I just started getting into E.ears a couple of years ago and bought my first "illustris" , and the other "black magic" 2 years ago. Last year I added to my collection-
Nancy's Revenge
Alocasia Macrohrizza-sp (not doing well)
Black Stem
Black Runner
Green Runner
Green Shield-(wintering inside ok)
X. Lime Zinger
This fall I ordered some more, and had them shipped to a friend in Puerto Rico to a friend that graciously will overwinter plants for me. I got-
X. Albo-Marginata
X. jeoquinii lineatum-sp
X. lindenii magnificum
Frydek
Black Marble
Chicago Harlequin
Borneo Giant
Elepaio
-My question is, should I stop ordering now and just wait until trading begins. I have no idea how I am going to position these in the gardens as it stands now. Is this an addiction? I keep seeing new ones like Nebula, Yellow Splash and Black Velvet that I love. Is there a rush on these things in the spring?
Thanks
Fairly new to taros-Have I lost my mind?
Good to have you join the rehab group. Unfortunatly death is the only cure for this crazed disease.
I think ordering more and more is fine but you might want to keep a idea on your growing conditions. The alocasias are much different than the Colocasias and the Xanthosomas are different as well. Its possible to grow them all as I have attempted this for years. But some demand much more than others specially the beautiful Alocasias like nebula who like to only grow in a greenhouse conditions. It all depends on what you want to use them for if your looking for outdoor tropical display then you have a selected group. If you looking for tropical house plant or greenhouse plant that demands attention you have a whole other group. I can and others can let you know which are best to grow were but many spend a lot on odd plants only to have them die if we dont have the right sitiations for them. Good luck and here is a good photo of a species nebula for ya.
Yes...definitely welcome to our humble but slightly crazed group of aroid-collecting fiends!
Hi...my name is Rox and I have been an EE addict for 7 years now....
There are some good trades in the Spring. (1) There will be several newbies to enable -meaning you send more common pups for postage only in the hope that one day their collection will grow so you can trade with them for really cool things. (2) There will be the more mature aroid collectors with whom you can swap more elusive EE.
Collecting is great, but be aware that you plants will start pupping or sending out runners. Two years ago I brought in 60 pots; this year it was 238!
Think about what you want and what you have to trade.
Then check out the trading lists; send fellow DGers emails if you think that they might be interested in a trade; and post to the Plant Trading forum or here in the aroid forum.
Re: the A. macro. Smaller macro. plants are hard to over winter and are easy to overwater. Beware of root rot. If it goes dormant and the roots look OK, just cut back on watering until it show signs of growth again.
ROX
kwz7: LOL! I hear you! I have just completed my first season of growing these wonderful plants and I, too, am hooked. I enlarged a shade bed I already had to 3 times its size, just to have more room next summer! I have catalog pages turned down and web sites saved with the ones I want to try next. I even lurk in the vegetable aisle at the grocery to see if they have "taro root". Or, I'll be looking at a spot where I had thought I'd put an azalea or something and the little voice will come to me in a flash: "hey, I could put a nice EE in there." :) This could get expensive! It's good to be amongst those who sympathize and understand.
Deb
This message was edited Nov 28, 2006 1:50 PM
It's good to know that I am in good company, thanks for your responses.
Basically all mine are outside for the winter except X. Lime Zinger and A. Green Shield and the ones I sent overseas (taros don't even go dormant in PR!!) . Supposedly the others are hardy in my area, but this spring/summer I will know for sure-I just mulched mine pretty good.
Thanks for the pic of the Nebula, B, but now that I know they need a greenhouse I can stop drooling over that one awhile-but the pic had my salivary glands in overdrive. Most greenhouse plants I keep outside in summer and try to give away in fall due to lack of space. Basically my taros are for the outside garden and the ones I have that can't cut it will be given or traded away, that is, until that lucky day in the far off future that I can construct a greenhouse.
I feel silly saying this, but being young and new to gardening, I just recently figured out that most of the plants I crave are aroids (amorphophallus,philos, monsteras, taros), but I also have a thing for gingers, tricyrtis, oxalis, and cannas. I'm happy I found this forum.I am trying to push the limits of my zone and am testing some gingers and cordyline (ti plants) outside this winter, as I don't have good windows or the space to bring everything in. I bet it's pretty hard for ya'll further up north to manage these plants in winter.
Dumbest question ever...Is there such thing as a hot pink, variegated with yellow taro? I dream about them all the time.
Kara
Kara
Nice to meet Ya. Im Neil and I live in Key West FL. That's quite a collection you have already, I'm new to aroids myself now on my second year, and my collection is growing too especially since joining the group. I'm not sure about the hot pink variegated with yellow, maybe as a caladium . Here's a pic of my yellow variegated Alocasia Odora and there is Alocasia Aurora that has pink stems. Brian is our resident scientist so maybe he can come up with a cross thats gets that result, I know id want one.
There are red striped stem Colocasias from Hawaii: Kakakura-ula (brilliant reddish-purple with light and dark green striping), Uahiapele (lilac purple flecked with streaks of purplish black), Ulaula Moano (reddish-purple with yellowish-green stripes) and Ulaula Poni (dark reddish-purple shading to purplish-lilac with lighter colored stripes) .
Perhaps the Ulaula Moano? The leaves are dark green with a bluish tinge.
ROX
This message was edited Nov 28, 2006 3:47 PM
Celt, I love that. Gotta get me one.
Rox I would love to see your info on these. You and me may need to do some trading if you were able to get them. THANKS