• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Farmhouse & Blooms
  • Ornamental Gardening
  • Gardening Basics
  • Farmhouse DIY
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Category Index
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Ornamental Gardening
  • Gardening Basics
  • Farmhouse DIY
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Category Index
  • Contact
  • Let's Connect

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Ornamental Gardening
    • Gardening Basics
    • Farmhouse DIY
    • Recipes
    • About
    • Category Index
    • Contact
  • Let's Connect

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Ornamental Gardening

    How Long Do Potted Calla Lilies Last?

    Published: Mar 11, 2022 · Modified: Nov 26, 2024 by Chey Mullin · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

    Sharing is caring!

    2.0K shares
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    Calla Lily plants have beautiful tubular flowers that are absolutely stunning when in full bloom. Sometimes however, when they are bought already potted from a big box store, they seem to fade all too quickly. Have you ever wondered just how long potted calla lilies are supposed to last?

    calla lilies growing in pots
    sometimes potted calla lilies seem to fade too quickly

    Potted Calla Lilies can last for approximately four months in an active state of growth. This includes a period of foliage growth in the first six weeks, followed by six to eight weeks of blooming. After blooming the foliage will begin to yellow and fade, until the plant becomes dormant. The Calla Lily rhizome will rebloom again, after a period of dormancy.

    Calla Lilies are elegant, yet so easy to grow. They are generally available to grow all year round, so we can grow them indoors in winter, and as an outdoor plant in summer.

    I always try to keep something growing indoors, especially during the winter months to brighten up the indoor space. Calla lilies are the perfect plant to grow inside. They don't need a lot of sun or care in general, and are a low maintenance plant.

    white calla lily flowers
    a perfect plant to grow in pots inside, calla lilies brighten up the winter months
    In This Article: hide
    How Long Do Potted Calla Lilies Last?
    Calla Lily Growth Cycle
    Potted Calla Lily Care
    Calla Lilies Are Tropical Perennial Plants
    Frequently Asked Questions
    In Summary
    Other Posts You May Like:
    PIN IT FOR LATER!

    How Long Do Potted Calla Lilies Last?

    Calla lilies have a period of active growth for approximately four months and then slowly fall back into dormancy.

    Potted callas therefore will also go through this period, from foliage, to bloom, to dormant state.

    There is a chance if you have purchased a potted Calla Lily, that it may be almost at the end of it's blooming period. Perhaps it will only have several weeks left to bloom, and then starts to become dormant.

    It's hard to know how long it has already been in bloom.

    Some unknowing potted calla lily owners may choose to toss their precious callas, unaware that the plant is heading into dormancy. When the foliage turns yellow and starts to recede, it gives the appearance that the plant may be dead.

    But this is far from the case.

    The yellow leaves and fading plant are just part of the natural process of the plant going into dormancy.

    So let's have a look at the growing cycle of Calla Lilies in brief, and different parts of the plant.

    fading leaves on a potted calla lily
    fading and yellowed leaves is a natural process for the calla lily, going into dormancy

    Calla Lily Growth Cycle

    If a Calla lily is in the right spot and given everything it needs to grow well, it can flower for up to two months.

    The growth period however is much longer than the two month flowering period, and lasts about six months.

    Calla Lily Bloom Period

    Sprouting Rhizome

    • The bulb-like structure of calla lilies is actually a rhizome.
    • The rhizome starts to sprout in early spring, when it comes out of dormancy.
    • It can be planted at this stage, when it develops shoots.
    • It's very important to provide enough light, moisture, and nutrition for the calla lily plant to grow.
    calla lily rhizomes on a plate, taken from storage, beginning to sprout
    the calla lily rhizomes start to sprout in early spring - these were just removed from storage
    a calla lily rhizome
    a smaller calla lily rhizome, resembling a bulb

    Foliage Development

    • The foliage develops for four to six weeks, and grows before the blooms emerge.
    • Calla Lily foliage is smooth and green and sometimes speckled or variegated.
    • The foliage is swordlike in shape, and very attractive all on it's own.
    calla lilies sprouting
    calla lily foliage sprouting in spring
    a hand holding a calla lily leaf
    calla lily foliage is very attractive- a green calla lily leaf which is speckled with white linear markings

