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hardy  Aroids)" <ARISAEMA-L at NIC.SURFNET.NL> Aroids)" <ARISAEMA-L at NIC.SURFNET.NL>
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From: Bonaventure W Magrys <magrysbo at SHU.EDU>
Subject: Re: have I done something wrong
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I find that upon unpotting these tubers, the 1:1 potting soil/perlite
mixture I use, though appearing dry through most of the pot or in the
garden planting hole, is very wet around the tuber particularly beneath i=ts
base. I have also found this phenomenon naturally around plants preparing
for dormancy. Though not watered for weeks and the pot looks and feels dr=y,
the moisture is still there within that zone. Mature, well grown tubers i=n
this situation to me appear to "sweat". This may be a mechanism to reduce
water content by excretion and increase carbohydrate concentrations withi=n
the tuber to protect it from and to prevent it from freezing solid. High
carbohydrate solutions are a natural antifreeze.

Perhaps the Chen Yi tubers are stressed out at beginning growth and are
reverting to dormancy. This is what happened to my Arisaema wilsonii (A-1=7)
right after it bloomed. The somewhat large tuber rotted out but on the hu=sk
of skin that remained I pulled off 6 healthy chick-pea sized offsets. Thr=ee
are wrapped in paper toweling in my refridgerator right now and 3 are in
loose live sphagnum on my patio for me to wait to see what they will do. =An
erubescens (consanguineum) A-35 half-shell of tuber, which rotted in cold
storage, skin lies in my garden on top of the soil under a growing A-114.
The skin is still firm, and being exposed to sunlight, green. Hopefully i=t
will sprout offsets as nearby hellebore leaves flop down eventually and
cover it.

Many Arisaemas, and other shade-loving perennials, appear to be growing i=n
moist woodland settings. Yet when we examine them the roots are actually
clambering through a loose organic duff of barely decomposed leafmold.
Often their roots only penetrate down to the upper region of where tree
roots can reach. These plants in many instances grow as "humus epiphytes".
The underlying mat of tree roots may act as a natural spongr to sop off
excess water. One must remember that the Arisaema tuber requires a great
deal of oxygen for the rapid metabolism (plants both produce and consume
oxygen) of the initial growth spurt. This growth without sufficient oxyge=n
can weaken stored reserves, perhaps through anaerobic respiration.

Finally, by best disinfectant is ordinary bathroom 3% hydrogen peroxide
available at the supermarket applied directly to tubers. A 1 to 6 or 1 to
10 solution can also be made to use as a soil drench or sprayed directly =on
plants.

Bonaventure Magrys
Cliffwood Beach, NJ
USA



>Hello everyone, first post. So be gentle with me. Ive got a problem with=a
>few of my arisaema's, I have been watching for them coming into life, no=t
>watering them. The shoot gets so big, and then i give them a bit of wate=r,
>not too much though. I have been waiting patiently, for them to pop up b=ut
>a couple of them have withered and rotted. Have I been too impatient and
>watered too soon? The rest are coming up really well though.