[Bonniebean]

Advice please!!! I have an arum lily in the ground by a pond which I put in this year and I have one in a pot in the pond which slowly came back after the bad winter last year but has not grown very much.
I was wondering whether to cover the ground growing one with fleece this winter and to put the pond pot in the greenhouse - what do you think?

[mumofstig]

I am watching this because my beloved Arum never made more than a token recovery.....
just a few small leaves

[Goosegirl]

I have the Arum Lily Zantadeschia aethiopica which usually grows to quite a height and has to be sliced through in early spring to keep it from growing outwards. Last winter, it took until late summer to shoot to any degree. I have never covered it with anything in the past but will do if this winter is like last year's. There may be other Arum lilies more tender so I would cover them or move to a greenhouse if in a pot.

[Bonniebean]

Thanks goosegirl. These are just the standard white Arums, but I've heard that the coloured ones can be more sensitive.

[Trillium]

Arums are the same family as callas, so treat them the same. If your lilies are in pots, then an unheated greenhouse with a bit of fleece will see them through.
If they're planted outside, then all the sources I've read recommend a deep winter mulch which is pulled off in spring. Before applying the mulch, fold the lily's leaves over the centre and then apply the mulch.

[Bonniebean]

Sounds ideal trillium - thank you for the help!

[fatcat1955]

The Arum lily is one of the best water filters for a pond, it absorbs nitrate (or is it Nitrite). As to leaving it in the pond, as it is potted and nitrate levels are higher in summer i would overwinter in the greenhouse.

[spottymint]

Hi

Mine over winters inside, never seem to grow well after a hard winter & even die.

Kept frost free they flower well & thrive.

Have seen them survive after snow, but results are poor the following sumer.

Fatcat, it is Nitrate that they absorb, ammonia & nitrite are both toxic to fish, luckily bacteria convert them to nitrate for the plants to absorb.