Arisaemas in pots

[Jim McClements, Dover, DE z6]

In a message dated 12/6/00 12:40:54 AM, jaime at MATNET.COM writes:

<< On a happier note,  the Arisaemas that I have been growing indoors or

storing in my refrigerator are doing well.  A two year old Arisaema amurense

has broken dormancy and is blooming,  and an A. triphyllum is about to

bloom, too.  So many of the tubers stored in the refrigerator started to

break dormancy that I had to pot up 3 flats full.  I hope they grow and go

dormant quickly enough to get another cold treatment before spring.  Any

suggestions on how to make sure they beef up during this growth period?


>>

Jaime

No magic to suggest, just the usual advice about lots of light, some
fertilizer and moisture (but not too much).

One caution. Don't use osmocote on potted arisaemas. I killed off several
pots a few years ago, and when I posted the info here, there were some others
who had had the same experience.

This might also be a good opportunity to give a follow-up report on growing
young arisaemas in pots of Permatill ( a fired slate product the consistency
of coarse gravel) in standing water, which I was initially very enthusiastic
about. It was sort of a hydroponic approach, and seemed much simpler than the
usual promix/turface mix, requiring close attention to watering. I'm now
convinced that, while the method works fairly well, the plants go dormant
more quickly, don't "beef up" as well, and may have more tendency for tuber
rot. I've just about stopped using it.

However, I still start arisaema seeds in pots of pure turface in standing
water, and this continues to work very well.

Jim McClements