Contents
Calla lilies in the fall: care, storage after digging
Before the onset of winter frosts, calla lilies are dug up. This ensures the safety of the bulbs. In the future, they will be able to develop and bloom again.
In the fall, the plant begins to prepare for digging. Bulbs cannot survive in soil with temperatures below 0 degrees. To prevent death, they are dug out before the onset of cold weather. This period depends on the climatic conditions of a particular region. In the middle lane, the best period for harvesting tubers for storage is October.
Callas must be cut in autumn
In order for the bulb to be stored for a long time, it must be properly dug up. Cleaning for long-term storage is carried out in several stages:
- Preparation – calla lilies begin to bloom in the fall, so it is necessary to carefully remove the dried foliage;
- Cleaning – the dug out tuber with a stem is cleaned of dirt. To do this, they can be rinsed under a weak stream of running water;
- Drying – the cleaned plant is packed in cardboard boxes or wooden boxes with ventilation. They are placed in a cool, dry and dark place for 2 weeks;
- The separation of the stems is carried out only in the dried plant. It is important not to damage the tuber;
- Removing the root formations provides the bulb with a dormant period.
You can store dried tubers in fabric bags or cardboard boxes. The air in the room must be dry. It must be ventilated.
Calla lilies after digging up in the fall: long-term storage
In order for the tuber to be preserved for further planting, it is necessary to remove the children. The procedure is carried out in several stages:
- Preparation – tubers are treated with an aqueous solution of activated carbon;
- Separation of children – sharp instruments must not be used to cut off the appendages. They need to be gently broken off with your fingers;
- Processing – the place of scrapping must be disinfected with brilliant green.
It is recommended to sort the tubers as often as possible.
Damaged and rotten specimens must be restored or discarded if this is not possible. To restore on the surface of the bulb, the damaged areas are cleaned. You can wrap each tuber in paper for individual storage. This will reduce the likelihood of infection of all plants.
Calla lilies can be stored until warm spring. At this time, they begin to wake up and prepare for transplantation. If the plant wakes up early, it can be planted in a large pot.