One of the most gorgeous indoor plants is the calla lily. With long stems, they make a bold statement but with this beauty comes to a design flaw and drooping flowers may mean something serious is happening.
Why are my calla lilies drooping: All plants will give off signs of distress and with calla lilies, this sign is if the long stems start to droop. This means that something is wrong and hopefully if you catch it in time, you can still save your plant. Check your soil to see if you are over or underwatering. Also, check the underground root system, called a rhizome, for signs of fungus or rot. You can add more water and your lilies will quickly stand up again but root rot may be a more serious issue.
Reasons why calla lilies are drooping
Overwatering
The calla lily plant is native to Africa and therefore likes warm climates. It can withstand quite a few days without watering but panicked gardeners may worry about their forgetfulness.
With too much water, the roots, or rhizome of calla lilies can actually start to decay. If they are left in soil over a prolonged time that is water-logged, your whole plant can wither and die.
Underwatering
Calla lilies do not need a lot of water but they do need some. If your lilies are drooping, the first step is to check the soil.
Another reason the soil may be dry is that it is not the right type. You should plant calla lilies in soil that retains moisture while simultaneously draining it, thus allowing for the perfect condition.
Temperature changes
Calla lilies, like most plants, like to live in their preferred climate. This is an area of your home with full sun and plenty of warmth.
Most people place their lilies next to a window to take advantage of the sunlight and warmth. However, while this is great in the summer, come winter, the location can actually cause your flowers to droop. If you live in a very cold climate, the area by a window can be the coldest part of your home.
To identify if the temperature is a factor in your lilies drooping, feel the window next to the plant. If it is very cold, then there’s a good chance it is negatively affecting the calla lilies.
Too much nitrogen
While it’s important to care for all your indoor plants, which includes regularly fertilizing them, too much of something can be a bad thing. This is the case with nitrogen.
When a plant has too much nitrogen, the leaves will grow but the flowers will droop. Furthermore, you may see that the calla lilies are discolored.
Diseases
If your soil is too moist or the air around your calla lily is too warm, the fungus can set in. Rotten roots can weaken your plant, leading to drooping lilies.
You may not notice rot has set in until it is too late. The fungus will first attack the rhizome which will then spread and weaken the whole plant. If this is the cause of your drooping lilies, it may be too late.
Should I trim drooping calla lilies?
You should trim your calla lilies once they stop drooping, only if they are unsalvageable. If root rot is too far along and there is nothing you can do to revive your calla lilies, you might as well trim them.
Then, you can place them in a tall vase where they will have the support. The access to freshwater also may make them perk up again and you can enjoy them for a few days.
On the other hand, if the issue is simply a lack of water, there is no need to trim your calla lilies. Instead, simply water them a bit, and with a few hours, they will be bold and beautiful again.
Ways to stop calla lilies from drooping
Tip 1 – Stop watering
If you notice your soil is too moist, stop watering it for a few days. Hopefully, this is enough to bring your plant back to life.
However, if there has been too much water in the soil for too long, you might not be able to stop the lilies from drooping and the whole plant might die off.
Tip 2 – Water more
Conversely, if you notice that your calla lilies are drooping and the soil is very dry, simply add water. Within an hour or two, your lilies should perk right up.
After you get your calla lilies back up, be sure to stick to a more regular watering schedule.
Tip 3 – Move your plant in the winter
Those that live in cold climates will do well to move your calla lily to a different location. While it should still have access to light, away from a window is the best option.
Even giving your calla lily a foot or two buffer from the freezing temperature of the surface of a winter window can do wonders for your plant.
Tip 4 – Stick to a basic fertilizer
Those that want to add fertilizer to their calla lilies should enquire at their local gardening shop what is the best food. Make sure it is balanced and is not overly high in nitrogen.
Furthermore, only add the fertilizer when needed. Every three to four months should be more than sufficient.
Tip 5 – Monitor underneath your soil
If you notice your soil is too moist, be sure to check what is going on under the soil immediately. If the rhizome is affected by rot or fungus, take it out of the pot and transplant it to new soil right away.
A rhizome will grow back so if the rot is at the end of it, you can try cutting the affected part off so that it doesn’t spread to the rest of the plant.
Conclusion
With their bold white blossoms, calla lilies are a gorgeous indoor plant that adds beauty and personality to any room. If you see your flowers drooping, check the soil conditions to determine what is wrong and then come up with a plant to perk them up again.
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