Re: Initiation of Flowering in Amorphophallus

**S* H* <h*@aroid.org>**

With regards to the excellent discussion on the factors that can

affect flowering in Amorphophallus titanum, I would like to add that

there can be individual genetic differences that can influence

blooming as well. Here's a recent picture of me with an 8 year old

plant of Amorphophallus titanum that I grew from a seed obtained from

Tito Wee. Tito's seed came from one of the original plants that also

came from seed that Jim Symon first brought from Sumatra over 15

years ago. So the plant in this picture is the result of a sibling

cross from two of Symon's original plants, a second generation if you

will. I have other sibling plants that are not more that a meter

tall showing great variability within the population. This

particular plant growing in a 133 liter pot (35 gallons) should bloom

after the next dormancy later this year, or early next year. My

sincere thanks to Randy and Ty Strode at Agri-Starts, Inc., Apopka,

Florida, for letting me keep the plant there in their state of the

art greenhouse for the past two years as it definitely has now out

grown the screened in pool area at my home in Vero Beach. Thanks to

the expert grower's care at Agri-Starts we should see a bloom within

the next year.

Regards, Scott

On Mar 27, 2008, at 9:09 PM, Susan B wrote:

I've always heard that too, Bill.

Craig used big containers because he had big tubers! I remember

him saying there was only one larger size pot made and after that

he didn't know what they would do.

Susan

"Weaver, Bill" <bill.weaver@hp.com> wrote:

I've always avoided large containers as I was always afraid it

would hold too much moisture.

I have always limited container size to 4-6 inchesI larger than the

corm. By the end of the

growing cycle a large part of the soil has usually been pushed out

of the pot or the pot splits.

(I'm not sure why it does one or the other, but not both)

Bill Weaver

From: aroid-l-bounces@gizmoworks.com [mailto:aroid-l-

bounces@gizmoworks.com] On Behalf Of Denis

Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2008 7:25 AM
To: 'Discussion of aroids'
Subject: Re: [Aroid-l] Initiation of Flowering in Amorphophallus

Tom:

Craig Allen when he was at Fairchild growing the Amorphs used large

containers for his critters like 45 gallons and used some organic

fertilizers in his soil mix, manures and bone meal....he was quite

successful in getting Mr Stinky to bloom.

Denis
-----Original Message-----

From: aroid-l-bounces@gizmoworks.com [mailto:aroid-l-

bounces@gizmoworks.com] On Behalf Of Tom Croat

Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2008 12:57 PM
To: Discussion of aroids
Subject: Re: [Aroid-l] Initiation of Flowering in Amorphophallus

Dear Scott:

 Thank you for the advise. We have been using large

containers for some time because we received this warning earlier.

We do fertilize with each watering but we don’t water every day and

we will probably water and fertilize more frequently since Wilbert

says that they need a lot of water when they are building tuber.

Tom

From: aroid-l-bounces@gizmoworks.com [mailto:aroid-l-

bounces@gizmoworks.com] On Behalf Of Scott Vergara

Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2008 9:49 PM
To: 'Discussion of aroids'
Subject: Re: [Aroid-l] Initiation of Flowering in Amorphophallus

Recently I had a conversation with someone whose name I can’t

remember right now (old age I guess) who has knowledge and

experience growing A. titanium said that the biggest problem is

underweight tubers resulting from too small a container size. The

tuber requires room to achieve blooming weight (as a measurement of

blooming size). IT is a big plant and when we keep in pot bound it

grows well enough each year to look nice but never reaches the

optimal weight to bloom. It is our reluctance to give it the space

it needs in crowded conservatories. Give it a bigger container and

encourage it to grow as Bill Weaver suggests. Feed me Seymour

Scott Vergara

From: aroid-l-bounces@gizmoworks.com [mailto:aroid-l-

bounces@gizmoworks.com] On Behalf Of Weaver, Bill

Sent: Monday, March 24, 2008 8:39 PM
To: Discussion of aroids
Subject: Re: [Aroid-l] Initiation of Flowering in Amorphophallus

What worked for me was feed, feed and feed. Plus bright light and a

well drained soil.

Bill Weaver

From: aroid-l-bounces@gizmoworks.com [mailto:aroid-l-

bounces@gizmoworks.com] On Behalf Of Tom Croat

Sent: Monday, March 24, 2008 10:05 AM
To: aroid-l@gizmoworks.com
Subject: [Aroid-l] Initiation of Flowering in Amorphophallus
Fellow Aroiders:

 My Director is anxious that we flower Amorphophallus

titanum which we have had here for many years. It has always been

an embarrassment that we, among all the institutions in the world

practically, have not flowered this species even though we have had

the species from the earliest days. Anyway, I am now asking for

advice from those of you who have flowered this species if you know

of any way it can be induced to flower. I know that many of you do

not actually want your plants of Amorphophallus to flower but if

you have any ideas about what would induce these “lazy” plants of

mine to flower (short of killing it) please let me know.

Tom Croat
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