Calla lily seeds are gathered from a pod-like capsule left after the blooms have withered. Although they are usually grown from separated bulbs, you can also grow calla lilies from seeds. Take note though that it is necessary to wait until the seedpods are thoroughly dry before removing the seeds from the parent plant.
It can take up to 3 years for a calla lily planted from seed to bloom. Calla lily seeds must be pre-grown in order to be successful.
Here are the steps on pre-growing your Calla lily seed:
- Fill a bowl with warm tap water. Submerge the calla lily seeds in the water and soakfor about eight hours to soften the outer seed coat and speed germination.
- Spread calla lily seeds on a damp paper towel and cover them.
- Place the paper towel in a cool location inside your home.
- After a few days, check the seeds for growth and discard any that do not show any signs of life.
- Place the seeds that have started in a well-draining pot with high quality acidic potting mix soil. Plant 2 seeds per pot right underneath the soil with the top of the seeds just barely exposed.
- Cover the pot with a clear plastic bag to retain the moisture in the soil and air as the seed germinates. Set the pot in a 70 to 75 degree Fahrenheit location where it receives bright, indirect light. Calla lily seeds require light to germinate.
- Move the pot to a location that receives 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight after the seeds sprout. Remove the plastic bag covering your pot before doing so to avoid cooking the seeds.
- Keep the soil moist and regularly watch for growth. Water lightly if the soil begins to dry before germination. Remove any of the seeds that have not grown. This can take between 1 and 3 months.
- Watch the plants for another couple of weeks and remove the weakest shoot from each pot. This will focus the nourishment to the stronger sprout.
- Once the calla lily has grown a while, you can transplant it into a larger pot or on the ground outside. Wash the plant roots to remove bacteria before transplanting.
- The best time to plant calla lily seeds is in the spring when the weather is cooler. Your seedlings can be transplanted outside in early summer. Choose an area with full sun and well-draining soil for your calla lilies. Once planted on the ground, provide 1 to 2 inches of water a week so the soil does not dry out completely.
- Some gardening stores are also selling Calla lily seeds. You can buy from them if you do not have any existing calla lily plant where you can harvest seeds and then just follow the same steps given above. You can also propagate Calla lilies by separating bulbs from a mother plant. This is a faster way to get blooms.