Calla lilies are beautiful flowering plants known for their stunning blooms and arrow-shaped leaves. However, it can be disheartening when you notice your calla lilies start to droop and wilt.
Drooping leaves and flowers on calla lilies is typically caused by watering issues. But there are several other reasons that can lead to limp, sagging calla lilies.
In this article, I will explain the main causes of drooping calla lilies and the best solutions to revive your plants.
Why Are My Calla Lilies Drooping?
Here are the most common reasons calla lily leaves and flowers droop:
Underwatering
Calla lilies need moist soil, but not soggy. If you underwater your calla lilies the soil dries out completely. This leads to dehydrated roots unable to take up enough moisture and nutrients.
Eventually the stems weaken causing the leaves and flowers to droop and wilt from lack of water and turgor pressure.
Overwatering
Excess water can also cause drooping calla lilies. Too much water leads to waterlogged, oxygen-deprived roots. This makes it hard for the roots to function properly and support the plant.
Overwatering encourages root rot which causes inner decay and mushy non-functional roots. This prevents the plant from absorbing what it needs to stay upright.
Temperature Extremes
Calla lilies prefer daytime temperatures between 55°F to 65°F. Temperatures exceeding 75°F or sudden temperature fluctuations can cause excessive transpiration. This leads to drooping as the plant loses water faster than it can take it in.
Even a light frost can damage calla lily leaves and blooms. The cold causes the plant tissues to freeze and wilt.
Too Much Fertilizer
Over-fertilizing with nitrogen leads to excessive leaf growth and floppy, weak stems. This causes the leaves and flowers to droop under their own weight.
Excess salts from over-fertilizing also disturbs nutrient uptake leading to deficiencies.
Excess Sun
Too much direct hot sunlight can scorch and dry out calla lily leaves. Sunburnt, damaged leaves will often curl and droop.
Intense sun also rapidly dries out the soil leading to underwatering issues.
Repotting Shock
Repotting calla lilies can disturb the root system and cause transplant shock. This temporary stress makes it hard for the plant to take up moisture and nutrients, leading to some drooping.
Insufficient Light
Calla lilies stretched towards light can result in weak, elongated stems unable to support the weight of leaves and flowers. The insufficient light also reduces photosynthesis and food production.
Pests
Common calla lily pests like spider mites, thrips and aphids can suck out sap and damage leaves. This eventually causes yellowing, curling and leaf droop.
Diseases
Root, stem and leaf fungal diseases like root rot, anthracnose and soft rot can infect calla lilies. This weakens the plant structure leading to limp leaves and drooping.
How to Fix Drooping Calla Lilies
Fortunately, in most cases you can revive a droopy calla lily by correcting the underlying issue, whether it’s improper watering, diseases, excess fertilizer, or anything else causing the problem.
Here are solutions to perk up limp calla lilies:
Fix Underwatering
- Water calla lilies deeply until the soil is moist but not saturated
- Move pot to partial shade to reduce transpiration as the plant rehydrates
- Resume regular watering when drooping improves
Fix Overwatering
- Check drainage holes are not clogged, drain excess water
- Remove plant from pot and wrap root ball in newspaper to dry overnight
- Repot in well-draining soil, water only when partially dry
Adjust Temperature
- Move calla lilies to a spot with temperatures between 55°F – 65°F
- Avoid exposing to frost or abrupt temperature changes
Reduce Fertilizer
- Leach soil to remove excess salts by watering thoroughly
- Repot in fresh soil with less or no fertilizer
- Use organic feeds like compost or bone meal instead of chemical fertilizers
Provide Shade
- Move pot to a shadier spot protected from intense direct sun
- Use curtains or shade cloth to filter sunlight
Treat Repotting Shock
- Allow time for the plant to overcome stress and recover
- Keep soil evenly moist but don’t overwater
- Avoid fertilizing until new growth emerges
Give More Light
- Move calla lily to a brighter location with indirect sunlight
- Rotate pot regularly so all sides get light exposure
- Consider using a grow light to supplement natural light
Control Pests
- Identify and treat any pests like spider mites with horticultural oils or insecticidal soap
- Prune off heavily damaged leaves and buds
Treat Diseases
- Isolate and dispose of plants with fungal diseases
- Improve airflow and water drainage
- Treat root rot by repotting in fresh sterile soil
How to Prevent Calla Lily Drooping
Preventing the issues that cause calla lily droop will help keep your plants looking their best. Here are some tips:
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Water thoroughly only when the top inch of soil is dry to avoid over and under-watering
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Grow calla lilies in well-draining potting mix and pots with drainage holes
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Give calla lilies bright indirect light or partial shade, rotate pots to evenly distribute light
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Keep calla lilies at ideal temperatures between 55°F – 75°F
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Avoid repotting calla lilies unless necessary, water lightly after repotting
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Prune spent flowers and leaves to improve air circulation
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Apply balanced organic fertilizer at half-strength
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Inspect regularly for pests and diseases, isolate affected plants
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Bring calla lily bulbs indoors before first frost
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Discard any mushy bulbs or rotting roots before storing or replanting
With proper care, your calla lilies should stay perky and bright. But even if you notice some drooping, early intervention can help nurse your calla lilies back to health.
