The decorative calla plant is comparatively undemanding, but as a swamp plant it still requires special, adapted care. The most important factors are the substrate, the location and the water. Interested hobby gardeners can find out here which factors have to be taken into account and which special needs the swamp calla has.
If you still want to give it a try, you can use mature compost soil and high-quality garden soil and mix this with sand to form a loose substrate. In any case, it is important that the substrate is always kept moist. A water level of five to ten centimeters above the earth is even ideal.
If the marsh calla is not to be in a pond or body of water, placing it in a plant basket or planter can also make sense. For example, the dragon root can be removed much more easily in order to propagate it. It is also beneficial to restrict the flow of water through a vessel. This reduces the effort for watering and the conditions for the calla plant can be optimally designed more easily.
Tip: It is also important that soft, lime-free water is used.
Only in autumn does the plant retreat into the rhizome, so the above-ground part withers. It can then be blended in autumn or in spring.
This is not absolutely necessary for the health of the plant, but it reduces the risk of rot, especially in smaller bodies of water and vessels, and is also more attractive.
The calla plant can be propagated in two ways. The simplest variant is the propagation of the dragon root by dividing the rhizome. The procedure is as follows:
The second variant of propagation is the germination of seeds, which, however, is much more complex and requires more patience than division. To do this, you must first wait for the flowering phase of the marsh calla, which can be a long time coming up to a year after planting. Following this, the dragon root forms red fruits. When these mature and eventually dry up, they can be harvested and opened. The seeds contained are freed from the pulp and the skin and then stored in a dry, dark and cool place until spring.
After that, they can be germinated as follows:
Tip: Gloves should be worn both when dividing and removing the pulp to avoid direct skin contact with the sap.
If the calla plant was cultivated in a tub or a mini pond on the balcony, it can also be overwintered indoors. Here it can stand in the dark and cold, but should be kept as frost-free and moist as possible. It is important to ensure that the rhizome does not dry out completely. Only then does the swamp calla run the risk of being damaged during the winter.
Wilted plant sections are not a problem if the marsh calla is in a larger body of water or has been planted outdoors. However, in mini ponds or a small bucket of water, they can cause problems and cause rot. In addition, this can cause the water to "tip", that is, it can become too rich in nutrients, algae and silt up. If withered shoots were not removed in time, a subsequent cut and a water change will be necessary.
Location
The swamp calla already reveals where the dragonfly feels most comfortable - in swampy, damp locations. Therefore, it is ideal as a planting for the edge of the garden pond. Depressions and areas with high groundwater are also well suited for the calla plant. Apart from the moisture, the location should be sunny to partially shaded. If the swamp calla lacks light, it tends to rot.Substrate
The calla plant needs a nutrient-rich substrate that is loamy and can store moisture well. In addition, it should have a neutral to slightly acidic pH value, because the dragon root is sensitive to lime. The easiest way is to use pond soil directly for the marsh calla. This is already optimally designed to meet the needs of the crop. In the case of garden soil and mixtures, there is a risk of mold and rot due to the high water requirement.If you still want to give it a try, you can use mature compost soil and high-quality garden soil and mix this with sand to form a loose substrate. In any case, it is important that the substrate is always kept moist. A water level of five to ten centimeters above the earth is even ideal.
plants
The calla plant is best planted in spring or put in the pond. It can be planted directly in the bank or edge area of a pond or placed in the water in a plant basket. In this way, the substrate and roots remain compact in one place and can easily be removed again if necessary. Nevertheless, the earth can absorb sufficient moisture.If the marsh calla is not to be in a pond or body of water, placing it in a plant basket or planter can also make sense. For example, the dragon root can be removed much more easily in order to propagate it. It is also beneficial to restrict the flow of water through a vessel. This reduces the effort for watering and the conditions for the calla plant can be optimally designed more easily.
to water
Of course, if the calla plant is in a pond, it does not have to be watered. In a bucket or other planter, care should be taken to ensure that the water level remains as high as possible. Planted outdoors in a drier place, however, often has to be watered. In the case of the Swamp Calla, the location decides how much effort it takes to water it.Tip: It is also important that soft, lime-free water is used.
Fertilize
When it comes to fertilizing, the dragon arum is particularly undemanding and easy to care for, because an additional supply of nutrients is not necessary in the pond. It should also be avoided in mini ponds, in the field or in buckets. Instead, a substrate change is the better choice for the calla plant. However, this is rarely necessary.Waste
The flowering period is between May and July, after which fruits form. In this case, blending is only necessary if fruit formation is to be prevented.Only in autumn does the plant retreat into the rhizome, so the above-ground part withers. It can then be blended in autumn or in spring.
