Zantedeschia AETHIOPICA 'GREEN GODDESS'

Zantedeschia AETHIOPICA 'GREEN GODDESS' - Calla lily 'Green Goddess', Ethiopian arum lily, Richardia, Calla Lily.

Zantedeschia is a genus in the Araceae family, comprising 8 recognized species distributed in central and southern Africa. Representatives of the genus are found in marshy and riparian habitats, in wet meadows, along the banks of streams and ponds, as well as in areas with pronounced seasonal humidity.

The genus is characterized by perennial herbaceous plants with robust underground rhizomes or thickened underground organs, forming dense clumps. Leaves are basal, on long fleshy petioles, most often sagittate or lanceolate, smooth, firm, in some species with spotting. The inflorescence is typical of aroids and consists of a spadix surrounded by a large spathe.

The flowers in Zantedeschia are small and arranged on the spadix, while the ornamental effect is created specifically by the spathe, which in different species can be white, cream, yellow, pink, or purple. After flowering, fleshy berries are formed, inside which rounded or slightly angular seeds develop. In some species, an alternation of active growth and a dormant period is pronounced.

Zantedeschia aethiopica 'Green Goddess' is an ornamental flowering form of the white calla lily, forming a robust clump of large basal leaves. The leaves are broad, sagittate, leathery, bright green, on long petioles, forming a dense rosette. The plant develops from a creeping rhizome and is capable of forming large clumps over time.

Flowering occurs in the warm season. The inflorescence is typical of aroids: a creamy yellow spadix is surrounded by a large spathe. In the cultivar 'Green Goddess', the spathe is white at the base, but along the margins and at the apex it has a distinct green coloration, sometimes with a soft transition of shades, making the inflorescence look unusual and striking. After flowering, berries with seeds may form, but in cultivation this is not always observed.

The cultivar 'Green Goddess' is valued for the bicolored coloration of the spathe, rare for calla lilies - the combination of white and green makes the inflorescences particularly expressive and gives them a 'botanical' character. This form is often used as an accent plant in warm climate gardens and container plantings, and is also highly prized in floristry for its unusual shade and vase life. Even when not in bloom, the plant remains ornamental thanks to its large, rich green foliage.

Seeds form inside fleshy berries ripening under a greening spathe, and after cleaning they usually have a grayish or gray-brown color, a dense seed coat, and a rounded or slightly angular shape. The fruit pulp is completely removed before sowing. Scarification and stratification are usually not required. Prior to sowing, short soaking can be performed, first in warm water at 50-60 °C (122-140 °F) for a few minutes, then in a 1% potassium permanganate solution for 1-2 hours. Growth stimulants may additionally be used, such as SUPERthrive, HB-101, Aminosol, Epin, or Zircon.

Sowing is carried out in spring. A clean, loose seedling substrate with the addition of perlite or fine sand is used. Seeds are sown sparsely, since seedlings form fleshy roots early, and are covered with a light layer of soil. Moistening is done from a spray bottle or by careful drenching. The container is kept in a mini-greenhouse or under film at a temperature of about 21 °C (70 °F), in bright diffuse light, with regular ventilation. Waterlogging and complete drying out of the sowings are impermissible.

The first sprouts usually appear in 2-3 weeks. The most typical germination period is several weeks. The maximum germination period can reach 4-6 weeks. After sprouts appear, the covering is removed gradually, and seedlings are provided with stable humidity and good lighting without overheating. Pricking out is carried out once the plants become large enough for safe repotting, taking into account that their young root system is fleshy and sensitive to damage.

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For most Zantedeschia species, bright lighting with protection from scorching midday sun is used, especially in indoor culture and in hot regions. Placement on east, west, or southeast-facing windows is considered best, and in the garden - in spots with morning sun or light partial shade. In insufficient light, flowering weakens, petioles stretch, and leaves become less dense.

During the active season, a temperature of around 18-25 °C (64-77 °F) is maintained. In winter, for indoor plants, keeping within 10-16 °C (50-61 °F) is desirable if the species enters relative dormancy, although under stable humidity and mild conditions Zantedeschia aethiopica can retain foliage longer. Temperatures below 5 °C (41 °F) are undesirable, as leaf and rhizome tissues are damaged by cold.

Watering during the growth period is carried out abundantly, as the plant prefers constantly slightly moist soil and poorly tolerates complete desiccation. Soft or settled water is used. When grown in a pot, stagnation of water without air access is not permitted, although a brief very wet condition is tolerated better than drying out. In dry air, leaves may lose turgor and dry out along the edges, so higher air humidity is tolerated well. The leaf surface is periodically cleaned of dust.

A nutrient-rich, moisture-retentive, but breathable substrate with the addition of perlite, leaf mold, humus, and a small amount of coarse sand is used for planting. Drainage is necessarily placed on the bottom. Spacious pots are used, as rhizomes expand quickly. Repotting is carried out as the container fills, usually once every 1-2 years. During the active growth period, fertilizer solutions with an emphasis on flowering crops are applied once every 2 weeks. Spent peduncles and old leaves are promptly removed.

In addition to rhizome division, which is used very often for the genus, Zantedeschia can also reproduce by seeds. During division, sections with renewal buds are slightly dried and then planted in moderately moist soil.