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calla lilies not blooming


Question
Our calla lilies bloomed serveral years ago but the last few years all we have are nice green leaves. What am I doing wrong. We have them in pots.

Answer
If you were planting your Callas in the ground, I would ask you if a nearby shrub is obstructing the strong sunlight these plants need to bloom best.

But you have yours in pots.  So instead, I'll ask: Have you been putting them in the same location year after year?  Same place they were during the boom in blooms?

These plants need LOTS of Sun for optimal performance.  They DO NOT need a high-Nitrogen fertilizer.  If you are making either or both of these errs, learn the error of your ways -- switch gears and correct as needed.

Lots of fertilizers are LOADED with Nitrogen.  Over-dosing with these can end up stimulating lots of Leaves without ever triggering a flower.  Check your labels.  Nitrogen is the 'N' in the N-P-K analysis on the Fertilizer container.  If the 'N' number is the BIGGEST, then it's time to switch fertilizers.  Find one with the biggest number in the MIDDLE, the Phosphorous, the 'P'.  Phosphorous is for Phlowers.

If they are getting Sun all day long, your Callas should be flowering fantastically.  If not, move it to a brighter location.

There are some great Calla Lily websites that are very informative about these plants.  Some of my favorites:

www.botany.com/zantedeschia.html
(scroll down when you get to that page and see the picture)

www.flowersbulbs.com/calla_information_faqs.cfm

www.plantzafrica.com/plantwxyz/zantedeschaeth.htm

and

www.floridagardener.com/pom/calla.htm

Try that, and see if things get better.  Keep me posted.

THE LONG ISLAND GARDENER

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