Effects of Short Artificial Winters

[J.E. Shields]

Hi all,

A short while back, this was discussed a bit.  I always try to grow my
Arisaema seedlings using the accelerated seasonal cycles.  I'm too old to
have patience.

I put my current batches into the fridge in late May, as far as I can
recall.  I took all of these pots out of the fridge in September, and most
of them now have at least one plant coming up.  The pots generally get 3 -
4 months of growing under lights followed by 3 - 4 months in the
refrigerator (pots, potting mix, tubers, everything).  Then the cycle is
repeated.

The most vigorous has been a small pot with 5 seedlings of Arisaema
yunnanense aridum, AEG 2005, #64a.  The seeds were actually planted on 18
January 2006.  There are 5 seedlings in this one 6-inch azalea pot, and at
least 3 of the 5 have an inflorescence growing.  This pot is in the
greenhouse now, rather than under lights.  Did someone inquire whether
anyone has this particular accession growing?

Another successful pot is of A. jaquemontii, AEG 2005, #38, also planted on
18 January 2006.  This is a 10-inch bulb pan with ca. 20 seedlings
sprouting for at least the 4th time.  The top growths on these plants are
tiny compared to the yunnanense aridum plants.  This pot is also in the
greenhouse now.  I'm sorry now that I never recorded when these pots were
growing and when they were in the fridge.

Others from the 2005 and the 2006 distributions are showing one or two
seedlings growing this cycle.  They all came out of the fridge and went
under lights at the same time in early September.  Several are only now
starting to show a green sprout or two.  The others are not so advanced and
seem to have fewer surviving tubers than either yunnanense or
jaquemontii.  More later if anyone is interested.

Jim Shields
in central Indiana (USA)

*************************************************
Jim Shields             USDA Zone 5             Shields Gardens, Ltd.
P.O. Box 92              WWW:    http://www.shieldsgardens.com/
Westfield, Indiana 46074, USA
Tel. ++1-317-867-3344     or      toll-free 1-866-449-3344 in USA

======================================================================
Search the Arisaema-L archives & subscription options -
http://listserv.surfnet.nl/archives/Arisaema-l.html

Arisaema-L HOME & GALLERY: http://florapix.nl/Arisaema-L

For help with this list, send an e-mail to the listowners at:
Arisaema-L-request at nic.surfnet.nl
======================================================================