Before long...wonderful fall will be here but I do dread frost. I will dig up and pot a small Black Magic to try to overwinter it. I dont expect the big plant to survive but doesnt BM have a root mass instead of a "tater" like the regular EE's. Thinking I'll just have to mulch it and hope for the best.
digging up "black magic" next month ?
Hi Charlotte. It was such a suprise last fall when I dug my huge Black Magic up and there was nothing but thread like roots and sprouts, but no bulb. One DG member told me he potted his and kept it going through winter, but that he had to battle spider mites all winter. Do any EEs overwinter outside in your zone? Extra mulch may be the easiest solution for you. Good Luck, Neal.
We do all our Aroids but the Bulbed ones indoors or in GH every Winter.
As I don't have a Basement or Heated Garage most remain active all Winter.
We just treat them like houseplants.
Actually more like wintering Succulents.
High light/little water/NO fertilizer
On the Mites.....yes they are prone to them.
High humidity and good air movement though pretty much take care of that.
Safers takes care of them quite easily if you get any infestations.
W/o a LOT of light they will die back .
(We have though kept 'Illustrus' going at a full 5' size though all Winter.)
Don't worry if the new leaves are of Munchkin size.
You probably will see the new leaves all turn to solid green also.
I'd pot some up now.
That will give them a little time to get used to new conditions.
In the Colocasia group I work more w/ wintering pups usually, as I don't have room for the big Honkers.
Pot up several pots of pups by themselves.
Then if you loose one pot.........
Ric
I wintered mine last winter and will do it again ..... I believe I'll keep cutting off the ears as they sprout to help offset the spider mite issue......
I have the gigantic EE, the illustris and the black magic.
None will go well outside I dont think. Some folks around here do leave some type of green EE in the ground but when I tried it...the thing rotted and it was not in wet place.
I definately plan to dig up the green EE bulb (neal - this is the one I got from you) - do I wait until it frosts on it or do it before ?
The illustris...I will keep a small one in a pot or at least try. Same with the Black Magic. Gosh I hate to lose those tall big plants but NO WAY can they come inside !!!
Thanks for the advice to go ahead and pot up small ones.
Charlotte, I do wait till the frost hits them before I dig them. Then I just let them dry and store them in a tub in the closet, in a clump with some soil still clinging. Did I send you an Illustris? I sent a couple out in trades and wondered how they did. Mine were hit by a late frost and never recovered (waaa!).
Neal...I think you sent me an illustris and I killed it !!! not on purpose !!
then I got another later in the spring...do you need one ?
The first of Aug. I got an illustris off EBay, and today I noticed it is putting on a bulb. I didn't think they would bloom this quick.
Cool!
:) Donna
Mine bloomed too and I thought it was very bizzare looking :)
charlotteda--I left mine in the ground last year until after frost hit it. I protected it with a heap of pine needles but then when I noticed in Dec I think it was that the bugs were eating what was left aove ground I dug them up. The big "tater" type bulbs anyways. Do you know the big bulbs died anyway but in Summer a whole bunch of tiny ears came up where the bulbs had been. I dug and transplanted most to my new yard but there are still some there!! But last year was my first year with ears at all so I hated to cut the leaves off etc and did nto cut them TO THE GROUND like I should have and probably should have used a heavier type of mulch to keep them drier?? Anyhow, the ones I have this year are mostly all potted up and outside right now but since they are potted up all I have to do is bring them inside when temps start getting too cool!! Bonnie
Charlotte, I'm sure I'll be hunting anoter down in the spring, but I've gone so nuts for so many tropicals that the 'bulb closet' is going to be busting at the seams! I can't even think about where all the potted plants are going to go. Neal
I know EXACTLY how you feel :)
Charlotte - I have 'Black Magic' and 'Ilustris' here in Z7b and survival outdoors is iffy - if you're 7a keeping some indoors is probably a good idea. There seem to be two variations of 'Black Magic' or at least a look-alike (maybe 'Black Runner'?). One variation tends to form runners and very small tubers, another tends to clump and does not have runners but does form tubers. I have the clumping one but it is a lot more tender than the plain green EE Colocasia esculenta. 'Illustris' forms runners but not much in the way of tubers as far as I can tell. I always keep some in a pot in the garage since they will usually not make it in the ground. The problem is they like wet soil in the summer but those same conditions make them rot when they are cold and dormant over winter. They are always slow to start in the spring but once the weather turns hot they grow really fast so even if only a small part of the plant survives you will have plenty next year.
Thanks Tom...
Yes...I know I will have to pot up some for keepers. I dug up a couple of small illustris yesterday. The big one will just have to say goodbye.
The Black Magic that I have is the clumping kind. Babies are right up next to the big plant making digging up early intimidating ! Will probably wait until nearer frost time and then dig the whole clump and hopefully save some babies. This area is wet during the winter and if cold doesnt get it rot will.
BTW- you shared jean pasco cuttings with me last fall and right now..she is beautiful...thank you so much. I remember your generousity everytime I look at it.
charlotte
You're welcome, Charlotte, and I'm glad JP did well for you. Mine is blooming now and stinkin' up the whole back yard!
Yes but what a wonderful "stink" !