Adjusting watering, light, temperature, and other factors as needed will keep your calla lily leaves and flowers upright and beautiful. Paying close attention and correcting issues promptly prevents minor problems from becoming major setbacks.
Calla lilies add gorgeous visual interest to gardens and containers with their unique flowers and leaves. But no one wants to see these stunning plants start to wilt and lean over limply.
By understanding what causes calla lily drooping and how to fix it, you can continue enjoying your calla lilies for years to come. Just be vigilant about proper growing conditions and act quickly at the first sign of drooping.
With a little attentive care, your calla lilies will reward you with their elegant blooms and vibrant arrow-shaped foliage. Don’t let a little drooping spoil their impact – a few simple fixes will have them standing tall again!
️ Pest and Disease Management
Pests and diseases are the villains in our tale, lurking to cause leaf droop. Be the hero by keeping an eye out for the usual suspects: aphids, powdery mildew, and the dreaded bacterial soft rot. Prevention beats cure, so space your plants for airflow, water the soil (not the leaves), and consider a copper fungicide dip for the corms. If you spot trouble, act fast—remove affected areas and treat with appropriate measures.
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases can also lead to drooping leaves. Fungal diseases, like soft rot, can attack the bulb and stems, causing the leaves to droop. This is often due to cool and wet conditions that encourage fungal spores.
Nutrient deficiencies, particularly a lack of nitrogen, can also cause drooping. Calla Lilies need a balanced diet to stay upright. If theyre not getting enough nutrients, they might start to droop.
Drooping leaves can impact the overall health and aesthetics of your Calla Lily. A drooping plant might not be able to photosynthesize efficiently, leading to poor growth and fewer blooms. Plus, lets be honest, a drooping Calla Lily just doesnt have the same visual appeal as an upright one.
In the next section, well explore how to alleviate and prevent Calla Lily leaf drooping. But for now, remember: a drooping Calla Lily is usually a sign of stress. By identifying and addressing the cause, you can help your plant stand tall and proud.
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FAQ
How do you fix a drooping Calla Lily?
There is no real method for fixing a drooping calla unless it is simply wilting. In that case, just give it a drink and it should perk up in a day or two. Callas grow from bulbs, which need to be planted in well drained soil and, if potted, in an unglazed pot that will allow excess moisture to evaporate.
How do you perk up calla lilies?
Calla lilies are perennials and can continue to produce new growth and blooms year after year under the right growing conditions. In order to thrive and continue blooming, calla lily flowers require well-drained soil, regular watering, and partial shade to full sun.
What does an overwatered Calla Lily look like?
Symptoms: Leaves turning yellow, often starting at the bottom of the plant. Solution: Adjust watering practices to avoid overwatering and ensure proper drainage.
How to keep Calla Lily upright?
… you can use bamboo stakes inserted in the ground around the plant, or one stake firmly placed, tying the stem to the stake loosely in a figure eight patternJan 21, 2021