Instagram · Lynne Lambourne Sustainable Garden & Living · 30 October 2026
Twist Off Spent Calla Lily Flowers
Learn a simple twisting technique to remove spent calla lily flowers, encouraging your plant to produce more beautiful blooms next season.
The idea
To encourage your calla lilies to produce more flowers, remove spent blooms by twisting them off at the base of the stem. Wait until the flower is completely spent and has started to form a seed pod. Grip the stem firmly near the base of the plant and twist gently while pulling upwards. The stem should come away easily without needing to be cut with shears or scissors.
Why it works
When a flower fades, the plant's natural instinct is to produce seeds to reproduce. By removing the spent flower before it fully develops seeds, you prevent the plant from expending energy on seed production. This energy is then redirected back into the plant's rhizome or bulb, strengthening it and encouraging it to produce more flowers in the current or subsequent growing seasons. This process is often called deadheading.
Try it
- Identify calla lily flowers that have faded, wilted, and started to form a seed pod. They will typically look green and swollen at the top of the stem where the flower once was.
- Reach down to the base of the flower stem, close to where it emerges from the plant.
- Grip the stem firmly with your fingers.
- Gently twist and pull the stem upwards. It should detach cleanly from the plant.
- Repeat this process for all spent flowers on your calla lily plants throughout their blooming season.
- Observe your plants over the next few weeks for new flower stalks emerging, indicating that the plant is redirecting its energy into new blooms.
Watch out for
- Do not pull too hard, as this can damage the plant's rhizome or surrounding leaves. If the stem doesn't come away easily with a gentle twist, it might not be fully spent yet.
- This twisting method is specifically recommended for calla lilies. Other plants may require different deadheading techniques, such as cutting with pruners.
- Ensure the flower is truly spent and not just temporarily closed or damaged, as removing healthy buds will reduce flowering.
- Avoid leaving spent flowers on the plant, as they can become a site for fungal diseases or pests, especially in humid conditions.
