Just thought I'd share my Pycnospatha arietina with y'all. Those who like stinkies would enjoy this plant as, although the bloom does have a stink, you need to put your nose right up to it in order to smell the odor. Some reports claim that this bloom has no odor; in the case of my plant, that is not true.
Note that the plant has 3 leaves, 1 bloom, and one developing seedhead from last year's bloom.
LariAnn
Aroidia Research
And here is a closer shot of this year's bloom (they last a long time, too, unlike Amorph blooms). Note also the developing seedhead and the blue Selaginella growing near the bloom.
This message was edited Aug 30, 2009 5:41 PM
I obtained this plant last year at the IAS show; it had a much smaller bloom and only one small pale green leaf at that time. Once it went dormant, I repotted it in my special mix and kept it on the moist side (the tuber had a lot of healthy roots which didn't die in dormancy). I then waited for it to come back up, which it did in Spring of this year. The seedhead is totally unexpected because this is the only specimen I have. Perhaps this species produces apomictic seeds!.
Amazing. I will be going to IAS this year. I can't wait. It will be my first Aroid Show.
You guys are making me so jealous!!! I want to go to the show so badly, but family needs me elsewhere. I wish you could purchase from the Fairchild shows online! I can't seem to get enough aroids!! Every time I see something 'rare' or different, I want it for my modest collection. Can't buy smaller plants right now as they need more care and I seem to be on the go quite a bit lately and have a surgery near the end of September. Please share photos of your purchases and dealer info. I'd really appreciate d-mails with the info. Maybe later I'll be able to get some of your leftovers!
Marianne
Yes Please share your pictures with us. I can't get away and will be commiserating with Marianne.
LariAnn: such an nice specimen. I read that the blooms last longer than most Amorps. Have you found that to be the case?
I've been using coir with a mix of worm castings but suspect that's not course enough. Would you advise us newbies on the proper mix of soil? There's probably a link somewhere???
Thanks for the info and fuel for the fire. LOL
Yes, the blooms on Pycnospatha do last a lot longer than Amorph blooms, and they seem like they are made of cardboard, they are so tough.
My special mix is a 2-3-4 mix; 2 parts Fafard 3B, 3 parts washed Perlite and 4 parts composted pine bark. To this I add some time-release fertilizer as per label rate (Dynamite fertilizer is the closest to my professional formula). You can use Canadian peat instead of the Fafard 3B; I've also used ProMix BX instead of the Fafard 3B. The coir might work well in place of the 3B, peat, or ProMix. The idea is to use less than 30% peat and have a mix that drains well, yet holds moisture too.
LariAnn , Is this a mix that you use on all your aroids ? I have a nice collections started and next spring I am going to start putting them in a raised bed.
Thanks,
loveyard
Generally, yes, but for Anthuriums I would use even less peat and more pine bark and perlite.
