When I pulled them they smelt like a raw potato, now they have a foul odor. I have them stored in my basement and they are dry.

A bad smell is never a good sign. The top right one in your picture sure looks like it has a soft spot. You could probe around with a clean, sharp knife and see if you can clean out any rotten stuff. Then dust the cuts with cinnamon, and hope for the best. Keep dry, don't wash them!

Is your basement cool as well as dry? Too much warmth could be helping any bacteria or other pathogens to grow in your stored bulbs.

dyzzypyxxy said:A bad smell is never a good sign. The top right one in your picture sure looks like it has a soft spot. You could probe around with a clean, sharp knife and see if you can clean out any rotten stuff. Then dust the cuts with cinnamon, and hope for the best. Keep dry, don't wash them!

Is your basement cool as well as dry? Too much warmth could be helping any bacteria or other pathogens to grow in your stored bulbs.

It's cool and dry yes.

What do you have them stored in?

Why did you "pull" them?

Agree with Elaine. And if they smell bad, they are rotting.

DavidLMO said:What do you have them stored in?

Why did you "pull" them?

Agree with Elaine. And if they smell bad, they are rotting.

Stored in a brown bag with peat moss. Pulled them because it's ice outside and snow

OH....Got ya. I thought you already had them stored.
Peat Moss is not the best thing to store in. Perlilite, ground paper, vermiculite are better.

As Elaine said, you can try to cut out the rotted area and use cinnamon or powdered sulphur.

keithp2012 said:

Stored in a brown bag with peat moss. Pulled them because it's ice outside and snow

How long ago did you pull them? I know they are prone to bacterial soft rot but could they previously have been frozen while still in the ground or did you bring them in some time ago?

cut rotten parts off and sulfer em. And i would plant them in pots right then. Put em in sunny window. Have a head start for spring 😁
Are you sure that you needed to lift them ??? If so. Next year. I would store them like mentioned above. Butt in a preferated plastic bag in the refigerator.
Ooo!!!😬 refrigerator.... Cold.....
And dry !!!

😎😎😎

A teaspoon is easy to use for scooping when a knife is difficult. Dust the cut with cinnamon or sulfur as mentioned. I store in paper bags in a cool dry area of the basement, to restrict airflow/desiccation and check them every few weeks early on. If you store in Perlite either rinse it thoroughly and allow to dry completely or wear a gas mask.

sooby said:

How long ago did you pull them? I know they are prone to bacterial soft rot but could they previously have been frozen while still in the ground or did you bring them in some time ago?

Yes they did have some freezing exposure before I could pull them earlier

They don't typically tolerate freezing so that could have directly damaged them as well as let the bacteria get in to start the rotting. Next time it would be a good idea to bring them in earlier before freezing weather.

If potted I'd say this is very good advice. When grown in ground at an appropriate depth of about 8" deep and mulched, the tuber or rhizome shouldn't be affected by a frost or even a killing freeze in 7a. Lifting them soon after should be fine. You should also be watching for signs your plant is going dormant which can happen most any time but usually in early fall with some varieties for me. Cold and wet is a greater risk with a dormant Calla because several species are summer/dry season dormant. Those genes are often present in cultivars.

If it also feels soft/mushy to the touch it's rotten. But not lost. Scoop out the rotting part completely, dust with fungicide and let it callus over.