    Flower Development

    • After six weeks, the flower buds begin to show.
    • After seven to eight weeks the flower buds begin to bloom, and the flowering window at this stage can last for one and a half to two months.
    • Each vaselike calla lily flower can last for several weeks. For this reason, Calla Lily blooms also make excellent cut flowers, and look wonderful in floral arrangements.
    • Calla Lily flowers are available in many different colors, making them a wonderful choice as a flowering plant.
    • When the Calla Lily flowers have finished blooming, the plant will die back naturally.
    a calla lily flower
    individual calla lily flowers can last for two weeks
    a purple calla lily
    a potted calla lily can bloom over a period of six to eight weeks in the right conditions- note the blooms in various stages of growth

    Rhizome Development

    • Once the calla has finished flowering, the plant begins to age.
    • At this point the bulb or rhizome begins to grow and reproduce.
    • What was once a single bulb with shoots will develop into a larger structure with multiple bulb-like pieces with eyes.
    • The Calla Lily will follow it's natural process and then go into a period of dormancy. If the plant is dying back, it is becoming dormant.
    • Allow the plant to enter this state by allowing it to go dry, and water much less frequently.
    a spent calla lily in a pot
    allow the potted calla lily to go into a dormant state

    Calla Lily Dormancy Period

    • When the leaves have died back, and the plant has become dormant, the rhizome can be harvested, or essentially removed from the pot.
    • Dry out the rhizome by placing in a clean container, and place in a cool location for two to three months.
    • I usually place in a tray and cover with a loose covering such as a sheet of Kraft paper. The tray is then stored in a cool room until spring.
    • After this dormant period the rhizome will again start to sprout for another flowering cycle next growing season.
    • It can be replanted, and will regrow again, and will rebloom if given the right growing conditions.
    • This process repeats again year after year.
    calla lily rhizomes
    at the end of the dormant period, the calla lily rhizome will sprout, and it is time to plant it once again

    Potted Calla Lily Care

    Callas are low maintenance plants, and do not require much care.

    That being said, there are certain things that can be done to keep your potted calla lily happy, and to ensure optimal growth and flowering during the growth and bloom period.

    a hand touching white calla lily flowers
    there are certain things that can be done to ensure optimal growth of a potted calla lily

    Calla Lily Care During Blooming

    • Callas like bright light and full sun, however not intense light. Morning sun is preferred.
    • If growing outside, Calla Lilies prefer full sun in cooler climates, and partial shade in warm climates.
    • Water approximately twice per week. Allow the surface of the soil to dry out somewhat between waterings.
    • Calla lilies will have better blooms if fertilized with a balanced plant food.
    • Deadhead flowers that are spent or have died back to reserve plant energy for further blooming.
    • Regular pruning of spent foliage is also helpful. Cut off any leaves that are turning yellow and dying back.
    a hand holding a spent calla lily flower
    deadhead spent calla lily flowers
    a hand holding spent leaves removed from a calla lily plant
    remove yellowed foliage from the calla lily plant
    a calla lily leaf turning yellow
    a calla lily leaf turning yellow

    Calla Lily Care After Blooming

    • Continue to care for the Calla Lily after blooming, as you would any other leafy houseplant.
    • If the plant has finished blooming, and the leaves are yellowing and drooping, this usually means that the plant is going into a dormant period.
    • As the leaves start to fade, water less frequently.
    • Allow the rhizome to become dormant.
    • When all the leaves have died off, you can harvest the rhizome and store until spring, or alternatively put the pot away as is, with the rhizome in the soil, and store until spring.
    • Follow the guidelines described above on rhizome care during dormancy, and also see below on how to overwinter Calla Lilies in pots.
    calla lily leaves
    continue to care for the calla lily plant until the leaves start to fade

    Calla Lilies Are Tropical Perennial Plants

    Calla Lilies, or zantedeschia aethiopica, are perennial plants that can remain in the garden in warm tropical climates, such as in usda plant hardiness zones 8 or 9 and above. In colder zones the Calla Lily rhizomes will need to be dug up and brought inside if they are to survive the winter.

    These are perfect plants for the cutting garden, with their straight flower stems and long lasting blooms. Many however are grown in pots, and do exceptionally well as a container plant.

    In late spring, I plant Calla Lilies in pots outside. At the end of the season in early fall, when the foliage goes dormant, the rhizomes are dug and placed in a cool spot until spring.

