Cyrtosperma johnstonii

I received mine about a week ago and although it's a small plant offering with only 3 leaves, I do have the beginnings of a pretty interesting plant. I'm completely infatuated with the spiny stems, and the veining is very pleasing, too. My plant arrived through mail-order, somewhat bug-chewed, and even though I was a bit disappointed in the plant's condition, I figured it would do okay if I pampered it a bit.

Instead of putting it in my greenhouse, I have kept it in a warm, southwestern exposure area in my home and have watered it every other day. Since this is a bog plant, I doubt I can over-water this plant, still, I'm erring a bit on the side of caution at this point.

So far so good....This morning, I noticed that I have a new leaf spike. I am so excited!! Check out the photos of my "baby" cyrtosperma. And here's a blurb on another website with a picture of the full-grown cyrtosperma johnstonii: http://www.lucidcentral.com/keys/appw/nonkey/html/cyrtosperma.html

This photo is a close-up of the spiny stems and they feel so interesting to the touch!

(See the new shoot forming?)

That's an unusual looking plant.

This plant is possible my favorite. I saw it about 13 years ago when I first started collecting aroids. It was at the Atlanta Botanical gardens growing in a bowl of water. The plant is from the Solomon islands and is extremely rare. I took me 4 years to track it down back then. It can grow to 10ft tall and it is one of the most unusual plants I have ever seen. It was recently Tissue Cultured which is not exactly a good thing. This plant is not easy to grow it's very rare and what I would consider just a hobbyist plant. I have seen this happen many times they TC a plant like this and sell a few to the collectors and hobbyist nurseries. After about one to two years they take it out because it does not sell. Most people have no idea what it is and the demand is very small. The price drops from 50.00 to 9.00 and people have a hard time giving them away. After about 1 to 2 years out of TC the plant is extremely hot again no one has it everyone wants it again. I have people email me all the time for plants that I could not give away years ago but are now no were to be seen. This plant will be the same so if you are interested in one strike while the iron is hot. I should also share that it like bright shade warm warm temps nothing below 50f it melts to cold. It is a water plant mine do best in a heated water system with flowing water. But can do well in a tray of water if changed weekly.

Consumerism in the plant world isn't any different than art, home decor, travel, or fashion, imo. Our consumer behavior and commercial mindset tends to be driven by marketing which is dynamic and cyclic, and is, predictably, the way 'the masses' behave. Most of us tend to follow-the-pattern and go-with-the-flow, while some of us go in the opposite direction. Those who tend to oppose mass behavior, tend to collect the eclectic and are viewed to oftentimes be eccentric. With people, as with plants, it's the oddities that offer the most intrigue. At least it is for me.

So, back to this great plant -- Do you think that I should unpot this plant and grow it in water? How are you feeding yours?

Thanks for your info and tips!

If it is doing well I would say leave it alone. The killers are cool temps cool water stagnate water. In all cases rot is the killer. This plant is hard to grow in Miami a cold snap and it will die. I know a few ways to grow it one is in a small dish that evaporates water weekly. The best way is also the most trouble I put mine in a shallow container with a filter and a heater. You can feed a few ways on is liquid fertilizer added to the water 1/10 less than shown. Or you can put a fertilizer pond tab in the soil at the edge of the pots side.

I guess this one is out for my yard......??

Hap