Zantedeschia or calla is a plant that came to us from southern Africa, belongs to the aroid family. In nature, it lives in swamps. In cloudless weather, the plant begins to smell like pineapple. The plant is perennial, herbaceous, with a rhizome in the form of a tuber.
In the 19th century, a botanist from Italy named Zantedeschi discovered this plant, as a result of which one of its names is in his honor. To date, 6 types of zantedeschia have been discovered: white-spotted, Ethiopian, Zantedeschia Elliot, Remania and others. They grow mainly in southern Africa, in the subtropics. They are also herbaceous, do not have a stem, their root is thickened.
Zantedeskia care at home
Location and lighting
Zantedeschia is very fond of light, so it is worth keeping it in the most lighted room, but in no case put it in a draft. Since there is not enough light in winter, and calla is gradually getting used to such an amount of it, in spring you do not need to leave it on the window all day at once so that there are no problems.
Temperature
Zantedeschia is a thermophilic plant, therefore it is necessary to maintain the temperature in the room above +18 degrees. The most comfortable temperature for this plant is about + 22-23 degrees. In winter, the temperature can be reduced by almost half, to +12 degrees.
Watering
First of all, it is necessary to clarify that calla lilies should not be flooded in winter, but from spring to autumn, on the contrary, it requires more abundant watering. The water should not be chlorinated and cold. In winter, watering does not need to be reduced, it should be about the same as in summer.
Air humidity
Calla, grown in the subtropics, prefers high air humidity, close to 85%. The plant must be sprayed with a spray bottle and wiped off the leaves. The water pan under the pot should be wide.
Top dressing and fertilizers
In the period from February to June, calla lilies need to be fertilized 2 times a month with a mixture for plants flowering in the room. If you need the plant to bloom faster, choose fertilizers containing phosphorus, while nitrogen fertilizers have a beneficial effect on growth.
Transfer
A pot for this plant must be selected spacious enough and filled with a nutritious mixture of turf, humus, leaf and peat lands and sand in a ratio of 2: 1: 1: 1: 1, respectively.
Calla lilies need to be transplanted in June-July, when it ends its flowering period. Watering should be reduced, stop fertilizing it, and when the leaves begin to fall off, transplant it into new soil.
Pruning
With the onset of the second half of July, zantedeschia requires pruning of new grown offspring, because if they are not pruned, then the growth and flowering of the plant will decrease.
Dormant period
When the plant sheds its last flowers, the frequency of watering should be drastically reduced. When the flowers completely fall off, stop it altogether. In the second half of July, you need to get the plant out of the pot, shake it out, and get rid of the calla itself from the leaves by cutting them off.
After such procedures, the zantedeschia can be planted again in the pot, and the pot can be put back on the windowsill, but at the same time maintain a fairly low temperature - up to +10 degrees. At first, watering is required rather scanty, but after half a month it can be increased to abundant. In the middle of autumn, you need to slightly increase the temperature, up to about +15 degrees.
Flowering period
When zantedeschia is two years old, it is able to bloom. With its flowering, it will delight your eye all winter, starting in November. By changing the temperature, you can clearly predict the moment when the plant will bloom. In theory, it can bloom throughout the year, but for calla lilies it will be better if you adhere to the "regime" when it blooms in winter.
Within 2-4 years, calla lilies can bloom excellently, after which offspring grow on it, which must be regularly cut and transplanted into the renewed plant.
At the end of the flowering period, the plant may begin to turn yellow, but the roots will continue to grow despite this.
Reproduction of zantedeschia
When the dormant period ends, the zantedeschia begins to release side shoots, which can be pinched off or cut off and planted in another pot. The soil mixture is the same as for an adult plant, in the same ratio, but without humus. Only a transplanted young plant requires abundant watering, after a few days you can apply a 50% nutrient solution, even later - a concentrated 100% solution.
Diseases and pests
Of the pests in calla lilies, spider mites can be noted, which appear at temperatures from +18 degrees and make the leaves begin to turn yellow. To avoid such a misfortune, you need to regularly spray the leaves.
I beg your pardon ... How do you imagine reducing the temperature on the windowsill in the middle of summer !!!! to 10 degrees? Do you have any idea how to achieve this temperature? Can you share your experience?