How to Grow and Maintain Potted Calla Lilies

Plant the calla lily rhizome or tuber in late winter or early spring in a pot of fresh, well-drained potting soil. Use a container at least 6 inches in diameter. Press the rhizomes about 2 inches below the soil's surface and add water until it runs out of the pot's bottom.

Place the pot in bright filtered light in the winter months. Optimum temperature for winter growing is 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. In spring, after the last frost, you can move the potted lily outdoors in partial shade, where it prefers temperatures of 70 to 85 degrees in the summer. A calla lily grown in cool temperatures tends to flower longer.

Water the lily to keep the soil most but not soggy. Water should drain easily from the bottom of the pot. Soil that's too damp can lead to fungus rot that damages the roots and rhizome.

Fertilize a blooming calla lily every two to three weeks with a balanced fertilizer. The plant will typically bloom for four to six weeks.

Allow the soil to dry out when the plant stops blooming and the leaves begin to yellow and die back. Prune brown foliage from the plant.

Remove the tuber from the soil and let the tuber renew itself in fall and winter. Store the tuber in a paper bag or cardboard box containing slightly moist peat, vermiculite or perlite. Place the bag or box in a cool, dry place with a temperature of 45 to 50 degrees for two to three months.