| I planted 8 lavender gem calla lily's 2 years ago. Each year the leaves grow beautiful,long, and strong but the actual flower never changes from green. The flower itself is so heavy that the stem falls over. Does the soil need to be light and rich? I have the bulbs in the ground and the soil is about 65% clay and I am adding amendments to lighten the soil up so it is not so heavy. Is this my problem? Please help as these are my wife's favorite flower and we are very discouraged. Again Please help! Thank you. |
| Callas thrive on heavy watering, require well-draining soil, and need afternoon shade in your climate. When plants fail to bloom, the cause can usually be traced back to poor cultural conditions. It sounds as though your callas are struggling to stay alive! Clay soils tend to hold water for a long time. I think if you dig the callas up and amend the soil with lots of organic matter, the plants will perk up. After digging the callas, spread a 3"-4" thick layer of aged compost over the top of the bed and dig it in to a depth of 6"-8". Then replant the rhizomes, setting them about 4" deep and 1' apart. Don't fertilize (too much nitrogen can cause weak flower stems), but do water them well when new growth begins in the spring. To guarentee you have at least one blooming calla this year, why not pot one up in a container filled with regular potting soil? Callas adapt well to containers and should put on quite a show for you this year. |
