Preparing Soil for Calla Lilies

Garden Soil

• 1

  Select a bed that receives full sunlight and drains well. Calla lilies require moist soil, but they cannot tolerate soggy conditions or standing water.

• 2

  Break up the top 8 inches of soil with a hoe. Spread a 3-inch layer of compost or leaf mold over the soil and work it in as you break up the ground.

• 3

  Fertilize the soil after planting the rhizomes each spring. Apply a granular slow-release 5-10-5 fertilizer at the rate indicated on the package. Water the soil after fertilizing so the fertilizer granules dissolve and leach out nutrients.

Potting Soil

• 4

  Combine equal parts compost and peat in the pot. For example, a 10-inch-diameter pot is large enough for one calla plant and holds 5 quarts of soil, so you need 2 1/2 quarts of compost and 2 1/2 quarts of peat. Compost provides for the rich soil needs of the calla while the peat supplies proper drainage and moisture retention.

• 5

  Mix a slow-release 5-10-5 fertilizer with the potting mix following package recommendations. Alternatively, fertilize the lilies after they begin growing with a soluble tropical plant fertilizer.

• 6

  Water the soil until moisture drips from the bottom of the pot. Allow the pot to drain for 30 minutes before planting the calla rhizomes. Waiting allows the soil to absorb the water and shed the excess liquid.