    The next year in spring, they are again replanted outside, and the cycle continues.

    yellowing calla lily leaves
    at the end of the season, calla lilies in outdoor pots go dormant
    calla lily rhizomes
    the calla lily rhizomes are then dug from the pots

    Frequently Asked Questions

    1. Will potted calla lilies come back every year?

    Calla Lilies should come back every year if given the proper calla lily care.

    This is because Calla Lilies are perennial plants.

    At the end of their growing cycle they go dormant. Then after a period of dormancy, they once again start to sprout and regrow.

    So what about those indoor calla lilies that we bought at big box stores in the floral department? Those flowers have been blooming in the winter months, in the opposite season as those we grow in summer.

    These are the same Calla lilies that we grow in summer, with forced blooms to grow indoors in winter.

    These plants will have their bloom time, and then will become dormant, just as the summer blooming Callas.

    With the right care, these plants as well can last a long time, and may survive for many years to come.

    Give them a period of dormancy to rest, and in the springtime when these rhizomes begin to sprout, they can be planted outside as well.

    purple and pink calla lily flowers
    with the right care, calla lilies will come back every year

    2. Do calla lilies grow well in pots?

    Calla Lilies grow very well in pots, whether grown as an indoor plant, or outdoors in summer.

    The plants do not seem to mind the restriction within the pots, and will often grow very well and multiply within the potted space.

    The pots also tend to warm up faster than the garden soil, creating a lovely warm environment for the Calla Lily rhizome growth.

    Some gardeners prefer to grow their Calla lilies in pots. In fact some growers will actually bury their potted callas right into the garden soil, pot and all.

    The calla lily bulbs, which are actually rhizomes, do best when planted shallowly in the pot with the eyes or shoots just barely visible poking up through the soil.

    You can starting your callas early in spring by potting them up in a good potting soil mixture, in a pot with good drainage.

    Keep the pot in a sunny, warm and frost free location, and then place outside once the risk of all frost has passed and the warm weather has arrived.

    Place the potted flowers in part shade in hot summer areas, and in a sunny spot in cool summer areas. Calla Lilies do not like intense summer heat, and the foliage may scorch if sunlight is too intense.

    orange calla lilies in a pot
    calla lilies grow well in pots

    3. Can you leave calla lilies in pots over winter?

    After the potted Calla Lilies have become dormant, another option is to just leave the dormant rhizomes in the pots over winter.

    This is a good option if the rhizomes are not over crowded in the pots, and you plan to grow them on in the spring just as they are.

    I prefer to dig up my calla lily rhizomes, and just store the rhizomes without the pot, for ease of storage. I have a few too many calla lily rhizomes to store them all away in pots.

    However this is certainly a good choice if you only have a few, or also if you have lots of storage space.

    a hand holding a spent calla lily in a pot
    you can dig up the calla lily rhizome, or leave it in the pot during it's dormant period

    To Overwinter Calla Lilies In Pots:

    • Store the pots away in a cool and dark place, and do not water.
    • There is no need to water the pots, as the rhizomes are not growing and are in the dormant stage.
    • Even the roots of the plant have shrivelled, yet the rhizome remains very much alive.
    • Come spring, the rhizomes will begin to sprout. You will be able to observe the sprouts poke through the soil.
    • At this point, you can begin to water, and the plant will begin to grow again.
    calla lily sprouting in a pot
    here is a sprout on a calla lily rhizome that has been dormant in a pot for over two months

    In Summary

    Calla lilies are beautiful plants with funnel shaped flowers that grow very well in pots both inside in winter and outside in summer.

    A tropical plant and perennial in warmer climates, these plants can easily be grown as annuals in colder areas.

    Many who purchase or gift Calla lilies in pots may not be aware of the plant's dormant period following blooming. The plant may appear to be struggling, when in fact it is just going dormant.

    Allow the plant to go dormant, and save the rhizome for planting next spring.

    Saving the rhizome can help to perpetuate the plant, and it can be grown again when it comes out of dormancy.

    You can grow Calla lilies for many years, just being aware of their growth cycles. The beautiful trumpet like blooms are well with the effort.

    Calla lilies also make wonderful cut flowers, and are exceptionally beautiful in flower arrangements with a long post harvest life.

    a hand holding a calla lily flower
    calla lilies can be grown for many years if you give them the right care

    Have you ever brought home a Calla lily that started to fade away? Have you ever wondered just how long potted calla lilies are supposed to last? Be sure to share your experience by leaving a comment below.

