Culture methods of colored calla lilies

Colored calla is a general term for other species and hybrid varieties of Zantedeschia except for white calla in the Araceae. It is native to south-central Africa and is often used to make bouquets, baskets, wreaths and bottles. Dwarf and small flower varieties are potted for steps, windowsills, balconies, mirrors, gardens and clusters planted next to pools or rocks. Let's take a look at the breeding methods of colored calla lilies.

Growth habits of colorful calla lilies

Colorful calla lilies are not only afraid of cold, but also afraid of heat and high temperature. in high temperature season, the aboveground part withered, the underground part of rhizome went into dormancy, and calla lilies mostly dormant in low temperature period in winter. If the temperature is suitable, it can blossom year-round, but the bulb planted after dormancy blossoms luxuriantly. The flowering period of greenhouse cultivation in the north is from November to May of the following year. The cut flowers are water-resistant and have a viewing period of 15-20 days in winter and 7-10 days in summer. Require loose, well-drained, fertile or slightly sticky soil.

Propagation methods of colorful calla lilies

1. Ramet: after the main flowering stage or dormant period, the tuber of the strong mother plant was dug out, and according to the size of the original tuber and the number of bud points, a clump was divided into 2-3 clumps (each clump with 2-3 bud points), planted separately, managed normally, and could bloom in 3 months.

2. Bulbs: the dormant tubers are dug out, and after normal ramets, some smaller tubers can be cut off. These small tubers need to be cultivated in the open field for 1 or 2 years before they can blossom. Before freezing in autumn, make the bed and cultivate the seed ball with ordinary garden soil, the seed ball grows slowly, if you change to the culture medium, most of the seed ball can form a flowering ball in the same year.

3. Sowing: because the natural seed-setting rate of colored calla is low, the seeds are not easy to be harvested. If sowing and breeding, we can choose to keep strong mother plants, artificial pollination, seeds can be harvested after maturity. It was sown immediately after harvest, and the optimum temperature for germination was about 20 ℃. The buds were unearthed in about 4 weeks and transplanted in 2 to 3 true leaves. Under excellent cultivation and management conditions, flowering bulbs could be formed in two years.

Culture methods of colored calla lilies

1. Soil: the basin soil for calla culture should choose sandy acid soil with good ventilation and drainage, and the bottom layer of basin soil had better be covered with a layer of coarse sand which is beneficial to the growth of calla lilies, together with 1/3 of garden soil and rotten leaves. And add a small amount of organic fertilizer. It is best to choose shallow pots for planting calla lilies.

2. Temperature: calla lilies prefer a semi-overcast environment and avoid being placed in strong light. The optimum temperature for the growth of calla lilies is 22-30 degrees. When the temperature is below 20 degrees, the growth rate of horseshoes will slow down. It may even stop growing. Calla lilies like a warm, humid environment, so pay special attention to keeping calla lilies warm during the winter.

3. Watering: calla lilies are similar to other potted plants. Watering calla lilies needs to be watered according to the dryness of the potted soil. Take a look at the soil before watering. Usually, you can spray water on the surface of the basin soil and flowers to keep the basin soil moist. During the growth period, like sufficient water, should often sprinkle water to the leaf surface, the ground, and pay attention to the leaf surface clean.

4. Fertilization: phosphorus and potassium fertilizer is suitable to be used to fertilize calla lilies, and the fertile soil is beneficial to the growth of calla lilies, so it is necessary to apply thin fertilizer frequently to ensure that the potted soil has enough nutrients. Flower owners who want to keep the seed suggest spraying calla lotus with potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution with a concentration of 0.1% to 0.2% every 10 days after calla fruit.

5. Light: calla lilies prefer warm and shady environment in the process of growth, but it should be noted that calla lilies in different growth periods have different requirements for light. Calla lilies are more shady when they are in the growth stage. When it is in the period of vigorous growth, it needs abundant light conditions.

6. Disease prevention: when calla lilies are poorly ventilated in the growing season, aphids are most likely to occur. When insect pests occur, 40% omethoate emulsion 1500-2000 times can be sprayed for control, and attention should be paid to improving ventilation conditions.

Points for attention of colorful calla lilies

1. Pay attention to appropriate amount of fertilizer: during the growing period, the horseshoe should be fertilized every 20 days, and the rotten bean cake water should be used as fertilizer, and thin fertilizer should be applied every 10 days in the peak growing season. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizer solution was applied to calla lilies. Be sure to avoid pouring fertilizer and water into the leaf sheath, which will cause calla lilies to rot. Less fertilization may cause malnutrition and yellowing of leaves, and too much fertilizer will also cause yellow leaves of calla lilies. Clean them with clean water after fertilization.

2. Pay attention to the planting season: calla lilies enter the dormant period from June to July, when the bulbs around mature plants can be removed to cultivate new potted plants. The most suitable season for breeding is from August to September. Ramet reproduction must be in autumn, otherwise it is very difficult to blossom in that year, that is, flowering, flowering is also late.

3. When to blossom: February to April is the season for calla lilies to bloom. Pay attention to giving enough light in order to produce pure healthy flowers. If the temperature is suitable, it can blossom year-round, but the bulbs planted after dormancy bloom luxuriantly. The flowering period of greenhouse cultivation in the north is from November to May of the following year. The cut flowers are water-resistant and have a viewing period of 15-20 days in winter and 7-10 days in summer.

4. Management of dormant period: after the end of florescence, calla will enter dormancy period, at this time, the amount of water should be reduced, especially after May, the plant begins to wither and yellow, and the room should pay attention to ventilation and keep dry to prevent tuber from rotting. When the plant is completely dormant, the tubers can be taken out, dried and stored, and then planted in autumn.

5. Toxicity of calla: calla lotus is poisonous and contains a lot of herbal calcium crystals and alkaloids. Accidental eating will cause toxic symptoms such as drowsiness. This species is a non-toxic plant listed in Chinese plant atlas database. Its toxicity is that tubers, bracts and fleshy inflorescences are poisonous, and chewing a small tuber can cause tongue and throat swelling.

6. timely renewal of old leaves: in the peak period of growth and flowering, if the leaves are too luxuriant and crowded, it is necessary to peel off the external old leaves that have been drawn from the flower stem and cut them off from the base in order to avoid excessive leaves affecting light and ventilation, promote the growth of the flower stem and increase the yield. If there are not many old leaves, but the new leaves are too exuberant, the internal ventilation is poor, and the flower stems are less, we can also carry out leaf pulling treatment and gently press the leaves around to make the plants develop, so that the flower yield can be increased by combining reasonable measures of water and fertilizer.