All about pruning calla lilies

There are many plants that are pruned little, but when they are done they look prettier. One of them is the calla lily, also known as the peace lily. This. moreover, it is widely used as a cut flower, either to make magnificent bouquets or to keep in a vase, so it is very interesting to have scissors ready.

If you want to know all about pruning calla lilies, below we will explain when and how it is done so that you can have beautiful plants.

When can they be pruned?

The coves, whose scientific name is Zantedeschia ethiopica, are rhizomatous plants that sprout in winter and bloom in spring. In warm climates or if they are sheltered, they remain green practically all year round. Therefore, the time of pruning varies a little depending on the conditions in which they are being grown.

But overall, will be done throughout the spring, as this is when they are most active. Now, if you live in an area where temperatures are mild, you will probably have to prune them later too.

What does the pruning of coves consist of?

These plants are herbaceous, so the pruning that will be done to them is very different from what would be done to, for example, a tree. In fact, the only thing we will do is cut: dry leaves, withered flowers and also those that we want to use to decorate. Nothing else.

We could also cut the leaves that were turning brown to make them look better, but this is up to taste. There are those who prefer to wait for them to dry completely and then cut them, and others who do not.

What to use to prune coves?

To prune coves in the best possible way we will need the following:

• Anvil Pruning Shears. It is important that they are sharp and clean. In fact, before and after use they must be cleaned with soap and water, or at least with a disinfectant wipe. you can buy them here.
• Kitchen gloves, or made of some waterproof material. This avoids running the risk of plant sap coming into contact with the skin. And it is that if we do not protect our hands, we could end up with irritated skin.
• Water container. If we are going to cut the flowers, it is necessary to have something nearby to put them so that they do not dehydrate before time.

How are they pruned?

Depending on what we want to cut, the pruning will be done in one way or another. So that you don't miss anything, let's see how to prune leaves and flowers:

leaf pruning

Plant leaves have a limited life expectancy, and calla lilies only live for a few months. But also, if they suffer from excess or lack of water, they dry out sooner than they should. Therefore, what we will do is take the scissors, clean them, and then proceed to cut the leaf by the stem that joins it to the rhizome which is underground.

But where do you have to cut? Well, this depends a bit on each one. I like to cut only the leaf, leaving the stem, since this, if it is still green, carries out photosynthesis and, therefore, is useful for plants. But if you wish, you can cut it too, making the cut above the ground, that is, above the rhizome.

What you should not do is cut green leaves, for the reason we discussed a moment ago. If it is done, the only thing we will achieve is that the coves weaken, since their ability to carry out photosynthesis decreases.

flower pruning

If what you want is to cut the flowers, you have to make the cut from more or less the base of the flower stem, regardless of whether you want to use them to decorate, or remove those that are withered so that the coves look better. Callas can produce several flowers each season, and more if they are adult specimens, but when there is one that is bad, the truth is that its ornamental value is reduced.

In addition, it is also important to prune them if they have been watered too much, since maintaining them involves a very large energy expenditure. And energy is just what they need in those delicate moments, so it is preferable that they spend it on their recovery and not on their flowers.

How to preserve cut calla flowers in a vase?

Do you want to use them to decorate? Follow these steps:

1. Get a tall vase and clean it with soap and water. Rinse it and dry it well.
2. Insert the flowers carefully, since the stems are very fragile. In addition, they have to be a little separated.
3. Fill the vase with water, and put it in a room where there is a lot of light but not direct sun. Likewise, it must be far from air conditioning or any other device that generates drafts.
4. Clean the vase and change the water every two days. This will prevent bacteria and fungi from starting to grow.
5. Trim 1 inch off the bottom of the stems every other day.
6. And enjoy them.

Has it been useful to you?