Zantedeschia bloom?

From: Donald Mosser <dmosser at southconn.com> on 1997.09.05 at 12:41:45(1162) After being on the Aroid-L a few weeks, I realize now that I have been growing or at least trying to grow several aroids in my garden. My question, however, is in regard to my Zantedeschia or white flowered Calla Lily. I purchased the tubers several years ago at a discount retail store such as Wal-Mart or K-Mart (I know, a hideous practice, isn't it?:). The plant has grown well each year, but has never bloomed. I live in USDA Zone 8 on the border between Georgia and South Carolina (U.S.A) with very hot and wet summers and first frost around November 15th, last frost around March 15th. I dug and moved these tubers at the end of last summer and I would guess that the tubers were about 1.5-2.0 inches by 3.5-4.0 inches. Granted, this summer it has been somewhat shaded by an antique rose bush and a vigorous Iris tectorum. My question: When should my Zantedeschia plant normally bloom and what are the factors critical for bloom for this genus of plants? Extra water? Heavy feeding? Length of growing season? Maturity of tubers? -Donald Donald Mosser +More Member of AIS, HIPS, SIGNA, SSI, SLI, SPCNI, and IRIS-L dmosser@southconn.com North Augusta, South Carolina, USA On the South Carolina and Georgia Border USDA Zone 7b-8

From: grsjr at juno.com (George R Stilwell, Jr.) on 1997.09.05 at 21:19:42(1165) Donald, I know the feeling. How long can a plant grow without blooming? Zantedeschia aethiopica needs some sun. Mine bloomed wonderfully this year for the first time since I first planted them a few years ago. Hurricane Fran did the job by knocking down lots of trees and allowing much more sunlight on the Zantedeschia. Z. rehmanii responded well too. In the trade, Z. aethiopica is grown in greenhouses (in the north) with full sun and lots of feed. So more fertilizer may be in order too. Most Z. like a damp growing area, so water is important too. Z. aethiopica here took about 5 years from seed to bloom in full sunlight, with heavy feeding, and drip irrigation. So maturity is required as in all plants. Often purchased tubers are confused by our northern hemisphere when they come from South Africa or New Zealand. Mine often grew a second time in the fall, after going dormant in the summer, only to get zapped in December. After a few years, they got their calendar straightened out. +More Try some sunshine, food, and water. Your tubers should be of blooming size. Ray

Note: this is a very old post, so no reply function is available.