Calla or calla is an unusual flower with snow-white petals and a bright yellow pistil. Few dare to grow it in their garden. Someone just out of ignorance how to do it correctly. But others - because of the bad fame walking around the plant. Calla lilies are said to be the flowers of death. But why? Let's figure it out.
First of all, it must be said that not all calla lilies are considered the flowers of death. Only white flowers with a yellow center were "awarded" this title. Some people compare the petals of a flower with a shroud designed to cover the deceased, and its pistil with a wax candle. Others have noticed that these flowers usually bloom only at night, and therefore consider it magical. Still others believe that calla lilies dissolve their buds only in one case - shortly before the death of someone close to the grower. But those in the know say that these are all just silly superstitions. Interestingly, there are more "mundane" versions of why white calla lilies are the flowers of death. White is the color of death, the color of sadness for the dead. In Russia, as a woman's old age approached, colored embroidery diminished and white ones began to prevail, in old age only white embroidery remained or there was none.
In Japan, white is still considered the color of death and "mourning". A wedding is a symbolic death of the bride in popular culture (and in French, the loss of virginity by a girl literally translates as "little death"). In folk culture, after the matchmaking, the bride says goodbye to her relatives for 2 weeks, wails and appears in public less. One of the bride's wedding dresses is white without colored embroidery (hence the white dress of modern brides). Then they change it to a smart one with red embroidery. After that, the bride is symbolically born into the family of the groom (hence the change of the bride's surname). The complete process of transition to the groom's clan is completed 3 years after the wedding. So there are no superstitions here, but a banal ignorance of their own traditions.
What do florists say about calla lilies?
Many modern florists are realists. They do not believe in superstition and do not consider calla lilies to be the flowers of death. Experts point out that it is very useful to grow these plants on their sites. Firstly, because they know how to predict the weather: before the rain, calla lilies open their petals, and in the heat they twist them around a yellow cob. And even before precipitation, they can "cry" - release water droplets filled with minerals. In addition, calla lilies can help a person increase immunity, calm down, restore peace in the family, get rid of depression and boredom. Florists also point out that white is a symbol of beauty, purity and innocence. If a person dreamed of calla lilies, this is for health and new love.
How to plant calla lilies?
Callas are whimsical flowers. It requires a lot of space for planting, does not tolerate heat and drafts. Therefore, it is better to plant somewhere between shrubs and trees. At the same time, it is very desirable that there is a reservoir nearby, since the plant is very moisture-loving. Before planting in open ground, you need to take the tubers, stand at the bottom of the refrigerator for a week. Transfer to a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Hold, remove all damaged and rotten areas, lubricate the sections with brilliant green. Calla lilies can be placed outdoors in early May. To do this, dig a hole up to 10 cm deep, put the tuber, sprinkle lightly with earth. Seedlings will appear in a month.
