How to Arrange Calla Lilies

Very few flowers have as statuesque an appearance as the gracefully tall calla lily. These exotic and ornate flowers, with their colorful trumpet-shaped blossoms, can create an eye-catching, sophisticated floral arrangement. As you arrange calla lilies, handle the flowers properly to ensure that they last a long time in the arrangement. With attention to detail, your calla lilies will stay fresh and vibrant for many days.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

things you’ll need:

• Large vase
• Standard floral food
• Sharp knife
• Additional flowers (orchids, hydrangea, carnations or roses)
• Filler (baby’s breath)

1. Fill the vase with room-temperature water and add one envelope of standard floral food to the water (a little envelope of food typically accompanies purchased flowers). Stir the water well to mix in the floral food.
2. Hold the stems of the calla lilies under cool running water and cut the stems off with the sharp knife. Cut the stems at a 45-degree angle while holding them under the running water. Keep the stems long enough so that half of the stems go under the water and the other half of the stems extends up and out of the water.
3. Place the calla lilies into the water in the vase immediately after cutting them. Use enough calla lilies in the vase to fill it up without other flowers, or add additional flowers — such as orchids, hydrangea, carnations or roses — to complement the calla lilies. Keep the calla lilies taller than the other flowers so they remain the main focal point of the arrangement. If you use additional flowers, arrange them around the calla lily stems, approximately 6 inches shorter than the calla lily blossoms.
4. Add a small amount of filler around top of the vase, if you desire. A few sprigs of baby’s breath around the opening of the vase softens the arrangement and adds an attractive touch.
5. Place the vase in a cool location out of direct sunlight and away from heat and drafts.
6. Check the water level every day and add more room-temperature water to keep the vase full.
7. Change the water every second or third day. Dump out the old water, rinse out the vase well and fill the vase again with room-temperature water. Add another envelope of floral food. If you do not have floral food, add 2 tbsp. of clear soda pop to the water and stir it in well.
8. Cut the flower stems under cool running water again, removing approximately 1/2 inch of each stem and cutting the stems at a 45-degree angle again.
9. Place the flowers back into the vase again.

Tips & Warnings

• Substitute three parts cool water and one part lemon-lime soda pop or 2 tbsp. white vinegar and sugar combined with 1 qt. of cool water if you do not have floral food.