Cala lily turning green

forget-me-not

I bought a bright yellow cala lily a couple of weeks ago and have kept it on the kitchen windowsill. I noticed about a week ago that the colour was fading and now the flowers are turning to green. I have done some searching and found that they do this either because they aren't getting enough light or as autumn is coming on as they are dying off for the winter. The sun shines in to the kitchen from the north west for most of the day. And is it not a bit early for it to be dying off or could there be another reason?

Thank you for any replies.

Purplerain

Zantedeschia aethiopica otherwise known as the calla lily is a wonderful plant and one that I have a collection of. It should be outside for the Summer and then when the leaves die down, stop watering and forget about it until next Spring.   

Burtsnest

I have recently purchased my first calla lily. I have put it outside however the slightest wind seems to be bending the stems. It's so delicate.  I have staked it for support. 

Purplerain

They love full sun, but they don't mind some shade as the day goes on. Mine stood up to Storm Hector very well, but instinctively I have moved them closer to the house. I keep them in clay pots.

I can honestly say that the elegance and colour scope of the Calla lily makes it my favourite plant of all time.

Burtsnest

Thanks Purple rain. I have a South facing wall I'll pop it there and see how it goes. Yours sound beautiful. 

forget-me-not

Thank you Purple Rain. I did buy it to put outside but then realised that it was probably going to end up being expensive slug food. Do you think it would help if I put it out on sunny days when the slugs are asleep and bring it in at night?

Purplerain

I can't see what harm it would do @forget-me-not. Keep it well watered until it begins to die back and then let it dry out completely and tuck it away for the Winter indoors.

They tend to pop up with a tiny shoot in Spring and that is when to give it a little dressing of bone meal and begin watering again. I also add a dressing of baked and crushed eggshells because the Calla likes extra calcium. That might deter slugs too, but I have never seen them go for this plant.

forget-me-not

Thank you for your help. I read somewhere that slugs will eat them but, as you have a few and have never had them eaten,  I'll give it a go outside with the egg shells. Will it start dying back already or is it probably the lack of light, despite being in full sun on the windowsill most of the day, causing the yellow to fade?

Sorry for all the questions but there seems to be a lot squashed in the pot. When should I divide it?

Purplerain

It could be that your plant had been slightly forced before you bought it so it might be dying back sooner than it should. If it keeps dying back don't worry it will grow normally next year. Mine are still flowering well at the moment.

You can divide the rhizomes when they are dormant in late Autumn or Spring, or you could move the whole plant into a larger pot for next year.

forget-me-not

Thank you very much for your help.