I've always admired from afar the aroids you can grow (I'm in Canada), and suddenly, there's a bunch of chocolate colocasias at $14.99 at my local supermarket! I have to buy one!
Is this a one-time thing? Of course, they won't survive our Canadian winter, but if I buy one, can I grow it through the winter indoors, or let it grow dormant; is there some way I can keep it over and make babies? This has probably been discussed; please direct me to a good thread on this.
Propagating, sorry if this has been done
Are they Colocasia 'Black Magic'?
If so, here are some of my experiences with them.
1. They tend to shock easy during transplant. If it is warm and they have some moisture, they will recover quickly.
2. They like to be moist, but only if it is warm (25C high /15 C low). If it is cooler, then water less. Otherwise the corms may rot.
3. Before the first frost, dig them up and (a) pot them and keep them in a greenhouse [cut back on the water and water for pests. Getting rid of aphids/spidermites is a real problem as the leaves are too sensitive to use insecticidal oil and Safer soap can even burn the leaves. Better just to make sure you don't bring any in with the plant to begin with.] or (b) remove the dirt and store in the garage (must be about 10C) until the leaves die back (~2 weeks). Then cut off the dead leaves and store corms in a box in the dark at ~10C until Spring.
Best of luck and welcome to the club of "crazy people who live in subartic conditions and insist on growing tropicals".
ROX
Hi ROX,
Yes, they are "Black Magic", and I'd love to put one in a large tub with a tall canna for a tropical look at our lake beach for the summer. In the fall, I would dig them up as you propose and let the foliage die back and save the corm to start again next spring. I just hope the deer don't find them too tasty -- but they eat everything... The photo shows the tub last year, constantly nibbled on but had a bit of luck.
Thanks for the great advice!
Funny-
I actually do deer resistance studies and this year I am especially focusing on EE.
They do snack on Colocasias, including BM (Black Magic), but the EE always seems to grow faster than the deer eat.
A few hints for pots for EE.
1. Use a well drained pot (lots of holes and cover the holes with shards so the holes don't get blocked. Both like water but also need good drainage.
2. Mix well draining potting soil, with compost. EE and canna can be heavy feeders.
3. Add something fragrant to the pots that the deer don't like. Like lavender, mint, catmint.
Best of luck!
ROX
Thanks again! In the big planter I'm planning for this guy, drainage won't be a problem, I think. I hadn't thought of lavender, but it would look great in this combination. I'll let you know if the deer or the colocasia triumph.
One more question: will the corm throw babies? I grew an alocasia a few years ago and it produced lots of bulblets, some of which thrived.
Adventures in gardening, what a hobby!
BM should produce pups. With your shorter winter, I am uncertain though (1) how many pups and (2) if they will grow big enough/faster enough to store enough energy in their corms to overwinter.
ROX