Calla lilies, due to their unpretentious nature and attractive appearance, have earned great love from gardeners. But unfortunately, these plants do not tolerate the conditions of our winter, with the onset of cold weather they need to be dug out of the open ground. There are several ways to store your calla lilies during the cold season. But in order for the plants to survive the winter, they need to be properly prepared.
Work should begin in early September. At this time, the flowering period of plants ends, they turn yellow and begin to dry out. If you live in the southern region, then you can wait a bit with storage. The main thing is to have time to carry out all the activities before the onset of night frosts.
It is impossible to store calla lilies in the open field in winter.
Never cut off the aerial part of the plant, because it will help the bulbs to absorb the juice before storing. Preparation for winter is carried out in this way:
- Dig up the calla lilies carefully, along with a clod of earth.
- Spread the plants together with roots and leaves to dry for 10 days.
- Remove the ground carefully.
- Cut off the roots and leaves of the crop, but do not touch the children. It is better to separate them for transplanting in the spring.
- Place the bulbs in a room with a temperature of + 25 ° C and dry them for 14 days.
After that, the calla lilies must be wrapped in a paper bag, newspaper or put in a cardboard box and sent to a suitable place.
There are many ways to save flowers in the cold season. The main thing is to provide the bulbs with optimal conditions. Storage methods:
- In the basement. A room with a temperature of +5 to +10 ° C is suitable. But keep in mind that in cellars with high humidity, flowers can germinate.
- In the fridge. You can store the crop in the vegetable compartment. The main thing is that the temperature in this place is kept in the range of 5-7 ° C.
- On the loggia. A similar location is suitable for potted flowers. With the arrival of autumn, gradually reduce watering and take out the plants to the balcony after the ground part has completely wilted.
- In the apartment. It is much more difficult to keep callas in a warm room. You can try placing them in the coldest place, for example, near the balcony door.
Whichever method you choose, remember to periodically inspect the bulbs for decay. If the defeat is not too extensive, then you can try to save the culture. To do this, cut off the decayed place and cauterize the cut with brilliant green.
There are many ways to save callas. The main thing is to provide the bulbs with optimal conditions, then they will certainly survive until spring. And you can plant these stunning flowers as early as March.