The room calla comes from southern Africa. It is not hardy and, with a few exceptions, does not tolerate sub-zero temperatures. How to properly overwinter calla in a pot or as a flower bulb.

Few calla varieties are hardy

Calla overwinter as a flower bulb

  • Dig up in early October
  • Cut off yellow foliage
  • remove soil
  • Let the onion dry out
  • Store cool
  • Plant out in spring

You can get the calla lily tubers out of the ground by the beginning of October at the latest. Rub off the soil and cut off the yellow foliage.

Let the onions dry well and then put them in a cool place of about ten degrees. The basement is well suited.

Always plant calla bulbs in spring

The bulbs are put back in the garden in spring. For this, the earth must be at least ten degrees warm. Frosts may no longer occur.

The planting instructions for new tubers often state that you can plant them in autumn. Don't rely on that. Even tubers that are designated as hardy are almost never hardy. They only survive very mild winters in the cold soil of the flower bed.

Put the calla in the pot over the winter

There are different varieties of calla lilies. Some of these are evergreen, while others retard their foliage during dormancy.

Overwinter evergreen calla in pots. Set it up bright and cool at about ten degrees. Make sure that the plant does not stand in a draft.

During the winter, the plant is not watered and not fertilized. The earth must dry out completely.

Slowly acclimate Calla to warmer temperatures

Depending on the variety, the Calla will get used to the warm flower window again from January. Before that, repot the plant in new soil.

Start watering slowly and give the calla some flower fertilizer every two weeks.(1.95€)

As soon as the first new shoots appear, keep the soil constantly moist.

Overwinter hardy cultivar 'Crowsborough' outdoors

The "Crowsborough" is a white calla variety that is relatively robust. According to the breeder, she tolerates temperatures down to minus 20 degrees. You can leave the tubers in the ground over the winter.

However, you should still ensure winter protection by only planting the tubers in somewhat sheltered locations.

In the fall, cut off the aerial parts. Cover the planting site with a blanket of dry foliage. As soon as the temperatures outside rise above ten degrees and no more night frosts are to be expected, remove the winter blanket. The soil can then warm up faster.

tips and tricks

Do not confuse room calla with swamp calla (Calla palustris), which is often grown in ponds. In contrast to the houseplant, swamp calla is hardy and does not have to be overwintered indoors.

Category:

Vegetable garden