hello, I bought a amorphophallus off ebay on a whim, and need advise on its care.I bought it about a year ago and it went dormant while growing inside. It grew outside in a pot all spring and summer but it appears to have gone dormant again ( I hope) any and all information anyone has would be useful thanks.I checked its pot and it is full of roots some even growing into the soil I guess my question is now what?
titan arum
I have my first amorphophallus too, I think the summer foliage dies down, the bulb is dormant for a while then in spring it puts up it's flower. I'm not sure of the conditions for keeping the bulb, but I think dry, dark and warm (like in a closet). Somebody help us here.
You must first try to identify you Amorpho correctly in order to store the bulb under the correct conditions.
From the way you describe it, I think it isn't A. titanum, the "Titan Arum". It shouldn't be going dormant at this time. A. titanum requires special handling in dormancy: warm and in a *very* lightly moist soil.
If it is one of the more readily (and less expensive species!) the tuber can be rested dry and out of soil until spring. Normal houshold temps are OK, but not much below 55F, say, just to be on the safe side.
Many species, like the readily available A. konjak, paeoniifolius, venosum guttatum (may be more properly called Typhonium venosum, but I'm not sure if that is "official") and bulbifer will generally go dormant in late summer or early fall depending on which species it is and partly depending on the cultural conditions it is under. They sometimes go dormant on the early side if they are grown in drier conditions or in cooler climes where the falling temps promote a ceasing of growth.
Robert.
Mine is konjak, can it stay in the pot or should I dig it out and remove the soil? It still looks pretty good, hasn't started dieing back yet.
A. konjak is fine in the ground there (and here in 7b) but make sure the soil isn't the kind that gets soppy wet-boggy in winter. Good drainage is important. Keep it as dry as possible, but under normal conditions, there's really not a lot to worry about.
ed: Spelling!
Robert.
This message was edited Oct 15, 2006 10:38 AM
Thanks Robert. I'll move it into the gh so that it will stay dry.
Linda~
In a pot, I would definitely move it in. Wouldn't want it to get too cold.
Robert.
Do you think gh temps will be enough or should I bring it into the house?
"Normal" houshold temps are all that I have stored them in. They are a tropical-type plant, so would want a warmish rest, but remember, in the ground here, they come back.
I just keep mine on a shelf at whatever temps the house is at, but maybe a little cooler (65-70) in a heated "basement".
Robert.
One more question, in the pot or bare?
A. konjac is fine out of the soil, just sitting out of the sun. I keep mine in the house.
Keep dry. No watering if it's in the pot.
If yours is blooming size, you might just leave it potted, so that if it blooms, it has some support, though it may need some bracing as well.
I have one that may bloom next spring, but if not, surely in 2008. Since I have mine out of the soil, I'll have to fix it something to bloom from. I'll replant after the bloom fades and the leaf starts to emerge.
Robert.
Thanks Robert, I received this bulb this spring so I don't know if it's bloom size? It was about the size of a lemon.
It has put up a second stalk this summer.