cold climates it’s best to wait until the soil has warmed to at least 65°F.

Do calla lilies do well in pots?

Pots for calla lilies should be at least 10 to 12 inches (25-31 cm.) in diameter and well-draining. While calla lilies need consistently moist soil, improper drainage can cause rots and fungal diseases. The planting medium should also retain moisture but not stay too soggy.

Do you deadhead calla lilies?

Calla lilies don’t require regular pruning, but you should deadhead the flowers as they wilt. Removing parts of the plant should not kill it.

How do you keep calla lilies blooming?

Here are a few tips for caring for callas indoors:

1. Keep the soil moist, but not soggy.
2. Provide bright, indirect light.
3. Apply liquid fertilizer monthly while in flower.
4. Keep away from heating and A/C vents.
5. Reduce watering when the plant enters dormancy (November)
6. Cut the leaves off at soil level once they’ve died.

How long do potted calla lilies last?

approximately four months

Potted Calla Lilies can last for approximately four months in an active state of growth. This includes a period of foliage growth in the first six weeks, followed by six to eight weeks of blooming. After blooming the foliage will begin to yellow and fade, until the plant becomes dormant.

What do you do when calla lilies have finished flowering?

Once the calla lily plant has stopped blooming, stop providing water to it. Allow it to go bone dry. The foliage will die back and the plant will appear to be dead. Place it in a cool (not cold) dark place for two months.

Is a calla lily an indoor or outdoor plant?

Although an outdoor plant by nature, the Calla Lily will perform wonderfully as an indoor plant. Keeping this rhizome happy indoors is a matter of paying attention to some very basic growing conditions. The Zantedeschia aethiopica is native to southern Africa.

Do calla lilies bloom all summer?

Calla lilies may be transferred indoors at the first freeze and replanted outdoors each spring. If left in the ground, the plants are considered annuals because the roots will die when frozen. The flowers bloom in the late spring and throughout the summer.

What do I do with my calla lilies in the winter?

Calla lilies will overwinter outdoors in Zones 9-11, but in most places they need to overwinter indoors. If you’ve grown the plants in pots, you can simply move the pots inside to a dark location for the winter without having to dig at all. Just repot them in fresh soil in spring.

Can you leave calla lilies in the ground over winter?

Calla Lily Winter Care in Warm Climates



Calla lilies are not cold hardy. This means that calla lily winter care in some gardens will be different from other gardens. If you live in USDA plant hardiness zone 8 or higher, your calla lilies can survive the winter outdoors in the ground and do not need to be dug up.

Can you leave canna lilies in pots over winter?

Yes, you can overwinter cannas in pots. Cut the foliage back to the soil level before moving them indoors. Stop watering, and keep them in a cool and dry location that doesn’t fall below 40°F.

How cold can calla lilies tolerate?

The plants are damaged when temperatures fall below 25 degrees Fahrenheit. In climates colder than USDA zone 8, lift the rhizomes for the winter. or grow them in containers and take indoors before freezing weather arrives. Calla lilies are considered invasive in some areas, including the West Coast.