Tropicals & Tender Perennials: Costus Amazonicus r FRIST Bloom!!!, 1 by GingerGrower

GingerGrower wrote:
Hi sue, OK on the cutting, any costus will root from cuttings, Costus Amazonicus is a little slower to root than other costus, because of the lack of chlorophyll in the white & cream colored areas. On most costus, You can cut off an entire stem & lay it down on a bed a of light potting mix & it will sprout at most all of the leaf nodes.
The big leaf Costus with the fuzzy underside, sounds like Costus Barbatus ! It is a beauty when it blooms, but it blooms on stems that are about 8 months old, so it is best to keep it from freezing back to see it bloom. The inflorescence will usually start showing in late March & grow til about November & reach a height of about 14 inches on a 7 to 8 foot stem. In Costa Rica, they grow to about 12 feet tall.