Amorphophallus riveri 'Konjac' corms

DragonsEye · 11-07-12, 09:45 PM

Wasn't sure where to put this or even if I'm allowed to do so. (If not then mods please feel free to delete this post and give me a "heads up".) Anywho........

Have a bunch of baby corms from my Amorphophallus 'Konjac' (aka Voodoo Lily) available for the cost of postage.

These corms are at least 4 or 5 years from flowering size I'd say. If you do plant them outside, do NOT plant them right up against the house. Their other common name is "corpse flower" which should be fair warning as to what the flower's fragrance is like.

I grow them for the foliage.

Care is easy.
While in active growth, they like moist soil but can handle getting more on the dry side if you forget to water now and then. Full sun to dappled shade works. (In full sun, IME, you get shorter but much sturdier growth than in bright shade.) Don't seem terribly picky about soil type. (I've used cheap potting soil mixed with broken down bark mix from my orchids.) Plant the corms fairly deep -- in pots the top of the corm should be at the pot's half way point or lower as the roots will emerge from the top of the corm.
Hardy to zone 7 (maybe 6) from what I've been told. In the northern climes, they need to be dug up or their pots brought inside after the foliage dies off. If you dig the corms up, then let them dry thoroughly, perhaps brush all the dry dirt off, and toss the corms in a box or hang then in one of those mesh onion bags in an area that stays dry and doesn't freeze. Ignore the corms (whether "naked" or still potted) completely until spring when the temps are staying in the 60's or 70's.

When the corms finally get big enough, they will produce a flower that looks like this (not my photo):
http://www.blackjungleterrariumsuppl...ges/konjac.jpg

BarelyBreathing · 11-07-12, 10:24 PM

That's interesting.

Will0W783 · 11-08-12, 09:49 AM

Those are really cool!

jaleely · 11-08-12, 10:50 PM

oh dear, told my hubby you had these available. He' like, How much how much! and i just stared at him...he's like, we could put it in the HOUSE. ha!!!!

We rent, so maybe someday he can have one outside...FAR away from the house *lol*

Rogue628 · 11-08-12, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaleely

oh dear, told my hubby you had these available. He' like, How much how much! and i just stared at him...he's like, we could put it in the HOUSE. ha!!!!

We rent, so maybe someday he can have one outside...FAR away from the house *lol*

Why would he want something that smells so AWFUL in the house? Of course, I've never actually smelled their umm....fragrance, but have read about them. They have the most gorgeous flower but I cannot remember if it's the actual flower that gives of the dead scent or if it's something else?

How long does it take for it to mature and flower?

Not that I'd want one. I don't have a green thumb at all and have managed to kill most any house plant and have had only a little better luck with garden plants (tomatoes, beans, etc)

jennuhkins · 11-09-12, 12:50 AM

at first i thought it was a spider looking at only half the picture haha, but i googled it and they are so beautiful

DragonsEye · 11-09-12, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaleely

oh dear, told my hubby you had these available. He' like, How much how much! and i just stared at him...he's like, we could put it in the HOUSE. ha!!!!

We rent, so maybe someday he can have one outside...FAR away from the house *lol*

It takes a long time for the corms to get large enough to bloom. I've had mine for about 5 years now, I think, and have yet to see a bloom. Of my two keepers, this one is the one I suspect will bloom its next growth cycle.

I'll have it out on my balcony if/when it does bloom. A friend's parents gave me my first corm. They have had theirs bloom but typically grow them just for the foliage and so cut off the flower while still in bud.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogue628

Why would he want something that smells so AWFUL in the house? Of course, I've never actually smelled their umm....fragrance, but have read about them. They have the most gorgeous flower but I cannot remember if it's the actual flower that gives of the dead scent or if it's something else?

How long does it take for it to mature and flower?

Not that I'd want one. I don't have a green thumb at all and have managed to kill most any house plant and have had only a little better luck with garden plants (tomatoes, beans, etc)

It is most certainly is the flower that gives off the scent ... and only for a couple days as I recall. The flower is pollinated by flies.

Depends somewhat on growing conditions and how many offsets the corm produces. The fewer offsets produced, the bigger the mother corm will be as it has not diverted so much of its resources to making babies. My corms are 4 or 5 years old and have never flowered. The one above has finally gotten large enough that I suspect it will bloom next summer.

Rogue628 · 11-09-12, 01:51 PM

Intriguing! If I thought I would successfully keep it alive, I'd be willing to get one! Especially since the pungent scent the flower gives off is only for a few days.

DragonsEye · 11-13-12, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogue628

Intriguing! If I thought I would successfully keep it alive, I'd be willing to get one! Especially since the pungent scent the flower gives off is only for a few days.

They are embarassingly easy to grow, Rogue.

Perhaps next year you should "toss the dice"...

All the baby corms from this year's excess have found new homes.