Simply Calla is a project by a Calla growers’ collective, who together want to promote the versatility of the Calla on the map. Zandvoort Flowers is one of these growers. FloraPodium visited Zandvoort, and was welcomed by three energetic brothers Sjors, Rob and Rick, who took over the business from their parents. Sjors enthusiastically told all about their cultivation. Besides the Zantedeschia (Calla) they also grow Freesias and Amaryllis.

Versatile product
The Calla has various symbolic meanings. It is considered a flower of purity, sympathy and beauty. The Calla is also considered a lucky flower. This dates from the Greek and Roman period. They associated the flower with festivities and enjoyment, because the shape of the flower resembles a goblet used for drinking.

The elegant, stylish shape makes the Calla unique. For a long time only white and yellow shades were available, but nowadays there are beautiful varieties in a multitude of special colors. From dark purple to soft pink flowers, and from warm orange to even black. In addition, there are already quite a few types of two-colored Callas.

Callas exude simplicity and tranquility. The flowers have beautiful tight stems, without leaves. This elegant flower is therefore perfect for combining  with other special and remarkable flowers. For a nice contrast between shape and color, you can use the Calla in a flower arrangement with, for example, full roses or wild spider chrysanthemums. The stems are flexible in many varieties, making it possible to arrange the flowers in all kinds of shapes. The elegant look and the special warm colors make the Calla, according to Sjors, an extremely creative product.

The most noticeable aspect of the Calla is the beautifully shaped spathe. This spathe is actually a petal, and emerges serenely and majestically from the stem. It's a kind of wrap that slowly opens up until you can look deep into the heart of the plant. The actual flowers are very small and are located on the elongated spadix in the center of the spathe.

In the spotlight
Exclusively available at Zandvoort Flowers is the Zantedeschia 'Brasilia'; a beautiful two-tone Calla and in the spotlight at FloraPodium this week. This special Calla is cream colored with a beautiful pink border. White colored Callas can grow into flowers with a pink glow during the summer. This is because the warm summer days provide an excess of energy for the flowers. The color turns pinker and gets a rougher edge. By crossing varieties with each other, the breeder has succeeded in preserving the pink border as a standard feature in the Zantedeschia 'Brasilia'. So no special climate is needed to make them turn to  this pink color. That’s what makes the product so beautiful. The Brasilia was grown for the first time last year.

The company was MPS GAP certified until last year. Now they are GLOBAL GAP certified because this quality mark is better known internationally. Where the boys were initially skeptical about a sustainability label, they really appreciated the principle and embraced it. "By working with a seal of approval you ensure that, in addition to your environmental policy, your personnel policy is completely in order", says Sjors, "We think that is very important".

The Callas are grown at Zandvoort Flowers in cultivation boxes. These boxes are replaced by new boxes with clean soil and new bulbs by their supplier after each use. The cultivation takes about five to six months. After this they return the boxes so that they can be cleaned and replanted. Callas are sensitive plants and the risk of contamination is large.

With the cultivation of this beautiful product, different aspects are taken into account. Each variety also has its own production requirements. In addition, the men of Zandvoort Flowers, want the stem of the flowers as hard as possible. This makes it easier for them to be processed within the company. In addition, the humidity of the greenhouse is closely monitored so that the Callas do not dry out. This is kept up to standard by spraying very fine mist through the greenhouse. This mist also has a cooling effect in the greenhouse.

A plant produces most of the time twenty flowers that are picked at the moment they are ripe. By picking instead of cutting, you get the entire stem out. If you cut the flowers a piece of the stem will remain, which can rot. By picking you also take the hard, white part of the stem. If this part is not attached, the bottom of the stem will quickly curl.

When a flower is picked, it goes to the processing room. In this processing room there is a sorting machine that sorts the flowers by size of and length. This machine handles the Callas very carefully so they do not break. Originally this machine was built for Gerberas, but together with Havatec they developed a machine that is suitable for the Calla. It just needed to be given some extra delicate settings for handling the Callas. All bunches are once again checked manually, whether they meet the requirements of Zandvoort Flowers qualitatively and representative.

You can enjoy your Calla the longest if you cut them diagonally. Place the Callas in a clean vase with clean water. Do not use too much water, this is bad for the stems.  Put the best cut flower food in the water. Cut off the stems every three days. Do not place the vase in direct sunlight or near a heater.

Light influence

Light has a big influence on the color of the Calla. Especially with the cream colored and orange Callas, you can quickly see the effects of light. As mentioned earlier, the cream-colored Calla gets a pink glow when it gets too much light. The flower has too much energy, causing it to turn pink. In a plant with orange Callas, there is a difference in color per length. The flowers that get less light, because they are more hidden under a leaf, can be yellow in color. The flowers that grow tall, on the other hand, tend to turn red. As a result, it is possible that there are color differences with the same orange type.

The Calla used to go by the impressive name of the Ethiopian arum lily. It originates from an area extending from South Africa to Malawi, where it grows in swamps. The areas where it grows are alternately marshy and dry. This means that the Calla is not only beautiful, but also strong. The leaves of the plant always bend down, so they quickly cover the lowest flowers of the plant. By breeding there are now plants that have the leaves more upright. This also gives the lower buttons more light. The Brasilia is one of these species. Zandvoort Flowers chooses her species from a breeder. These species are propagated in the fields in Noord-Holland by bulb growers. Here is the best soil and climate.

FloraPodium, 23 May 2018