The best potting soil for calla lilies is a mixture of one part peat moss, one part perlite, and one part coarse sand. This combination provides a well-draining medium that retains moisture while promoting airflow.
The peat moss provides organic matter and nutrients, while perlite and coarse sand ensure proper drainage and prevent waterlogging. This balanced mixture supports healthy root development and vibrant growth in calla lilies.
When it comes to calla lilies, finding the ideal potting soil can make a big difference in their growth. The ideal potting soil for these plants should have specific qualities that serve their unique needs.
Know Your Plant – Calla Lily
Calla Lilies also known as Zantedeschia are cherished for their striking trumpet-shaped flowers and lush green foliage. These beautiful flowers come in many types of colours white, pink, yellow, and purple.
Calla Lilies thrive in humid and moist environments and can be grown both outdoors and indoors. They require bright, indirect sunlight to flourish only when the temperature is hot.
In cooler temperatures, they prefer full sun while shade in hot regions. So it’s best to place them in a location that receives filtered sunlight throughout the day.
When it comes to caring for your Calla Lilies, watering is the main thing. These plants prefer consistently moist soil, but not waterlogged conditions.
It’s best to water them when the top inch of the soil feels slightly dry. Ensure proper drainage in their pots or planting beds to avoid waterlogging, which can lead to root rot.
Feeding your Calla Lilies with a balanced fertilizer every two to four weeks during the growing season will provide them with the necessary nutrients for healthy growth and abundant blooms.
During the dormant season in winter, Calla Lilies enter a period of rest. It’s essential to reduce watering and allow the soil to slightly dry out. The dormant period prepares the plant for the next growing season.
With its alluring beauty and relatively low maintenance requirements, Calla Lilies are a delightful addition to any garden or indoor space.
Best Potting Soil for Calla Lily
Quality Potting Soil for Calla Lily –
1. Well-Draining Soil
Calla Lilies prefer well-draining potting soil that allows excess water to escape easily. This helps prevent waterlogging and root rot, ensuring the roots can breathe and grow healthily.
2. Moisture-Retaining Soil
The ideal potting soil for Calla Lilies retains moisture without becoming overly soggy. It’s a balance between moisture retention and airflow, keeping the roots hydrated while preventing the soil from becoming waterlogged or too dry.
3. Nutrient-Rich Soil
Calla Lilies thrive in nutrient-rich potting soil. Look for a soil mixture that is enriched with organic matter or compost. These organic materials provide essential nutrients that promote robust growth and vibrant blooms in your Calla Lilies.
4. pH-Balanced Soil
Calla Lilies generally prefer a slightly acidic to neutral pH range. Choose potting soil that is pH-balanced as this allows the plants to effectively absorb the nutrients present in the soil. Keeping the right pH level contributes to healthier and more vibrant Calla Lilies.
5. Creating the Best Potting Soil Mix
To achieve the ideal potting soil for Calla Lilies, you can make a mixture by combining different ingredients. A common recipe includes one part peat moss, one part perlite, and one part coarse sand. This combination provides the necessary qualities of quality potting soil for Calla Lilies.
Peat moss gives organic matter and helps retain moisture, while perlite and coarse sand ensure proper drainage. Using recommended potting soil mix and paying attention to Calla Lilies, you can provide your plants with an optimal growing medium.
What type of soil is best for growing calla lily?
When it comes to growing calla lilies, choosing the right type of soil is crucial for their health. For growing calla lilies, the best soil is loose, well-draining, and consistently moist.
Enrich the soil with compost or manure for added nutrients. Aim for a slightly acidic pH range of 5.6 to 6.5. This type of soil provides optimal conditions for healthy and vibrant calla lily growth.
How to Make Potting Soil Mix for Calla Lily at Home?
Start with a base of peat moss
Peat moss serves as the primary component in the potting soil mix. It provides excellent moisture retention, allowing the soil to stay consistently moist, which is beneficial for calla lilies. Peat moss also helps improve the soil’s structure and nutrient-holding capacity.
Add perlite for improved drainage
Perlite is a lightweight volcanic mineral that aids in enhancing the soil’s drainage properties. It prevents waterlogging and allows excess water to flow out of the soil, preventing root rot. Perlite also adds air pockets to the soil, promoting root respiration and preventing suffocation of the roots.
Compost for nutrient enrichment
Compost is an excellent addition to the potting soil mix as it provides a rich source of organic matter and nutrients. It improves the soil’s fertility, supports beneficial microbial activity, and releases nutrients slowly over time. This nutrient enrichment helps promote healthy growth and robust blooms in calla lilies.
Coarse sand
Coarse sand aids in maintaining a well-draining soil structure. It prevents the soil from becoming compacted, which can hinder water drainage and root growth. The sand also helps improve aeration and prevents the soil from retaining excessive moisture.
To make the potting soil mix, combine one part peat moss, one part perlite, one part compost, and a small amount of coarse sand. Mix these ingredients thoroughly until well combined. Adjust the proportions if needed, ensuring the final mix has a loose and crumbly texture.
Difference between garden soil and potting soil
Garden Soil
Garden soil refers to the soil found naturally in your garden or outdoor growing area. It is the soil that developed over time and holds a mix of organic matter, minerals, and microorganisms.
Garden soil is suitable for growing plants directly in the ground, and is cheap as it doesn’t have ingredients like perlite, vermiculite and peat moss.
