[Arisaema-l] Seeking Advice and Suggestions

[Colin Hunt]

Hello David,

I may be able to help on a couple of issues.

The Summer heat while plants are in pots could be a problem as the potting
soil will heat up much more than the ground. You can alleviate this by
placing the pots into the ground or in a cooler location, Northern side of
house for you I guess.

Let the plant come up at their own rate and don't be overly concerned that
others have theirs up already. A friend of mine 30mins away has his plants
do totally differently to mine. I normally don't start to irrigate much
until I see them emerge above the potting mix either.

When did you start to germinate your seed?

Regards Colin

 

  _____  

From: arisaema-l-bounces at science.uu.nl
[mailto:arisaema-l-bounces at science.uu.nl] On Behalf Of DAVID LEEDY
Sent: Friday, 4 May 2012 8:20 AM
To: 'Arisaema Enthusiast Group (AEG) Discussion List (and otherhardyAroids'
Subject: [Arisaema-l] Seeking Advice and Suggestions

 





This is my first year to attempt hardy aroids, both seed and
corms/tubers/bulbs.  I live in Fort Worth, Texas, USA, which is Zone 8a and
our low was in December when it reached 23 degrees F. (-5 degrees C).  Since
December, we have had very few days when the minimum temperature was below
freezing.  I have met a lot of failures and a few successes, so it is time
to seek advice. 

 Arisaema seed - I had a marvelous germination experience and within a very
few weeks I had many seedlings.  I planted these in seedling trays using 50%
seedling soil mix and 50% a very good potting mix.  Within a month these
began to die and I thought maybe it was something like the "damp off" I have
experienced with tropical aroid seed.  Today, I only have about 20 or so out
of over 150 seedlings still growing.  Is my experience unusual? 

Arisaema bubils - I went through my seed trays and discovered quite a few
bulbis from the seedlings.  They are only a little bigger than the seed
itself.  How should I store these? 

Arisaema corms/tubers/bulbs - I have had very mixed experience with these.
I am growing only in containers.  The only one that has sprouted completely
is A. candidissimum.  A large tuber of A. utile rotted immediately.  I
unpotted a fairly large tuber of A. costatum, expecting another failure,
only to find lots of roots and a nose sticking up about 2 inches (50.8 mm).
I have felt around in the pot and can feel the nose of my largest Arisaema
tuber, A. speciosum, but it isn't up yet either.  My smaller tubers have not
yet sprouted.  I have read with wonder that everyone's Arisaema are up and
doing well, but mine aren't even up yet.  Is this just the first year blues?
I withheld water until the days started to warm up, although the nights were
cool, could this have been a problem?  I have also read that A. ringens is a
good one to grow and would like to acquire it as well as any others that may
be thought of as easy. 

Arum seed - It is now around 90 days and not one arum seed has sprouted.  I
am using the damp paper towel in the plastic baggie procedure, but I did not
chill the seed.  Should I put any new seed in the refrigerator for a time?
How about these that have been sitting for 90+ days?  How long does
germination usually take? 

Arum corms/tubers/bulbs - I have had varied experience with arum.  Led by A.
pictum, which had already sprouted when I received the tuber in September
and is still growing, the rest of my arum came up in late November -
December.   Arum concinnatum is the only one that rotted, but I refuse to
admit failure and will try it again next year.  Arum palestinum and
discordus have now gone down, which causes me concern, as has an A.
maculatum sport.  A. maculatum has also gone down, but that may be because I
received it in February as a sprouted tuber and it didn't like being shipped
from Wisconsin to Texas at the beginning of its growing season.  A.
orientale is fighting to stay up as is A.  creticum.  A. italicum, the
second arum to come up in November is also still growing, but all looked
better in January, when it was a little cooler.  Again I am growing these in
pots, but may transplant some to a spot under some bushes on a decline in a
couple of months.  Any advice or suggestions on Arum? 

Finally, I am most concerned about all of my hardy aroids when this summer's
heat really sets in.  It was 90 degrees F. (32.2 C.) today, but we will have
many days of over 100 degrees F. (37.8 C.) this summer.  Any advice
regarding all of my hardy aroids (Arisaema, Arum, Dracunculus, Pinella,
etc.)? 

I appreciate any advice and suggestions you may care to share. 

David Leedy, Novice at Hardy Aroids 

 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.science.uu.nl/pipermail/arisaema-l/attachments/20120504/9bb82484/attachment.html