arisaema log - dormancy requirements

[Bonaventure W Magrys]

Well, it looks like my experiment into room temperature dormancy of arisaema
tubers was not such an astounding success, except for the fact that I carried
over some tortuosums without rotting. It remains to be seen if ones I left in
the ground outdoors reappear this spring. My tort tubers in pot under my work
desk are just now pointing, after being dormant for 8 months! Refridgerated new
arrivals from this winter already have larger points still in the bag in the
refridgerator.
The same occurred with consanguineum clones dug up after last summers drought in
refridgeration vs. in kitchen cabinet.
2 sp.aff. intermediums arrived last fall from Heronswood Nursery repeated the
pattern also, the one taken out of the fridge today had already a 1/2" shoot,
the other being put in about a month ago is just starting to point.
Triphyllums refridgerated in August and September bloomed just weeks after
potting in December and January, sikokianum and taiwanense took only a little
longer, while candidissimums are just starting now.
Chen Yi tubers of the consanguineum/erubescens alliance arrived in December 99
looked like were pointing in refridgeration and for the most part when potted a
month or so later mostly grew and bloomed. Not so for the
elephas/wilsonii/handelii group, a dismal failure after only a short
refridgeration. Most rotted or lost their growing point and seemed to go back
into dormancy.
Sauromatum and Amorphophallus go on happily in a dry warm spot (can't kill a
voodoo lily by neglect).
Oh well, the triphyllums, chen yi consanguineum types, and the siko all think
now that it is a late summer drought, being tricked here on a sunny dry
windowsill. It will be great to have them in bloom again just in time for
Halloween!
Bonaventure