Good morning, new friends!
I had success overwintering the good ol' green Colocasia last year, and quickly fell in love with all the varieties. This summer I acquired a few new ones, and I would love your help with two of them:
1. I have a 'Diamond Head' Colocasia planted in the ground which has put out several baby plants around the base of the main plant. I would like to dig it up and store it dormant this year. Is this a good idea? I don't know if this variety proliferates by underground runners or by eyes, how should I treat the babies: leave them attached or separate them now?
2. I have an unidentified runner-type colocasia (can't find the pictures right now). Is it true that runners should not be allowed to go dormant? I was told this plant was 'Coffee Cups' but it cannot be so, as it is not cupping. The leaves look to have the same shape, color and size as Coffee Cups, but no folding. The stems are black/purple. Possibly it's 'Black Stem'? Anyway, my concern is not the ID but how to treat it. I can bring this whole container inside, but I don't have a warm,sunny place for it. Also, should I cut the runners off if I have no plans to root them?
Thank you so much for your help!
Karen
EDITED to correct the variety of the plant. I don't know why I keep saying the name wrong!
This message was edited Oct 18, 2013 12:59 PM
Overwintering 'Black Diamond'?
I think you are colder than us and just to play safe dig all your alocasia colocasia and store them in your garage or a cold place meaning inside. I have almost all the varieties and unpot all of them .
It takes few days to do all mt tropicals.
Belle
Thanks, Belle! Yes I plan to bring it in, but I'm more concerned about how to keep it: bare root into dormancy or pot it up and keep the leaves alive? You're saying that you store them all out of soil and in dry cool place? I know to do this for the common green esculenta, but I was told somewhere that the types that put out runners shouldn't be allowed to go dormant.
What do you do about the pups (babies, eyes, whatever the technical term is for aroids)?
Thank you!
Just trim the leaves separate the babies line the rubber maid tubs with news paper and walla you are done.
If you to go to beginners gardening, the thread is Belles Haven Garden 2013, you will see my collection.
I hire someone to do it because there is a lot to bring in.
Belle
This message was edited Oct 19, 2013 5:16 AM