Ethiopian calla lilies are very popular among lovers of indoor flowers. A plant from the aroid family is a relative of the moth and calamus. In nature, there are up to 6 different species. All of them are very attractive and have unusual qualities.
Description
The homeland of these callas is considered South Africa. Gorgeous flowers are a real decoration of apartments, greenhouses, look great in bouquets. The plant is large, with broad, juicy and shiny leaves that have a heart-shaped shape and a bright green color. They are located on long basal petioles and collected in sockets. The original structure is different flower itself. It is formed at the end of a rising arrow and is a yellow inflorescence-cob, wrapped in a white veil. Its smell is very faint and resembles vanilla.
Flowering usually begins in the second half of winter and lasts for 1.5–2 months. Ethiopian calla lilies are known under different names - Zantedesia, Rishardia, Callas. The tuberous rhizome forms numerous offspring every year, which must be removed so that they do not delay flowering.
Growing conditions
Calla lilies feel best in a spacious and bright room. Under conditions as close to natural as possible, the plant will delight with its beauty for a long time. The capacity for these colors needs volumetric, with a fairly deep pallet. The Ethiopian calla is not afraid of the sun's rays, but it must be protected from drafts. Compliance with the basic rules of growing is very important - maintaining the required temperature, lighting, humidity, timely top dressing.
Soil requirements
Under natural conditions, calla lilies prefer moist wetlands. This must be taken into account when preparing the soil mixture for planting, adding river sludge to it and placing a deep pan under the pot (it must contain a layer of water of at least 5 cm). If you are counting on a perennial content of the plant, it is necessary that the substrate is slightly acidic, rich in nutrients. It should contain clay-turf and peaty soil, humus, sand (all in a ratio of 1: 1: 1: 0.5). It is very good if you can add a little swamp substrate or river sludge. Ethiopian homemade calla grows well in pure peat. Some gardeners use manure or compost to prepare the soil mixture.
Landing
In March, spacious pots are prepared - for 1 tuber, the capacity should be at least 3 liters. The soil mixture is poured into them with the addition of superphosphate (1 tablespoon for every 3 liters of substrate). A drainage layer is necessarily poured to the bottom.
Planted tubers must be healthy. This is evidenced by their elasticity, light yellow color and the presence of living apical kidneys. Overdried gray tubers with wrinkled skin are not suitable. Existing areas of rot or growths are carefully scraped off with a sharp knife.
Before landing, they carry out certain preparatory work. For 2-3 weeks, the tubers are transferred to a warm place with good lighting. Then immersed for 15 minutes in a weak solution of potassium permanganate, and then dried. This will help protect the flowers from decay and pests, from which Ethiopian calla lilies often suffer.
Tubers are planted shallow - a maximum of 10 cm - and moisturized a little. Pots are placed where there is heat and there are no drafts.
Watering
In the first 2 weeks, the plant does not need strong hydration. Later they switch to abundant watering. The water used is soft, settled. During the flowering period, additional hydration is required, therefore, zantedesia leaves are sprayed from the spray gun and bathed in the shower. It is necessary to ensure that the water is always in the pan.
For a native of tropical Africa, indoor humidity should be at least 55%. If this condition is met, Ethiopian calla will please not only large flowers, but also beautiful greenery. Caring for a plant involves abundant watering only during the development of leaves and flowering. From the moment the dormant period begins, they are reduced, then they are completely stopped by 1.5–2 months and gradually renewed again. This phase in the development of the plant lasts, as a rule, from autumn to February.
Temperature and lighting
It is desirable that the room for growing callas is bright and spacious. Direct sunlight is detrimental to the plant. It is better if the light is a little diffused. The flower pot can be placed on the north or east window. Calla Ethiopian white grows well under artificial lighting, the main thing is that it is correctly chosen, otherwise the plant may not bloom. Daylight hours should last 10-12 hours.
An important role is played by the temperature in the room where zantedescia grows. It can fluctuate depending on the phase of calla development. During flowering, it is necessary to maintain a temperature within 15-18 ° C. Its increase even by 2 degrees will lead to a decrease in the quality of flowers. During dormancy, it is recommended to clean callas in a room where from 8 to 10⁰C heat.
Top dressing
Fertilizers begin to be applied when the first leaves appear. Combine both root and foliar top dressing. Mineral and organic fertilizers are used on average 2 times a month. Initially, at the stage of plant development, these are mainly nitrogen fertilizers. During flowering, more phosphorus and potassium are needed. You can apply the usual complex fertilizers for indoor plants containing these elements. Longer and more beautiful flowering depends on them to a greater extent. Calla Ethiopian with its appearance signals a lack of a nutrient. With a lack of nitrogen, the leaves fade, losing their gloss. Potassium deficiency is expressed in lifting up their pointed tips.
When performing leaf feeding, it is very important that droplets of the solution do not fall on the white cover of the flower. This can lead to the loss of its decorative effect. Periodically replacing the top layer of the substrate, you can do without plant transplantation. At a time when Ethiopian calla blooms, home care also allows the application of top dressing in the form of tea leaves, egg shells, fruit peels.
Dormant plant care
At the end of flowering, calla growth stops, but the roots continue to develop. This period usually lasts from May to July. Until autumn, the plant can be placed on a balcony or loggia, where piercing winds do not penetrate and there is an opportunity to hide from the sun. Neither watering nor top dressing is done at this time.
Callas can be put into a state of deep dormancy, having completely removed the leaves and placed in a refrigerator, cellar or any other place where the temperature is within 3-5 ° C.
Breeding
It can be produced both by offspring and by seeds. The first method is much simpler, which is why it is most often used by flower growers. Siblings are called small nodules that form in large numbers around the main one (sometimes there are up to 25 of them). They have to be removed in any case, so as not to delay the development of the plant. Tubers are separated carefully so as not to damage the roots existing on them, and planted in prepared containers filled with substrate. It is obtained by mixing 2 parts of turf land and one each - peat, leaf and sand. Then the pots are placed in a room with a temperature of + 12-16 ° C and humidity not lower than 80%. There must be good lighting, because otherwise the plants are stretched, the leaves lose their bright color, and the quality of flowering may suffer in the future.
To increase the amount of planting material, offspring can be divided in half so that at least one kidney remains on each. The fault place is treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or sprinkled with charcoal.
Ethiopian calla propagates by seed. This method is used mainly by breeders, because it allows you to save varietal characteristics of the plant. Only fresh seeds are taken for planting. They are soaked for 6 hours in a special solution that stimulates development. After that, spread on a damp cloth, covering it with its other end, and for 7 days place it in a warm place. As soon as the seeds germinate, they are sown in the ground. They germinate at a temperature of 20 ° C. The appeared inputs dive on separate capacities.
Diseases and Pests
Mostly fungal and infectious diseases suffer from Ethiopian calla. Planting and care, carried out without observing the rules of agricultural technology, are the main reasons for their occurrence. Waterlogging of the soil, an excess of nitrogenous fertilizers usually lead to damage to the plant by the fungus. At the first signs of this, it is necessary to stop watering, replace the soil and treat the flower with fungicides.
The most important thing is to prevent such diseases, because getting rid of some of them can be very difficult. Prevention consists in disinfecting tubers, removing parts of the plant with the slightest signs of disease.
Of the insect pests for calla lilies, the most dangerous is the spider mite and aphids. To combat them, it is recommended to spray the plant with special preparations (Fitoverm, Vertimek) and a soap solution.
With proper care, Ethiopian calla lilies can become a real decoration at home. Photos of these amazing flowers confirm the fact that with very little effort, you can grow such beauty in your home.