This is not absolutely necessary for the health of the plant, but it reduces the risk of rot, especially in smaller bodies of water and vessels, and is also more attractive.
Repot
Since the calla plant should not be fertilized, nutrients can only be supplied in two ways. On the one hand through pond water and the natural nutrients in it, which are made available due to decomposition processes and microorganisms. On the other hand, through a nutrient-rich substrate. If the marsh calla has not been placed in a body of water or planted outdoors, a change of substrate may be necessary. This should be carried out every two to three years as follows:1. The substrate is heavily watered so that it is already wet and softened.
2. The rhizome is carefully removed from the soil and the remains of the substrate are removed. It makes sense to rinse off the roots thoroughly.
3. The rhizome is placed in fresh, dry substrate and covered with it. Fresh pond soil or the mixture described above can be used for this.
4. If the vessel is to be put back into a mini pond or a bucket, it should be poured beforehand or placed in a bucket with water. Loose substrate is removed in the process.
Multiplication
The calla plant can be propagated in two ways. The simplest variant is the propagation of the dragon root by dividing the rhizome. The procedure is as follows: 1. The root of the marsh calla is removed from the substrate in early spring and cleaned with running water.
2. The root is divided in the middle with a sharp knife. There should be two sections of equal length, if possible.
3. After the cut surfaces have been dried briefly in the air, the rhizome halves thus created are reintroduced into the substrate.
When multiplying by division, it should be noted that the rhizome has a dead section due to the "snaking" expulsion. This part looks soft and rotten, but doesn't necessarily need to be removed. However, it should be taken into account and subtracted from the division into two halves as evenly as possible, so that the resulting daughter rhizomes are approximately the same length.The second variant of propagation is the germination of seeds, which, however, is much more complex and requires more patience than division. To do this, you must first wait for the flowering phase of the marsh calla, which can be a long time coming up to a year after planting. Following this, the dragon root forms red fruits. When these mature and eventually dry up, they can be harvested and opened. The seeds contained are freed from the pulp and the skin and then stored in a dry, dark and cool place until spring.
After that, they can be germinated as follows:
1. A flat cultivation vessel without water drainage without water drainage is filled with cultivation soil. There should be a gap of about two to three fingers between the substrate and the upper edge.
2. The substrate is well moistened. The water can be just above it. However, it is also sufficient if it is poured with floating water and is therefore damp to wet.
3. The seeds of the marsh calla are now lightly pressed into the substrate individually at a distance of about two to three centimeters. Since it is difficult to do this with just your fingers, tweezers, a match or a toothpick can be used to bring the seeds into the soil in a targeted manner.
4. Since the substrate was moistened by floating, a cover is not necessary. However, it is important to ensure that the earth does not
dries up.5. The cultivation vessel is placed in as bright a place as possible and should be exposed to temperatures between 18 and 20 ° C.
In optimal conditions, it takes about two to three weeks for the seeds to germinate. However, it can also take a long time. As soon as green shoots are visible, the distance between the seedlings can be increased. It is then a good idea to distribute the young plants over several growing containers. When they have reached a height of 10 to 15 centimeters, they are allowed to go outdoors.Tip: Gloves should be worn both when dividing and removing the pulp to avoid direct skin contact with the sap.
wintering
When overwintering, the calla plant is easy to care for because it is hardy and can therefore be left in place. The only thing to note is that the dragon arum retreats into the rhizome from autumn. The leaves wither and dry up and the marsh calla does not sprout again until spring.If the calla plant was cultivated in a tub or a mini pond on the balcony, it can also be overwintered indoors. Here it can stand in the dark and cold, but should be kept as frost-free and moist as possible. It is important to ensure that the rhizome does not dry out completely. Only then does the swamp calla run the risk of being damaged during the winter.
Typical care errors, diseases and pests
The calla plant is largely spared from diseases and pests, but mistakes in care can lead to problems. The main harmful are:- dryness
- Lime-rich water or substrate
- Withered plant remains
Wilted plant sections are not a problem if the marsh calla is in a larger body of water or has been planted outdoors. However, in mini ponds or a small bucket of water, they can cause problems and cause rot. In addition, this can cause the water to "tip", that is, it can become too rich in nutrients, algae and silt up. If withered shoots were not removed in time, a subsequent cut and a water change will be necessary.
