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Re: Jack in the Pulpit

Karen,

If you're talking about Arisaema triphyllum, the common Jack, I've had
about 100% germination by planting the seed as soon as the berries are ripe
(when the rest of the plant has faded away and the berries are deep
orangy-red).  It is recommended that you remove the seed from the berry. 
I've done it both ways and gotten plants, but think removal of the pulp is
best.   If I'm not mistaken, I think each berry may have more than one seed
in it....could be confusing berries, here....but that's what comes to mind.

If you must buy seed and it has been dry stored, I understand you need to
soak them first and germination may take longer and not be as high a
percentage.   I have not had marvelous luck with seed I bought -- but I had
not tried soaking it first.

You can plant the seeds in a flat or pot and leave it outside all winter in
a protected spot -- or dig it into the ground.  You could probably also
just create a nice seedbed and plant them in it outside.  After all, that's
what happens in Nature.  You could cover the seedbed with wire netting to
discourage critters from digging it up.  I put pots in a flat and cover it
with a top made of window screening to keep out critters and debris. 
Anyway, come spring, you should have lots of baby Jacks who will put up one
or maybe two little roundish leaves.  I understand that the first winter is
the hardest on the baby corms, so you may want to bring them inside for the
winter in a cool spot if you plant in pots or flats.  Don't let them dry
out totally, but don't keep the soil soggy or they may rot while dormant. 
They will go dormant in late summer.  Best to leave them in the seed pot or
flat for a year.  The next year you can pot them on or plant them out while
they are dormant.  It will take a few years for them to reach flowering
stage.  One of the neatest factoids about Arisaema that I learned on
Arisaema-L, is that the same plant will be both male and female, depending
on age and general health.  When they are younger, they are male and when
they get older, they become female and flower and set berries.

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
Editor:  Gardening in Shade
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----------
> From: JErnst209@aol.com
> Date: Sunday, August 31, 1997 11:08 PM
> 
> How does one go about propagating this plant from seed?  I know it will
take
> years to bloom, but  would like to try and start the seed nonetheless.
> 
> Thanks in advance,
> 
> Karen Ernst
> Michigan, Zone 5
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