Re: [Aroid-l] deep pots for Amorphophallus

Ron,

John is (as always) absolutely correct!

I first witnessed and learned of this "pipe technique" from Alan some years
ago at the IAS Summer Extravaganza, which Mr. Galloway so kindly co- hosted.
My own first attempts with this approach resulted in rotted out terminal ends or
if I was lucky, just the necrotic blotches which John mentioned. It only took me
one season to yet again re-learn the axiom stating 'every grower confronts their
own unique conditions'... Whereas Alan was apparently having great success
with his particular combination of media/ climate/ watering for growing Amorphos
inside odd and sundry lengths of pipe, I was clearly not getting the same results.

My current approach is to start with 4" ABS sch. 40 (black) drain pipe. I cut
it to the lengths I need and at the bottom glue on a lg. square or rectangular
drain grate (or emitter) fitting. This provides stability and allows for plenty of
bottom drainage. Then- I drill a pattern of /12" to 3/4" holes along the sides
of the pipe itself. I find that my media, once evenly wetted, does not spill out
too much so I don't bother screening- but it's easy enough to cut a piece of
fiberglass window screen to whatever dimensions you may need and lay it
inside the pipe prior to filling. I also no longer over-pot my amorpho tubers like
I used to do. I've found that growing a tighter pot coupled with regular, careful
watering and feeding results in better growth without incurring the risk of rot.

Best of luck and I hope this may have been of some help,
-Dan



On Oct 26, 2006, at 6:59 PM, John Banta wrote:

You should be wary of narrow deep pots. I have noticed that the tubers tend to get necrotic black bloches the further they are from gas exchange. I have drilled air holes (screened in for media containment) which seems to reduce the problem. Those long tuber Anorphophallus are worth the extra effort. banta
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