Calla lily (Zatedeschia aethiopica) is also known as water taro, cichlid flowers. Amanita family, calla lily genus. Its flower stem is quite elegant, buds white like a horseshoe, leaf blade green decorated with white spots, can be described as flowers and leaves two outstanding. Important cut flowers for the winter and spring seasons, can be used for vases or made into bouquets, baskets, potted plants is to decorate the hall. The ideal plant for halls and venues.

(a) Morphological features and varieties

Calla Lily is a perennial tuberous plant. Rootstock fleshy, taro-like, leaf basal, halberd-shaped, petiole long, more than two times as long as the leaf blade, the lower part of the sheath. Flowering stems high above the leaves, elegant, ornamental part of the spathe white, yellow, pink and other colors, slightly fragrant, flesh spike inflorescence yellow, cylindrical, inflorescence base 1/4 long for female flowers, the upper part of the male flowers, due to the male and female heterozygous, not easy to self-pollination fruiting, must be artificially aided by pollination in order to be fruitful, see Figure 3-9.

About eight species of plants in the same genus, commonly cultivated ornamental There are also silver star calla lily, yellow calla lily, red calla lily and so on.

(B) ecological habits

Native to Cape Town, South Africa, now widely cultivated around the world. According to its reproductive characteristics, it is divided into two categories: wetland and dryland. Dryland although New Zealand has produced hybrids, but the world is still widely cultivated wetland type. Prefer warm, moist and slightly shaded environment, growth temperature 15 C ~ 25C, can withstand 4C low temperature in winter, but OC stems and leaves are susceptible to frost damage, so generally suitable for greenhouse or greenhouse cultivation. Like water and fertilizer, summer temperatures are high when dormant, natural flowering period of March to April, if you create its fertility temperature conditions, it can be the anniversary of the flowering of the market.

(C) reproduction methods

Calla lily fruits less, so more use of planting reproduction, can be carried out in all seasons. Generally when the plant withers, the tuber will be dug up, divided into large, medium and small three levels were planted, small tubers to cultivate 2 years before the beginning of the flowering stem. Can also be divided down around the old plant sprouting young sprouting tillers, if not with roots, can be inserted into the vegetative sandy soil in the shade and moisturizing maintenance, at a temperature of 20C, 20 days or so that is rooted.

Because of the gradual decline in growth potential after asexual reproduction, and susceptible to viral diseases, it is necessary to use live seedling tubers to renew and re-strengthen. Live seedlings are usually sown in the spring, after 2 years of cultivation, that is, you can get a flowering bulb.

(D) Cultivation Technology

Calla Lily cultivation is divided into two kinds of cultivation and potting, ground cultivation for cut flower production.

1. Ground planting should be selected fertile and moist soil, adequate fertilizer, made into a 1-meter-wide bed, disease-free tubers according to the row spacing of 50 cm, plant spacing of 30 cm to 40 cm planting, planting time according to the requirements of the flowers on the market to determine the general April to June is better. After planting in order to make good fertility, from late June to late August, the application of shade net shading 50% to 60%, in the summer when the ground temperature is too high should be fully irrigated, due to the quality of the water and the amount of water on the fertility of the planting after a great impact, we should pay special attention to the low EC value, to PH6-5 ~ PH7.0 is good. Fertilizer to nitrogen fertilizer-based, generally every 15 days or so to apply a liquid fertilizer, the flowering period to stop fertilizer. Although the length of sunshine has no effect on the differentiation and development of flower buds, but long-term in the shade under the conditions of its nutrient growth and reproductive growth will be out of balance, so the latest in early September that is to remove the shade net, October began to cover the greenhouse film, the winter temperature is maintained at more than 15C, and to give sufficient light, that can make its winter bloom should be marketed.

2. pot plant in June after flowering, cut off the yellow leaves, early August dormant period, appropriate shade, stop fertilizer, control watering. To be tuber sprouting new leaves, and then choose fat, strong tubers on the pot, after October in the greenhouse maintenance, before and after the Spring Festival is able to bloom. But need to prevent poor ventilation and room temperature is too high.

Color calla lily common pests and diseases

Calla lily common diseases are mainly bacterial diseases, fungal diseases and insect pests, the following to be introduced separately. Bacterial disease Euclidia: Euclidia disease, also known as soft rot, is caused by carrot soft rot Owen's carrot soft rot pathogenic variant. Infected leaves and stems turn dark green with necrotic and rotting spots and secrete mucus, and eventually the plant collapses. The tubers also begin to rot at the same time and have a foul odor. Infection can be caused through some small wounds when the plant is not growing well. These bacteria can also secrete some enzymes to dissolve the cell walls and penetrate the plant. If the plants are dry, the infected plants and the soil in which they are growing should be carefully removed. It should be noted that those infected tubers need to be picked out as early as possible before planting and sterilized as a precaution. Susceptibility to Eucalyptus infection also varies with the variety. In general, yellow and orange colored varieties are more susceptible to infection than white and cream colored varieties. The best method of control is to provide the plant with an optimum growing environment from start to finish when cultivating so that it can be assured of undisturbed development. Calla lilies should be grown in an environment that meets the following requirements:?

Provide sufficient water (do not plant too shallowly; water when the soil dries out);

The soil should be well drained to prevent over-wetting;

Avoid high temperatures in the greenhouse, especially when the relative humidity is high;

Prevent damage to the plant and the tubers (protect the plant from wind damage, take care not to allow herbicides to affect the plant's growth, and careful handling during harvesting and handling);

Prevention of damage caused by other fungal diseases and pests (e.g. damage caused by Pythium or filamentous fungi may provide a port of call for Eubacterium invasion);

Do not use excessive nitrogen fertilizers, as rates in excess of 150 kg per hectare can easily cause Eubacterium infection.

Tubers should be dried as soon as possible after harvesting: any time delay during the first week after harvesting can cause substantial losses later. Fungal disease Pythium: this fungus causes root rot

which results in limited water uptake by the plant. Crop rotation and precise irrigation (as well as drainage) are important factors in preventing infection. Steam sterilize the soil and treat with a fungicide before planting.

Fungus: This fungus causes damage to the buds of the plant near the ground. The fungus can be controlled by treating the soil with methomyl and flutriafol.

Penicillium: This fungus can cause infections in tuber storage, resulting in damage to tubers during and after storage, especially if the tubers have been mechanically damaged, the relative humidity in the storage room is too high, or there is insufficient air movement in the microenvironment. Providing adequate air movement can prevent the development of this pathogen. The tubers can also be sterilized with a fungicide, such as carbendazim.

Grey mold: can occur on flowers and leaves. A combination of fungicides and insecticides is necessary to prevent it every 10 days when cultivated in the open air. Infection by gray mold is almost always manifested on the leaves by the formation of small spots. It is enough to make only one shot for prevention at the end of August or the beginning of September. Insects Thrips and aphids cause damage throughout the growth

of the plant. They can be prevented by spraying twice with parathion before flower picking and by using acetamiprid or deltamethrin every 7-10 days during cultivation.

Calla lilies are generally produced in the south, and can be bought in Fuzhou, Fujian, Changsha, Hunan, Guangzhou, Guangdong, Guilin, Guangxi, and flower greenhouse production bases and flower and bird markets