What Should I Do With A Pod From Calla Lily…
Joanne Asked
What should I do with a pod from calla lily plants?
The Gardener’s Answer
Hello, Joanne: Calla lilies are not considered perennials for those of us gardening in Kentucky. They are very tender perennials at best, but only if you have a micro-climate in your garden. Our winters are just a bit too cold for these plants. However, they can certainly be overwintered indoors or the rhizomes can be dug up and treated like a caladium, canna, or elephant ear bulb, stored indoors and then planted again next spring. When Calla lilies (Zantedeschia aethiopica) bloom, the white funnel-shaped petal is actually a modified leaf also known as a spathe. The yellow spike (spadix) enclosed around the petal is where the male and female flowers are formed. The male flowers are orange and the female flowers are green. This is where the seed pods are formed. To answer your question, what to do with the seed pods, this depends on your intentions. If you are wondering what to do after the flower has faded, go ahead and remove the stem all the way back down to the base of the plant. If you are thinking about collecting the seeds and propagating your plant, you will want to let the flower fade and remove it from the plant, then allow the seed pods to ripen. This process can take a couple months. After the pods mature, collect the seed, let them dry, and pot them up in a good seeding mix. Keep the soil moderately moist and out of direct sunlight.