    Other Posts You May Like:

    a pale yellow calla lily flower
    HOW TO GROW CALLA LILY FROM SEED- PLANTING AND CARE
    a calla lily flower
    HOW TO PLANT CALLA LILY BULBS FOR BEGINNERS
    a hand holding a calla lily rhizome
    CALLA LILY CARE AFTER BLOOMING – HOW TO GROW AND STORE

    See the Web Story on Potted Calla Lilies- How Long Do They Last?

    PIN IT FOR LATER!

    pinterest pin for blog post on how long do potted calla lilies last

    More Ornamental Gardening

    • orange marigolds blooming in the garden
      When To Start Marigold Seeds Indoors For Early Summer Blooms
    • purple pansies in bloom
      How To Care For Pansies In Pots- Potted Pansy Care
    • lamb's ear in bloom in the garden
      How To Grow Lamb's Ear- Stachys Byzantina
    • Close-up of a vibrant pink zinnia flower in full bloom with soft-focus background.
      Are Zinnias Perennials Or Annuals? (The Zinnia Lifespan)

    About Chey Mullin

    Chey Mullin is an experienced gardener and flower farmer, growing in zone 5b, Nova Scotia, Canada. A practicing gardener for over 30 years, she retired from a career in nursing to grow flowers on a larger scale. A hybridizer of daylilies and daylily seeds for over 15 years, you can find her under the handle "Maya"on the Lily Auction. Cheyanne is the seed planter, seed collector, flower grower, bouquet maker, photographer and voice behind Farmhouse and Blooms, a gardening blog that teaches about growing flowers for the garden and cut flowers. You can also find Farmhouse & Blooms on the Farmer-Florist Collective in the Floret Directory!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Eve Pingle

      March 05, 2024 at 2:29 pm

      My husband bought me a calla last January which has been blooming since then. I would like to force it to bloom again in Dec or January. After all leaves have died off and plant put in cold room, how long do I leave it there? Would like to have it bloom again from at least Jan. to March again.
      Your article is very informative.
      Thank you

      Reply
      • Cheyanne Mullin

        March 07, 2024 at 4:15 pm

        Hi Eve, to rebloom indoors the calla lilies will need to have stored lots of energy within the rhizomes from the last bloom cycle. You can always give it a try to see if you get blooms. Plant several months before your anticipated bloom, and place in a sunny location. If all you have is foliage growth, try growing outside in summer, in the sunlight for energy storage. Good luck!

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Primary Sidebar

    image of woman smiling with black hair

    SO GLAD YOU’RE HERE!

    Hello, I'm Chey! I'm so glad you're here! Join me and my family on our flower farming journey. We have a harbour-side farm property, which we are slowly transforming into a little flower farm. We are completely renovating our farmhouse from the ground up, and will be sharing lots of posts on farmhouse life, simple living, and all things that bloom!

    More About Me →

    Edible Flowers

    • cosmos sulphureus in the garden
      Are Cosmos Edible?
    • bachelor buttons growing in the flower garden
      List Of Edible Flowers With Pictures- Decorate Your Plate
    • edible candied flowers on cupcakes
      How To Make Edible Candied Flowers- Sparkling Blooms
    • a hand holding a purple pansy flower
      How To Make Edible Flower Ice Cubes -Decorate Your Drinks

    Gardening Tips

    • A sunny garden scene featuring numerous globe thistles with spiky, spherical purple-blue blooms, surrounded by green foliage and other soft purple flowers in the background.
      How To Start A Cut Flower Garden For Beginners
    • a zinnia seedling showing the fuzzy stem and side shoots
      The Art Of Pinching Plants For Growth And Flowering
    • a katydid on a daylily flower
      Deadheading Daylilies To Promote Reblooming And Plant Health
    • freshly harvested roses in a jar of water
      How To Prune A Climbing Rose

    Flowering Trees and Shrubs

    • lilacs blooming on the bush
      How Long Do Lilacs Bloom In The Garden?
    • lilacs growing in the garden
      How To Grow Lilacs - Planting And Care
    • a small lilac seedling in a cell tray
      How To Grow Lilacs From Seed- Planting And Care
    • satomi dogwood berry or drupe
      How To Grow A Dogwood Tree From Seed- Planting And Care

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms and Conditions

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Web Stories

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2024 Farmhouse & Blooms

    2.0K shares