When you plant a new Calla lily, it can be really exciting watching it grow. You watch the stems slowly crawl out of the soil, then after a while, a bright flower will pop up on top. Once the flower appears, you ask yourself how long it’ll last.
Calla lilies only bloom once a year and can bloom from three to 8 weeks. Usually, they bloom in late summer or early fall.
Losing your Calla lily flower before you’ve had the chance to enjoy it can be annoying. So, let’s take a look at how long do Calla lilies bloom, and what you can do to make it last a little longer.
The Basics of Calla Lilies
Oddly enough, Calla lilies are not actually lilies. They’re flowering plants native to southern Africa. Lilies usually have about three petals, while Calla lilies only have.
A Calla lily consists of four main parts:
- Flower
- Stem
- Leaves
- Roots
As you can probably guess, the flower is the pretty part on top. It’s the part of the plant that blooms every year. The flower part comes in many bright colors. It can be white, purple, yellow, pink, orange, and dark maroon.
The flower is also the part of the plant that smells good. Calla lilies have a soft but distinctive scent. It smells like a combination of jasmine and lily of the valley. The scent draws in insects to help the plant reproduce.
Moving a little further down the Calla lily, you’ll find the stem. This is the main green part of the plant. The stem provides support so that the flower can stand upright. It’s also the part that transports water and nutrients all over the plant.
Stems are the part of the plant that you can move around when you want to transplant your lily.
Leaves come off of the stem in every direction. Calla lily leaves look like tiny arrowheads. They’re usually green and sometimes have white or silver flecks. This is the part of the lily responsible for absorbing sunlight for food.
Finally, the last part of the lily lives underground. Roots grow in intricate networks underground. They branch out as far as they can, searching for water in the soil. Roots also keep the lily anchored in the ground to keep it in place.
Calla Lilies in Bloom
Calla lilies are incredibly beautiful when they’re in full bloom. Each one grows a single petal that shoots out of the stem and wraps around itself. That’s when the plant is ready to reproduce and create more lilies. Unfortunately, this doesn’t last very long.
On average, a Calla lily will bloom between three to 8 weeks. Some Calla lilies will start to bloom in late summer, but others can start blooming as late as early fall.
How long a Calla lily blooms will depend on a few factors:
- Water levels
How much water your Calla lily has access to will affect how it blooms. Calla lilies need a damp environment to grow. The soil you grow the lily in should be moist most of the time.
If the soil is dry, the lily probably won’t be able to grow and can’t bloom altogether. And if the soil is too wet, the roots can start to rot and can affect your lily’s health.
Getting the right water level can be tricky, but it’s possible. A great rule of thumb is if you have an indoor plant, you should water it about once a week. But if your lilies are outdoors in the sun, it’s usually safe to water them every day.
To have better control over the water level, plant the Calla lily in a pot or bed with water drainage. This will help remove excess water so that your lily doesn’t drown.
- Humidity
Calla lilies like being in humid environments. They can absorb some of the moisture from the air through their leaves and it plumps them up. This helps the Calla lily absorb sunlight so it can make more food.
When the air is too dry, the Calla lilies can shrivel and droop. This will make it hard for the plant to stay up or even survive.
- Temperature
Temperature is another crucial factor when it comes to Calla lilies. To fully bloom, Calla lilies need a warm environment. Think about the end of summer and how hot it can get. That’s the perfect weather for your lily to grow.
Calla lilies don’t react well to the cold. Some parts of the plant are extremely fragile and can freeze easily. Even buried underground, some Calla lilies can frost over and die.
In the winter, it’s normal for your Calla lily to wilt and go dormant. So, don’t worry if your plant looks a little worse for wear, it’ll spring back up when it’s warmer.
Tip & Tricks to Help Your Calla Lily Bloom
Calla lilies only bloom for a short, specific window of time. You have to give your lily perfect conditions all year round or you can risk missing the bloom. It can be a real shame if your lily doesn’t bloom and you have to wait a whole year before you try again.
So, if you’re finding it challenging to get your Calla lily to bloom, there are a few factors to keep an eye on:
- Location
Where you plant your Calla Lily is crucial. You can plant Calla lilies indoors in small pots or outdoors in large flower beds. They can both grow healthy lilies, but each one needs different types of care.
If you’re growing your Calla lily indoors, you have to make sure that it gets enough sunlight. Calla lilies like plenty of sunlight, but can grow in partial shade. So, the pot has to be directly next to a window to ensure your lily gets enough light.
Calla lilies love being outdoors. They like to soak up as much sunlight as they can. This means that they can grow faster and sturdier. The only drawback to being in the sun all day is that the Calla lilies can dry out. So, be sure you’re giving them enough water.
- Soil
The soil you plant your Calla lilies in has to be moist and fertile. You can get garden soil packs at your local supplies store. This soil comes pre-loaded with nutrients and vitamins for your plants. But, if you already have planted soil, you can get vitamins that’ll infuse your soil with nutrients.
If you have extra dry soil, you might want to invest in mulch. It will help rejuvenate the soil and can add an extra layer of insulation in the winter.
- Upkeep
Taking care of your Calla lily isn’t just about water and sunlight. Calla lilies need a certain level of upkeep to keep growing.
Keep an eye on the Calla lily throughout the year. As soon as you notice discoloration in a leaf, snip it off. Dead leaves can take away nutrients from healthy ones, making it harder for the lily to bloom.
It’s also important to remove a flower after it’s wilted. Keeping it on the flower won’t bring it back to life and might take up useful resources.
Wrapping Up – How Long Do Calla Lilies Bloom?
Calla Lilies are beautiful when they’re in full bloom. Sadly, their bloom doesn’t last very long. It usually happens around late summer or early fall. And it only lasts for a few weeks.
Getting your Calla lily to bloom every year, and stay in bloom for a while, can be tricky. But, if you give your lily enough care and attention, you can enjoy a bright pop of color every year.
Keep an eye on your plant, make sure it’s getting enough water and sunlight. It’s also important for the temperature and humidity to be high.