Zantedeschia 'Captain Tendens' (Captain Tendens calla lily) care

Light

Bright but filtered. Zantedeschia 'Captain Tendens' burns within days in unfiltered south-facing summer sun, and stops growing within months in deep shade. Flowers best in bright light, including some gentle direct morning sun. Indoors give a bright windowsill; outdoors a position with full sun to light afternoon shade produces the strongest spathe colour and sturdiest stems. If you only have a south window, set the plant back 1.5 m or hang a sheer curtain — both knock the intensity down into the right range.

Watering

Watering zantedeschia 'captain tendens': keep soil evenly moist in growth and bloom; keep dry during winter dormancy. The number that matters isn't the day of the week — it's how dry the top 2-3 cm of the pot feels. A finger in the soil tells you more than a watering app. After every watering, tip the saucer. Water regularly so the soil stays consistently moist (not waterlogged) while the plant is in leaf and flower. After flowering, as foliage yellows, gradually withhold water and store the dry rhizome through dormancy to prevent rot.

Soil and pot

Zantedeschia 'Captain Tendens' grows best in rich, moisture-retentive but free-draining potting mix. Use a fertile, humus-rich compost that holds moisture yet drains well; add grit or perlite to pots. These hybrid callas need steady moisture in growth but rot if the rhizome sits in cold, sodden soil. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Zantedeschia 'Captain Tendens' sits happiest at around 40-60% humidity and 16-24°C (61-75°F). Tolerant of average humidity and undemanding on this front. Moderate ambient moisture is fine; good airflow matters more than high humidity for keeping the rhizome and foliage healthy. If you keep the room above 16 year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed zantedeschia 'captain tendens' sparingly. Feed every 2-3 weeks during growth and flowering with a balanced or slightly potassium-rich liquid fertiliser to support blooming. Stop feeding as the foliage dies back for dormancy. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on zantedeschia 'captain tendens' in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Rhizome rot — The most frequent problem, from overwatering or cold, wet winter storage. Use free-draining mix and keep the dormant rhizome dry.
• Few or no flowers — Usually too little light or excess nitrogen. Give bright light and a potassium-rich feed to encourage spathes.
• Yellowing leaves — Natural at season's end, but premature yellowing signals overwatering or poor drainage. Check the rhizome and adjust watering.
• Aphids and spider mites — Can infest soft new growth and buds. Rinse off and treat with insecticidal soap; aphids can also spread viruses.

Propagation

Propagate by dividing the rhizome during winter dormancy, ensuring each piece has a growth eye. Replant divisions in spring as growth resumes; named hybrids do not come true from seed. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Zantedeschia 'Captain Tendens' is toxic to pets. ASPCA-listed as toxic to cats and dogs. Calla lily (Zantedeschia) contains insoluble calcium oxalates; chewing releases sharp raphides that cause intense oral burning and irritation of the mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing. Keep well away from pets. Note this is not a true lily, so it does not cause the kidney failure that Lilium poses to cats. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Zantedeschia 'Captain Tendens' deep-dive guides

Every aspect of zantedeschia 'captain tendens' care, each with its own calibrated guide:

• Zantedeschia 'Captain Tendens' watering schedule
• Zantedeschia 'Captain Tendens' light requirements
• Best soil mix for zantedeschia 'captain tendens'
• Zantedeschia 'Captain Tendens' fertilizing guide
• When to repot zantedeschia 'captain tendens'
• How to propagate zantedeschia 'captain tendens'
• Zantedeschia 'Captain Tendens' growth rate & size
• Zantedeschia 'Captain Tendens' cold hardiness
• Zantedeschia 'Captain Tendens' temperature & humidity
• Is zantedeschia 'captain tendens' toxic to cats & dogs?
• Is zantedeschia 'captain tendens' toxic to cats?
• Is zantedeschia 'captain tendens' toxic to dogs?
• Getting zantedeschia 'captain tendens' to bloom

Featured in these plant shortlists

Zantedeschia 'Captain Tendens' qualifies for 3 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

• Best plants for a north-facing window — Houseplants for a north-facing window: bright, even, indirect light and no scorching direct sun. Each pick verified against its documented light needs.
• Best flowering houseplants — Indoor plants grown for their blooms — selected from the flowering species in Growli’s plant-care library.
• Houseplants toxic to cats & dogs — The common houseplants the ASPCA lists as toxic to cats and dogs — the ones to keep out of reach, each with its symptoms and a safe alternative.
• Browse all 29 plant shortlists — pet-safe, low-light, drought-tolerant and more

Related guides

Zantedeschia 'Captain Tendens' is also commonly called Captain Tendens calla lily or pink captain calla.

• Peace lily care — light, water and common problems
• Bird of paradise care — light, water and common problems
• Hoya care — light, water and common problems
• All 5561 plant care guides in the Growli library