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Why wont my calla lily bloom?


Question
I have a beautiful and large calla lily plant which looks quite healty HOWEVER, it has not bloomed for the past 3 years.  Do you have any answers?  

Answer
Hi Barbara,
Thanx for your question.  Is the calla lily in a pot or is it growing outdoors?  If outdoors, does it grow outside perenially or do you lift the rhizome in the fall and store it for the winter?  If outside, what kind of growing conditions do you have and what is your general location?  Have you fertilized it?  If so, what type of fertilizer are you using?  And not to be a smart alec but are you certain it is a calla lily plant?  The reason I'm asking is that sometimes a person is given a plant which has been misnamed and the person, not knowing much about plants thinks s/he has something they don't really have.  Usually, the reason a calla lily won't bloom is primarily because the wrong type of fertilizer or too much fertilizer is being used.  Don't use fertilizers high in nitrogen and you really don't need to feed the plant very often.  If growing outside, a good side dressing of well-composted cow manure will be enough for the the season.  The second reason is that after three years, the rhizome is crowded with other rhizomes and you need to lift the rhizomes and separate them.  If it is in a pot and has never bloomed, remove the plant from the pot, shake off all the dirt, separate the rhizomes, repot, don't feed it just yet and then put it out in the sun but make sure it gets protection from afternoon sun particularly if you are in a hot, summer climate.  In the Pacific Northwest and other cooler parts of the USA, you can leave the plant exposed to afternoon sun.  I hope this helps.
Tom

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