Calla lilies are a beautiful, elegant flower that can bring a vibrant splash of color to any garden.
These flowers are known for their tall stems and large, trumpet-shaped blossoms.
But what do you do with a calla lily after it has finished flowering? In this article, you’ll learn the answer to this question, as well as how to properly care for your calla lily after flowering.
We’ll cover cutting the stem, relocating the plant, fertilizing, watering, and dividing and replanting this beautiful flower.
Read on to learn how to keep your calla lily healthy and blooming for years to come.
Table of Contents
Short Answer
Once a calla lily has finished flowering, it is important to cut the stem down to the foliage level.
After cutting the stem, the foliage can be left in the pot or garden bed, and it will continue to grow and produce more flowers.
To encourage the calla lily to produce more flowers, it is important to give it plenty of sunlight and water regularly.
Additionally, it may also be beneficial to fertilize the plant to help promote healthy growth and more flowers.
What is a Calla Lily?
Calla lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica), also known as arum lily, is a flowering plant native to southern Africa.
This perennial beauty features striking, trumpet-shaped blooms in shades of white, pink, yellow, and purple that add eye-catching color to garden beds and containers.
But what do you do with your calla lily after it has finished flowering? Read on for the answers you need now.
Calla lilies are easy to care for and make excellent accent plants, but they do need specific conditions to thrive.
When planting, choose a spot in full to partial sun and moist, well-drained soil.
Once your calla lily is established, it can tolerate periods of drought.
When a calla lily has finished flowering, there are several steps you can take to ensure that the plant continues to thrive.
First, cut the stem down to the base of the plant.
This will help the plant focus its energy on growing instead of producing blooms.
If the plant is in a pot, you can move it to a sunny location.
If it is in the ground, you can fertilize it with a balanced fertilizer.
Water the plant regularly to keep the soil moist.
In the fall, you can divide the rhizomes and replant the divisions in a sunny location.
Rhizomes are underground stems that store carbohydrates and nutrients, so dividing them in the fall will help your calla lily prepare for the winter months.
With proper care, your Calla Lily will bloom again in the spring.
By following these steps, you can ensure that your calla lilies will thrive and bloom for years to come.
What to Do After Flowering?
When a Calla Lily has finished blooming, it is important to take action to ensure the plant continues to thrive.
To start, cut the stem down to the base of the plant.
This will encourage new growth and prevent the plant from wasting energy on a wilted stem.
If the Calla Lily is in a pot, you can move it to a sunny location to ensure it receives enough light.
On the other hand, if the plant is in the ground, you can fertilize it with a balanced fertilizer to provide it with the necessary nutrients it needs.
Additionally, make sure to keep the soil moist by watering the plant regularly.
In the fall, you can divide the rhizomes and replant the divisions in a sunny location.
This process can help the plant become even healthier and can give it an opportunity to bloom again in the spring.
Furthermore, if you want to keep the Calla Lily in a pot, make sure to use a potting mix with good drainage and to repot it every few years.
With all these steps, you can ensure that your Calla Lily will bloom again in the spring.
Step 1
When a Calla Lily has finished flowering, the first step you should take is to cut the stem down to the base of the plant.
This will help the plant to conserve its energy and prevent it from wasting resources on the dead blooms.
This step is especially important if the plant is in a pot, as you will want to make sure that the remaining stem does not become too crowded or overcrowded.
If the plant is in the ground, you can leave the stem intact and simply trim off any dead blooms.
Step 2
Once the flowering period of the Calla Lily is complete, the next step is to cut the stem down to the base of the plant.
This will help the plant to focus its energy on the root system and to rejuvenate itself for the next bloom.
Depending on where the Calla Lily is planted, it may need to be moved to a sunnier location.
If the plant is in a pot, it can be moved to an area that receives more direct sunlight.
If it is in the ground, it can be fertilized with a balanced fertilizer to help it get the nutrients it needs to thrive.
Watering the plant regularly is also important to keep the soil moist.
It is best to water the plant in the morning as this will allow the foliage to dry before nightfall.
This helps to prevent diseases such as fungal infections and rot.
In the fall, it is also important to divide the rhizomes and replant the divisions in a sunny location.
This will help to ensure that the Calla Lily is able to bloom again in the spring.
By following these steps, you can ensure that your Calla Lily will continue to thrive and bloom again in the future.
With proper care and attention, you can enjoy the beauty of the Calla Lily for many years to come.
Step 3
The third step for caring for a Calla Lily after it has finished flowering is to water the plant regularly.
This helps to keep the soil moist and prevents it from becoming too dry.
This is especially important for plants in pots since they are more prone to drying out.
When watering, try to use lukewarm water so that the plant can absorb it more easily.
Make sure to water the entire root system, not just the top of the soil.
Additionally, be sure not to overwater the plant too much water can lead to root rot and other problems.
With regular watering, your Calla Lily will be well on its way to blooming again in the spring.
Step 4
The fourth step to take care of your Calla Lily after flowering is to divide the rhizomes and replant the divisions in a sunny location.
This is especially important to do in the fall season if you want to ensure the plant continues to thrive.
The process of dividing and replanting the rhizomes will help the plant get the necessary nutrients it needs to stay healthy.
Before you begin this process, make sure you have the right tools to do the job.
You will need a sharp and clean knife to cut through the rhizomes.
Its also important to wear protective gloves to keep your hands safe from any sharp edges.
When youre ready to start dividing the rhizomes, carefully loosen the soil around the plant and use your knife to cut the rhizomes into several smaller pieces.
Each piece should have at least one healthy bud and some roots attached to it.
Once youve divided the rhizomes, you can replant them in a sunny location.
Make sure to keep the soil moist and fertilize the soil with a balanced fertilizer to ensure the plant has all the nutrients it needs to stay healthy.
With proper care, your Calla Lily will bloom again in the spring.
Step 5
Once you have divided the rhizomes and replanted them in a sunny location, you will need to take care of them in order to ensure that they thrive and bloom again in the spring.
To do this, you should water the plants regularly and keep the soil moist.
You can also fertilize the plants with a balanced fertilizer to help them grow and bloom.
Additionally, you can trim the foliage back in the fall to encourage new growth in the spring.
Finally, make sure to mulch the plants to help retain moisture in the soil and protect the roots from extreme temperatures.
With proper care and maintenance, your Calla Lily will be ready to bloom again in the spring.
Final Thoughts
Calla Lily is a beautiful and hardy flower that can bring a splash of color and life to any garden.
By following the steps outlined above, you can ensure that your Calla Lily blooms again and again.
Cut the stem, relocate the plant, fertilize it, water it, and in the fall divide and replant the rhizomes.
With proper care, you can enjoy the beauty of the Calla Lily in your garden for years to come.
So take the steps now to ensure that your Calla Lily continues to thrive and bring joy to your garden.