Do calla lilies bloom the first year?

Will Your Calla Lilies Bloom This Year? Let’s Find Out!

Calla lilies! Those elegant, trumpet-shaped flowers – who doesn’t love them? They just scream sophistication, whether they’re gracing a garden bed, brightening up a container, or starring in a floral arrangement. But here’s the big question I get asked all the time: “Will my calla lilies actually bloom in their first year?”

Well, the good news is, most of the time, yes! You can get those gorgeous blooms in the very first season. But, like with most things in gardening, there’s a bit more to the story. A few key things can make or break your chances of seeing those blooms.

First off, timing is everything. Think of calla lilies as sun-loving summer bloomers. That means you want to get them in the ground in the spring, after you’re absolutely sure that last frost has packed its bags and left town. I always tell people to aim for a soil temperature of at least 65°F (around 18°C). Trust me, planting them too early in cold soil is like hitting the pause button on their growth – they’ll just sit there, sulking! If you’re impatient like me, you can always get a head start by starting the rhizomes indoors about a month before the last frost.

Speaking of rhizomes, that’s what calla lilies grow from, kind of like a bulb’s cousin. And the bigger and healthier that rhizome is, the better your chances of seeing flowers. So, when you’re picking them out, go for the ones that are large, firm, and feel nice and plump. Avoid anything that looks shriveled or soft.

Now, let’s talk sunshine! Calla lilies are pretty flexible, but they generally love either full sun or partial shade. If you live somewhere with cooler summers, give them all the sunshine you can. But if you’re in a hotter climate, a little afternoon shade will keep them happy.

And what about soil and water? Well, calla lilies like their soil rich, moist, and well-drained. Think of it like a sponge – you want it to hold water, but not be soggy. Consistent moisture is key, but overwatering is a big no-no. It can cause the rhizomes to rot, and nobody wants that! I usually water sparingly right after planting, until I see a few leaves pop up. Then, I start watering more regularly to keep the soil consistently moist.

Don’t forget to feed them! A little fertilizer can go a long way in encouraging those blooms. When you plant them, add a slow-release granular fertilizer to the soil. And during the growing season, give them a monthly boost with a liquid fertilizer. Just be careful not to use anything too high in nitrogen, because that’ll just give you lots of leaves and not many flowers.

So, what can you expect after planting? Well, it usually takes a couple of weeks for the first shoots to peek out of the ground. And then, depending on the variety, the weather, and how much sun they’re getting, it can take another 2 to 3 months (8-12 weeks) for the flowers to start blooming. In warmer climates, you might see them in early summer. But if you planted them later in the spring, they might not bloom until late summer.

Once they start blooming, calla lilies can keep the show going for 6 to 12 weeks! To keep them flowering, make sure to remove the spent flower heads. Just pull off the entire stem at the base. This prevents the plant from wasting energy on making seeds and encourages it to produce more flowers.

Finally, if you live in a colder climate, you’ll need to overwinter your calla lilies. That means digging up the rhizomes in the fall and storing them indoors until spring. I usually cut off the foliage and then carefully lift the rhizomes from the ground before the first hard frost. Then, I put them in a box with some peat moss or sawdust and store them in a cool, dark place. Just make sure to keep them slightly damp by misting them occasionally.

So, there you have it! With a little bit of planning and care, you can get your calla lilies to bloom in their first year. And trust me, those elegant blooms are well worth the effort! Happy gardening!