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Success with calla lilies

Zantedeschia hybrids, more commonly known as calla lilies, are ready for planting in May. Here’s how to get the best displays on your patio

Beautiful Zantedeschia are available in bright and colourful tones, and their upright, trumpet-shaped blooms add an exotic quality to planters. Get the conditions right and they’ll reward you well for your efforts.

Choosing a rhizome

For Zantedeschia to thrive, select a good size, quality rhizome. It needs to be firm to the touch. If it has slight protruding growth points you’ll be at an advantage, although these are not always obvious on later flowering varieties.

Planting up

Zantedeschia rhizome split plant
Select a two-litre pot for the rhizome and fill the container with light and free-draining compost. Generally we find that good quality compost mixed with perlite, or a coir-based compost work well. Place the rhizome near the top of the container, with any growth points facing up towards the sun. Cover with a thin layer of compost. Water very sparingly, and allow the compost to dry out between watering. This treatment allows a vigorous root system to develop in the initial stage after planting. Site the container in a sunny spot where you can enjoy the blooms. Zantedeschia hails from South Africa, so plants benefit from sunny locations and have a tolerance of some drought.

Zantedeschia ‘Airbrush’
Zantedeschia  ‘Morning Sun’
During the first growth stage the leaf spikes will elongate. By the time they reach 30cm (12in) or so, depending on variety, the green tone of the foliage will intensify and leaves will begin to unfurl. From this point forward, the compost will start drying out more quickly, so counter this by watering more often. For best results never make the compost excessively wet, and always allow it to dry out before watering again.

Zantedeschia ‘Zazu’

Brighter Blooms UK

www.brighterblooms.co.uk | 07884 430732

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