However, garden soil may not always be ideal for potted plants or container gardening. It tends to be heavier and more compacted, which can hinder proper drainage in containers.
Potting Soil
Potting soil is specially designed and formulated for the specific needs of plants grown in containers. It is a commercially prepared mixture that provides the ideal growing environment for potted plants. Potting soil is typically lighter in texture and more well-draining than garden soil.
Potting soil is carefully blended to ensure proper aeration, moisture retention, and nutrient availability for plants in containers. It is a mix of organic materials like peat moss, compost, or coconut coir, along with additives such as perlite or vermiculite for improved drainage.
Potting soil also undergoes sterilization processes to eliminate weed seeds, pests, and diseases that could harm potted plants. This creates a clean and controlled environment for your container-grown plants.
Do Calla Lilies Do Better in Pots or in the Ground?
Growing calla lilies in pots
Growing calla lilies in pots offers several advantages and they actually grow better. Firstly, pots provide more control over the growing environment, allowing you to optimize conditions for the plants.
You can choose the ideal potting soil, ensure proper drainage, and easily move the pots to different locations, depending on sunlight requirements or your preferences.
Potted calla lilies also work well for those with limited space or no garden. They can be placed on balconies, patios, or windowsills, bringing the beauty of these elegant flowers closer to your living space.
Potted calla lilies can also be brought indoors during cold weather, extending their growing season and allowing you to enjoy their blooms for longer.
Growing calla lilies on the ground
Planting calla lilies directly in the ground can be a good option if you have a garden or a designated planting area.
In the ground, calla lilies have more room for root expansion and can access natural nutrients in the soil. They can spread and multiply more easily, resulting in larger clusters of beautiful flowers.
When planted in the ground, calla lilies also benefit from the stability of the soil, as it provides a firm foundation for their growth. They can establish deeper root systems and withstand external factors like wind or extreme weather conditions more effectively.
Although, whether calla lilies do better in pots or in the ground depends on your choice and specific circumstances, space availability, and personal preferences.
Also Read: How Big Do Hibiscus Plants Get?
When to Repot Calla Lily?
Repotting is necessary every year when the plant outgrows its current container or when the soil becomes depleted and loses its fertility.
The ideal time to repot a calla lily is during its dormant period, which usually occurs in late fall or winter. During this time, the plant is not actively growing, and repotting will do less stress to the plant. It’s best to wait until the foliage dies back naturally before proceeding with repotting.
Signs that indicate it’s time to repot your calla lily include the roots becoming tightly packed or coming out from drainage holes. These signs suggest that the plant has used up the available space and nutrients in its current pot.
When it comes to repotting, opt for a container that is slightly larger than the current one in size. Ensure the new pot has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape. Prepare a fresh potting mix suitable for calla lilies, ensuring it is well-draining and nutrient-rich.
Gently remove the calla lily from its current pot, taking care not to damage the roots. If the roots are tightly bound, you can gently loosen them with your fingers. Place the calla lily in the new pot, ensuring the crown of the plant sits at the same level as before. Fill the remaining space with the fresh potting mix, pressing it lightly to secure the plant.
After repotting, water the calla lily to settle the soil around the roots. Place the plant in a location that receives bright, indirect light, and continue with your regular care.
Remember, repotting is not needed every year unless the plant shows clear signs of being root-bound.
Calla Lily Caring Tips
Caring for Calla lilies is rather straightforward. These beautiful flowers can thrive with proper care, and here are some helpful tips to care for them –
1. Sunlight and Temperature
Calla lilies love bright but indirect light. Place them in a location where they receive partial sunlight throughout the day. Avoid exposing them to direct, harsh sunlight.
Regarding temperature, calla lilies thrive in temperatures between 60-80°F, so keep them in a comfortable, moderate climate.
2. Watering
Calla lilies like consistently moist soil. Water them when you see the top inch of the soil is dry, confirming that the water reaches the root zone. However, be cautious not to overwater as it can trouble you with root rot problems.
3. Fertilization
To promote healthy growth and vibrant blooms, feed your calla lilies with a balanced, water-soluble and slow-release fertilizer. Use it every 2-4 weeks during the growing season. However, reduce or stop fertilization during the plant’s dormant period.
4. Humidity
Calla lilies appreciate moderate humidity levels. If the air in your home is dry, you can increase humidity around the plants by placing them on a tray filled with water.
5. Pruning
Pruning helps maintain the plant’s shape and promotes better airflow, reducing the risk of diseases. Remove any yellowed or damaged leaves as they occur. This can also make the look of your plant neat and clean.
6. Pests and diseases
Common pests include aphids, slugs and spider mites, which can be controlled with water sprays or insecticidal soap. Whereas diseases such as powdery mildew and grey mould can trouble your plant. Regularly checking and taking action quickly can save this problem.
Conclusion
Calla lilies are beautiful and resilient plants that can thrive with proper care. By providing them with the right growing conditions such as bright, indirect light, consistent moisture, and moderate temperatures, you can enjoy their elegant blooms.
As for their potting soil, it should be loose, well-draining, and somewhat moist. Further, calla lilies thrive best in soil that has a slightly acidic pH level, ideally ranging from 5.6 to 6.5. Taking care of all these things and providing the ideal environment for your plant can help calla lily to flourish in an amazing appearance.
Khaja Moinuddin, a computer science graduate, finds joy in gardening and homesteading. Join him on this blog as he shares his experiences in homesteading, gardening, and composting