What Zantedeschia Want: Part 2

What Zantedeschia Want: Part 2

#Sun Valley #zantedeschia #zants greenhouses hoop houses Lady Aster

Last week, we learned what Zantedeschia really want in a growing environment: Diffused Light and Cool Evenings.  Now it's time to reveal the results of our year-long examination--which one of these growing environments--Hoop Houses or Greenhouses--gives Zants the ideal growing conditions that they really want? The winner is.....

 ....HOOP HOUSES!  

HOOP HOUSE

GREENHOUSE

Yes, that's right.  Zantedeschia like Hoop Houses more than Greenhouses, but it's not personal, it's business. Here's how they deliver:
  
Light Diffusion and UV Supply: The plastic coverings we use on our hoop houses are milky white, which provides the best light diffusion.  The opaque color scatters (or diffuses) the sun's rays and allows the light to wrap around Zant's big upper leaves and reach underneath to the dark underbelly. The clear, glass windows of a greenhouse typically provide direct light which can create a lot of shadows.  Some plants thrive in this environment, but Zants need as much light on as many of their leaves as possible.  In addition to the lack of light diffusion,  greenhouse glass also acts as a filter for UV light, which means the majority of UV rays are not transmitted (just try to get a suntan in a greenhouse!).  However, the plastic on our hoop houses allows the much-needed UV rays to shine on through.

Temperature: As we have learned, Zants like cold nights. Greenhouses can be too warm, which will result in more leaves than flowers.  Hoop houses, on the other hand, naturally start off cooler than a greenhouse.  This is because hoop houses are open-ended, which allow for cool evening air to circulate freely.  Know what else keeps hoops houses cool? Diffused light! It does create heat, but the heat is not nearly as intense as direct light.  Consistent, cool evenings leads to rich, saturated color.  Plus, the little bit of cold stress is not only good for vivid-looking blooms, it is also just what they need to grow tall and straight.

This year, our hoop house varieties are exhibiting exceptionally vivid colors as well as stem lengths ranging from 14 to 28 inches.  We love these beauties for their iconic, elegant appearance and their remarkable vase life.  We're quite excited that we have discovered what Zants really want.....and we hope you are too!

What Zantedeschia Want: Part 1

What Zantedeschia Want: Part 1

#americanflowersweek #americangrown #callalily #Callas #CAgrown #light #OriginMatters #zantedeschia #zants

Zantedeschia--a colorful name for a complicated flower.  These lovely, long-legged blooms are commonly referred to as "Calla Lilies," and even though they are not true members of the Liliaceae family, we let them get away with it because they're so darn pretty.

Morning Sunrise "Flaming" Zantedeschia

 
Like most pretty things, Zants can present a growing challenge.  They are quite particular about what they like and don't like.  So last year, we grew them in both greenhouses and hoop houses with the goal to see which growing conditions gave us blooms of the highest quality.   At the end of the season, we found out what Zantedeschia really want.  And what do they want? A one-two combination of diffused light and cool evenings.

  
LIGHT
Light, of course, is essential for all plant cultivation, but most importantly, it's the type of light that really matters.  And what Zantedeschia want is diffused light.  Diffused light simply means that the light is scattered, as opposed to direct.  There are several ways to achieve this, which we will discuss later.  Zantedeschia also want UV light.  You know that lower range of the light spectrum that gives you a killer tan or a wicked sunburn? Well, it also has an effect on the growth of Zantedeschia.  The kind of light as well as its intensity has a huge influence on the color saturation and clarity of the blooms as well as the length of the plant.  

Check out that rich color!

 

TEMPERATURE
Researchers say a little bit of stress is good for the body, though too much can be damaging.  The same goes for Zantedeschia. A little bit of cold stress helps them stretch to their elegant length while also infusing their blooms with intense color. If Zantedeschia are kept at a balmy temperature all day and all night, the intensity of its color will be reduced.  A cooler evening environment is essential for optimum flower production. Cool evenings are what really make the colors of our pink and orange "flaming" varieties more vivid.

Stretching for the sky

So which performed better? Greenhouse Zants or Hoop House Zants? Stay tuned for next week's Part 2 to find out how we gave Zantedeschia what they want (and in turn, give you what you want---the highest quality Zantedeschia you can find!).