Good Morning Aroid Experts,
My SO came back from Florida (9b/10a) last night with part of an EE. I say part, because it's basically a foot long chunk of root (hollow at the end opposite the growth), with 3.5' green stalks attached, at one end, but the leaves didn't fit in the truck so he hacked them off....:(.
These are from the property where I used to live, but the house was lost to the hurricanes, and had to be demolished. I do still own the land, and Joe thought I might like to have one of the EE that came from one I'd planted 10-12 years ago.
I have no idea what kind they are (he said most were in bloom, and as I remember the blooms looked like a big peace lily flower) but I'd like to save it, if I can.
I notice that there are lots around here, most in pots, but some seem to be in ground, so I'm hoping I can somehow keep it with me :)
Thanks,
Margo
Rescue EE help please
My suggestion is that, if you have a greenhouse, sunroom, or other place you can keep your EE for the winter, plant the piece you have longways in a large shallow pot or planter box. Cover up the piece with at least a couple inches of soil media. It will form roots all along the foot-long piece and you may get more than one plant coming up from it. This way you will have a head start on growing come Spring. Meanwhile, prepare the area you expect to plant your EE in; if you have composted leaves or other good organic matter, incorporate it into the existing soil and by Spring you should have a nice area ready to receive your EE. Then stand back, you're going to have a really big EE in 2008!
Thanks LariAnn,
These are from Palm Beach County, so quite a journey for them :). How warm should the room they "winter" in be? Is a closet okay? I have cooler rooms with light, but the closet would be warmer. Most of the house stays pretty cold, but I'll make something work. Or, sunny room on a heat mat? They came from pretty much pure sand, should I add sand to the planting mix? Do i cut back the green growth, or leave it?
Sorry for so many questions, but this was probably my last shot at plants from there, so I'd like to make it work.
LariAnn wrote;"Then stand back, you're going to have a really big EE in 2008!"
*G*. He said they were 7 feet tall when he cut them, so I suspect you're right!
Thanks again,
Margo
Closet is only OK if you have bright lights in there; otherwise, you'd be best to keep it in a sunny room with a heat mat. Sand is not necessary in the planting mix, although a good mix has a percentage of silica sand in it for drainage. I would not cut back any more of the green growth than has already been cut back. To keep your Ear going, I wouldn't let the temps go below 50 degrees F.
Can I see a pic of your Ear?
LariAnn
I was afraid you'd ask. I'll try, but no guarantees....
This shows the (?) spent blooms, and 1 leaf just opening. He says he cut about 4 feet off.
Should I water after I pot it up, or just leave it alons :)
Thanks again...
Oh, thanks for the pics! Now I can give you much more accurate advice. This is a Xanthosoma and going by the appearance, you should plant it upright, not laying down as I previously suggested. Actually, with Xanthosomas you could dry it out for the winter and store it in a frost-free place like a basement or garage. But if you want a huge EE in the Spring, I would go ahead and plant it so as to keep it active throughout the winter.
After potting up, moisten the soil but don't make it soggy. I wouldn't water it again until I saw roots coming out the holes in the pot bottom, as it won't be using any water until it gets fully rooted in.
Thank you! I love to know what my PlantKids are;). You said;" you should plant it upright, not laying down as I previously suggested." You mean with the green stems straight up? That's how they were growing, so that makes sense. I do have a big pot that would accomodate it taht way, is that the right thing to use? I'll try to keep it going thru the winter, I think I have a good spot for it to see the sun, and still not get too cold.
Should I trim the green, or leave it as is, with the little "ear" and all stalks/stems still there?
Thanks again,
Margo
Yes, the green stems straight up, and leave as is. That way the new "ear" will not get bent or distorted as it unfurls. Be sure you have room where you put it because that new little "ear" is not going to be very little when it is fully unfurled!
The big pot will be just fine; you may have to brace the EE so it doesn't tilt or flop over, at least until it is rooted in.
My pleasure,
LariAnn
LariAnn wrote;" that new little "ear" is not going to be very little when it is fully unfurled!"
Don't I know it *G*! The first one (mother of all that now are) I planted at the side of my front door. Not too close, about 5 feet away. Well, it _was_ too close. I had to fight my way past he huge leaves for the last year the house stood. Couldn't bear to cut them, but boy, they drenched me after every rain....
I'm glad to have it. Most of them went with the house when it was demolished, but somehow these ended up down by the pond, and were saved. It's nice to have something positive left :)
BTW, Margo, I assume you had/have cats (catmad); did they all make it through the hurricanes OK? Hope they did so you have the cats and your Ear too with you.
LariAnn
Cats, dogs and chickens all made it thru fine, thanks for asking. The critter houses fared much better than the people dwelling. Sadly, The chickens went downhill after that, and none are now with me, but next year....:). I ran a cat rescue (plus dogs) down there, and the thought of moving that many animals was daunting. But, after trying to get my house rebuilt, and running into a brick wall, I gave up, and decided there had to be a way. Be careful what you wish for!!. A friend offered to move them all for me, if I'd take a couple of rescued cows (steers, really). Well, I had 20+ acres, what could be the problem? Well, a couple turned into 7, and the next year, unexpectedly became 8, and now I can't find hay.....
It's okay, we're really doing well, and I love SC. It's just nice to be able to salvage something living from the ruins. The staghorns haven;t done well here, so I will leave the rest to my neighbor there, who loves them.
It all works out:)
Good to hear how everything worked out. Although, I have to say that your friend might have steered you wrong about the cows? LOL, couldn't resist such an opportunity!
. I'll have to repeat that to her, she'll love it!