I am obsessed with my EE....even in Zone 6a.
If you don't believe me, you should see the garage floor. Hundreds of EE ripped up, drying out and awaiting storage for a long winter's nap.
But what to do with those runners? Surely you can't throw out your baby's babies.
Last year I had a lot of success growing new Colocasia Fontanesii and Big Dippper from runners in a sunny, warm room . By spring I had lots of EE to share.
1. Start with a black plastic nursery tray (the kind you put pots in to collect draining water).
2. Fill with 1 inch well draining soil.
3. Put in runners (with or without terminal nodes/leaves. Mid section runners can also work if they have a node). lengthwise in the tray. You can put several in one tray.
3. Cover with 2 inches well draining soil.
4. Cover with clear plastic lid.
5. Uncover and mist every few days. [mixing cinnamon into the mix may help prevent fungal growth. If you have problems, uncover the trays for awhile but don't let the soil dry out.]
6. Pot up plants when they have a few leaves and roots.
ROX
A fun winter's project, growing EE runners
Sounds like fun Rox-I only wish I had the room to do that. I am in a small mobile home and every inch counts--lol
Sandra
They do take up room. One tray of runners gave me 24 plants.
ROX
Then I would have to figure out where to plant all of them if I couldn't give them away, The harder I try to control my gardening projects it seems the more I get. I have about 20 pots of stuff I need to put out soon--I will walk all around until I find a spot for it all.
Sandra
I just put some P.China runners in with the little bulbets I collected. But the tray is a great idea, Rox. I just made sure there was a node and covered it a little. I'm going to place them above a heat mat and under lights in the basement, guess we'll see what happens. I'm storing the big daddy bulb dry/dark down there, (little nervous about it, but I hope to have all these babies, if it doesn't)...
I am overwintering most of my as barerooted corms this year (first time for me).
I am also very nervous!
ROX
Okay, we just need to forget about it. I REALLY think they will be fine. No sense in fretting ALL winter... it isn't healthy! I'm going to re-focus on the other dozen or so I'm growing out (plenty of stress there) and the hibiscus I'm trying to bloom all winter.. In fact, Rox, you've inspired me to get back outside and keep prepping for the end of season... just remembered some ee bulbs laying behind the swing on the front porch..... I was wondering how you were doing with everything..
I pulled in all the EE into the garage.
Most all lying on the floor. I will let them sit there about a week to let the leaves die back.
Others are in the pots, aclimating to root shock in the darker, cooler garage. I will let them sit there about 2-3 days and then move then into the GH.
I bought the plastic sweater storage containers, have the peat moss. I bought tags with strings to label each corm. Now, it's just a matter of hacking off leaves and roots, attaching the labels, storing the EE and praying for 5 months.
For the EE in pots I bought a moisture meter. I am notorious for overwatering. Death by kindness. I am hoping this helps.
ROX
I am going to experiment here. I have a yellow splash and a Lime Zinger that I am going to mulch, mulch, mulch and leave in the ground. I have one of each in a pot that is going to come inside. I am terrible at keeping stuff over the winter time inside. I am hoping with the mulch I am putting on top of the 2 outside they will make it. I am in zone 7 B-I think, if they haven't changed me again. It hit 90 here today.
Sandrs
We had one of the coldest Feb. on record here in Ohio last year. And yet, several Alocasia gageana (one of the most cold hardy Alocasias) made it through the winter. I think what was critical was the lack of rain. Although it was cold, it was also relatively dry.
So, overwintering for you in Zone 7b, MS may have more to do with the wetness than cold. Go ahead and mulch (with something warm but not water-retaining), and also try to site the plants on a well-draining slope and/or in well draining soil.
ROX
Rox, the Alocasia gageana has lived in a 20 gallon nursery pot here for 3 years.
I have access to free compost and I am using it in all the beds -in the process of working it in- I am thinking I will take several layers of newspaper closest to the ground and then use pine needles and leaves for the cover on top of the papers.
They are in a place where the water drains well.
Do you think that might work and keep them alive?
Sandra
Sandra-
I am unfamiliar with using newspaper, but I know others use it.
I use hardwood mulch.
I think the most important thing is the type of soil you have. With my clay soil, things don't don't drain very well. So if it isn't on a slope (although most of my yard is), then I amend the soil with gravel and a humus and compost mix to aid draining. This has been especially important for my Gauras.
ROX
See above.
One other thing. EE left outside tend not to come up until mid June. So don't dispair.
ROX
sldms--I have a question, are you puttin the hnewspapaer over the gageana? Just curious cause I use newspaper to choke weeds out.
No I don't do anything to the Gageana. I didn't even know its name until this summer. I did some work for a nursery that closed down in exchange for some pots and dirt. These were in one of the pots and I have pulled several out and given them away. The pot is a 20 gallon and it sits on the top of the ground.
Those things pup like crazy.
Last fall I mulched one of my dayliliy beds with shredded newspaper and pine needles on top. It really enriched the soil there.
I was planning on laying the sheets of newspaper whole on the EE's and then topping it with leaves and pine needles. The shredded newspaper seems to draw more earthworms and they help.
This is a shot of the bed when the phlox had started blooming, it seems they really did well this year.
Sandra
I love my gageana, they really do pup out nicely, the easiest alocasia I've tried to grow.
Shredded newspaper is great mulch, I was just thinking I laid down straight layers of newspaper to choke out weeds..lol
I use newspaper for all kinds of stuff, when I pot plants in nursery pots I line the bottom with it. It is always good to use things that would normally be thrown away.
Sandra
I never would have thought of that! I use newspaper for trading, lots...lol..I always line holes iwth it before planting...anything to remedy our clay
I was using coffee filters to keep the soil from spilling out and one day it dawned on me, use the newspaper--dingy !!!!!
I also use it to ship plants, shredded paper is a good protection and doesn't weigh much to add to your postage.
When I start compost areas, I use lots of newspaper on the bottom too.
I have also used them a weed barriers in the row middles, but you really need a little something on top of it, when it gets dry it will blow all over the place if you don't have anything on top.
My grandchildren love to cut pictures from the newspaper too--lol
Sandra
have you ever made baskets with it? lol, seriously, you can plant them and everything...use paper bags, too. I made several and it was pretty easy.
I make pots with them to use in Winter sowing, but I have no idea how to make baskets, we need the instructions, please.
Here is a thread on pots--lol
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/686796/
Sandra
I found the article: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?board=5;action=display;threadid=3032
I've done lots of variations on it--staple instead of glue, weave threads in between, etc, but it is fun with the kids
I'll have to check out the pots...I'm making plant labels out of old blinds today..lol...boy we sure went OT, hope no one is bothered
I think that would be another good winter project, so maybe we ar enot too far off topic, sorry Rox
Sandra
That was very good info---I am going to make some paper pots!
Now I have a question please----I have 3 EE's---should I bring them in before frost, or let them get nipped?
Thanks,
Sharon
As long as they are hardy to your zone, I would leave them out unless they were really tiny--but even small colocasias come back here in 7b
They are in pots and I am in 8a.