Perhaps your love for the Zantedeschia species inspired you to learn how to prune calla lilies. Did you know that contrary to what most people think, these plants aren’t considered true lilies? In case you’re not aware, calla lilies originate in South Africa where they thrive in soil that’s both rich and moist.
Although they grow in partly shady areas, these plants also need to get full sun because this promotes flowering. In most cases, you see these immaculate-looking, trumpet-shaped calla blooms being used in wedding arrangements, as well as bridal bouquets. While most of its flowers are white, callas can also come in a variety of colors.
Tips in Pruning Calla Lilies
If you want your calla lilies to stay beautiful and healthy, you need to learn how to prune them. To give you a head start, check out these steps in pruning calla lilies:
Tip #1. Prune your calla lilies after their blooms have withered
When it comes to pruning, timing is key. Be sure to start the process only after you see the calla blooms wither. Get your tools pruning tools out once you notice that the flowers have already grown fully and have released their distinctive heavy scents.
Tip #2. Don’t prune more than 1/3 of the calla lily stem each year
If you won’t want to eliminate potential blooms, avoid pruning during the late part of autumn or the early part of spring. In most cases, the calla lily bush has about 8 to 12 stems that have different ages with about 1 to 2 inches in terms of diameter. Keep in mind that you shouldn’t be pruning more than 1/3 of its stem each year.
Tip #3. Remember to remove the dead branches
In case you’re not aware, the most basic type of pruning involves the removal of dead branches. During springtime, it’s best to get rid of the shrub’s dead branches that look like they won’t likely live through the punishing winter weather. Except for cases where a major stem or a full branch is dead, you’ll only need to cut off the dead parts.
Tip #4. Use a sharp knife to cut the dead stems
As mentioned earlier, only the dead parts need to be eliminated. You can chop them off with the use of a sharp knife so that you won’t be able to crush the branches that are healthy.
Tip #5. Give the calla lily shrub its proper shape
Once you’ve successfully cut off each stem and branch that has no signs of life in them, it’s time to give your calla lily shrub its proper shape. It’s important to note that in some cases, the branches tend to grow in a way that causes them to rub against each other.
For this reason, it’s best to prune the branches that grow taller than the other branches. To do this right, you need to cut above the node in order to bring it back to a decent length.
Tip #6. Remove the grown flowers.
If you want to help your calla lilies to bloom much better, you need to deadhead them by getting rid of the grown flowers. Failure to remove them will cause your plant to waste most of its energy on seed production. Conversely, deadheading your calla lilies by snipping the flowers off once you see them starting to fade will help you make sure that it will produce more flowers in the next season.
Is it a Great Idea to Grow Calla lilies and Other Types of Plants in a Hobby Greenhouse?
Growing any type of plant in a hobby greenhouse is a great idea because it offers numerous benefits such as the following:
Benefit #1. It protects your plants from the ever-changing weather conditions
Greenhouse gardening acts as a protective barrier against harsh weather conditions such as heavy rains, high winds, snow, sleet, hail, and blizzards that may cause serious damage to your tender plants. Unlike traditional outdoor gardening, greenhouse gardening eliminates the need to make emergency preparations for inclement weather.
Benefit #2. It keeps destructive bugs and animals at bay
Having your own hobby greenhouse means being able to shield your plants from harmful bugs that include aphids, cabbage maggots, cutworms, caterpillars, flea beetles, tarnished plant bugs, Mexican bean beetles, Colorado potato beetles, Japanese beetles, and scales.
Benefit #3. It eliminates the need for a garden shed
Aside from providing you with enough space for gardening, a hobby greenhouse can also serve as a storage area for all of your gardening supplies and equipment. What’s more, storing these items inside your hobby greenhouse would make them more accessible for you.
Benefit #4. You can plant anything at anytime
One of the best things about greenhouse gardening is the fact that nothing’s going to stop you from growing any type of plant at any time! Since your hobby greenhouse allows you to manipulate your plants’ environment, you can easily keep the temperature, humidity, and light at levels that will best suit your plants.
Final Thoughts on How to Prune Calla Lilies
Knowing to prune calla lilies is extremely important if you want to make sure that your plants stay beautiful and in tiptop shape. While you’re at it, consider growing them in a hobby greenhouse so that you’ll personally experience the benefits of doing so.