Calla lilies are beautiful, ethereal flowers, but they can be challenging to grow. They don’t like heat or humidity, they need cool conditions for their roots and to avoid direct sunlight.
But if you know how to divide calla lilies, you can get the best out of these gorgeous plants. But how do you separate them from each other without damaging them?
Here is everything you need to know about dividing calla lilies.
Should You Need to Divide Calla Lilies?
Calla lilies do need to be divided every few years in order to keep them healthy. When you divide calla lilies, you’ll create smaller plants instead of one large plant. This means that the new plants will grow faster and stronger. And this will allow you to harvest more flowers.
Some Preparations for Dividing Calla Lilies
Make the Plant Ready for Dividing
Before you divide your calla lilies, you’ll want to make sure to do a little bit of prep work.
The first thing you’ll want to do is separate out the rhizomes you want to divide. Make sure to get all of the rhizomes—don’t leave any behind. You can use a garden trowel or shovel to dig up the rhizomes.
Next, you’ll want to make sure the rhizomes are clean. You can use a small brush to gently scrub off any mud or soil that’s still attached to them, or you can just cut them in half and clean them as best you can.
Get Your Tools Together
You’ll want to make sure you have all the supplies you need to get the job done.
You’ll want to make sure your hands are clean and you have some gardening gloves with you in case the rhizomes are covered in soil.
You’ll also want to have a trowel or a small shovel to help you dig up the rhizomes.
You can use a spade, but it’s not always the best tool for the job.
Another important thing to keep in mind when preparing to divide your calla lilies is the weather. If it’s too cold outside, you can also do this inside—just make sure you have enough space to dig up the rhizomes.
How to Divide Calla Lilies?
To divide calla lilies, first lift the clumps of rhizomes from the ground in the fall after the foliage has turned brown. Pry the clumps of rhizomes from the ground with a shovel, breaking them into sections with at least one eye. Let the rhizomes dry for a day before replanting. If replanting in spring, store the rhizomes until planting time.
To divide calla lilies in warm areas, replant divisions 3-4 inches deep and 6 inches apart. In cold areas, cure divisions for a few days in a warm, dark place, then pack them in peat moss and store them somewhere dark that will remain 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit throughout winter.
To divide calla lilies, first use a garden fork to dig up the clump. Next, use a sharp knife or pruners to cut the mass into separate pieces. Finally, plant your divisions 3-4 inches deep and 6 inches apart in warm areas. In cold areas, it is best to divide your calla lilies and cure them in a warm, dark place.
To divide a calla lily, wait until the foliage turns brown and can be easily removed from the root. Cut the rhizome into sections, making sure each section has an eye for future growth. You can transplant calla lilies when they are cut.
When Is the Best Time to Divide Calla Lilies?
Dividing calla lilies depends on where you live. In the fall, you can divide them while they’re still actively growing. If you live in a warm climate, you’ll want to wait until spring. The ground will be warmer in spring, allowing the roots of your calla lilies to become established more quickly.
When you’re trying to decide when to divide calla lilies, the most important thing to keep in mind is the weather. Calla lilies are frost-tender, so you’ll want to make sure your plants have a chance to get established before the first frost hits.
Although calla lilies can survive a light frost (down to 27 degrees Fahrenheit), the leaves will die back and the plants may not bloom again. If you have a mild winter, you may be able to get away with dividing your calla lilies in the fall and planting them outdoors. But if you live in a colder climate, you’ll want to wait until spring.
What Are the Benefits of Dividing Calla Lilies?
Dividing calla lilies helps the plants grow uniformly and prevents them from getting too crowded. It also allows for better lighting, which in turn leads to healthier flowers. By dividing your calla lilies, you can also help stop diseases and pests from spreading in your garden.
When you divide calla lilies, you’re taking a clump of rhizomes and splitting it into smaller clumps. This gives each new clump more room to grow and allows the plants to thrive in a smaller space.
Dividing calla lilies is the best way to share these charming plants with your friends and family.
There are plenty of reasons why you’d want to divide calla lilies! Whether you’re having trouble keeping them healthy or you want to create more space for them, you can benefit from dividing calla lilies.
How often Should You Divide Calla Lilies?
You should divide calla lilies every 3–4 years to get the most out of them. In warmer climates, you can divide them in the spring. In colder climates, you should divide them in the fall before putting them away for storage.
Calla lilies need plenty of light and water to thrive. So, keep them well watered and protected from cold weather.
Can You Divide Calla Lilies in Spring?
Lilies can be divided at any time of year, but the best time to divide them is in late summer to early fall. This is because the plants are not actively growing at this time, and so they will have an easier time adjusting to being divided.
Divide lilies in the spring is possible, but it’s not easy. There are two main reasons why dividing lilies in the spring isn’t ideal.
First, the plants are not actively producing flowers at this time. They’re just getting ready to bloom later in the season.
Second, the plants aren’t very strong yet. So, if you try to divide them now, you run the risk of damaging the plant.
In conclusion, you can divide lilies at any time of year. Just make sure you follow the proper procedure. Otherwise, you may end up with damaged plants or none at all!
Final Thoughts
Dividing calla lilies is a complex process, but with careful preparation and execution, it can be a successful one. This guide is designed for the novice gardener, providing step-by-step instructions along the way. With this guide, you will be able to successfully divide your calla lilies and have them looking beautiful in no time.
