Information on Growing Amorphophallus Konjac
Amorphophallus konjac is also called voodoo lily and corpse flower, because of the less-than-appealing scent of its flower. It is an aroid, a common name of the Aracaea--or Philodendron or Arum--family. What are often called the flowers of these plants are actually leaf-like spathes surrounding a protruding column called the spadix. The spadix is covered in tiny, individual flowers. Amorphophallus konjac's flower stalk can reach a height of 5 feet and its tubers can weight 22 lb. and measure 1 foot across. It is grown as a houseplant. Does this Spark an idea?
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Light and Water
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Voodoo lily is subtropical in origin so it can handle lots of sun, but it will also tolerate part shade. It requires consistently moist soil and should not be allowed to dry out between waterings. It would do very well in a water garden where it can get lots of moisture.
Pollination
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Voodoo lily has evolved to attract flies as pollinators. In order to attract them, it mimics the scent of a dead water buffalo and the inside of its spathe resembles flesh. The plant traps flies to coat them with pollen and releases them to pollinate other voodoo lilies.
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Dormancy
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Voodoo lilies can oversummer outdoors but need to spend the winters in a garage, inside a greenhouse or in a cellar where the root system can go dormant. Its need for dormancy means it can be grown outdoors in pots almost anywhere--even non-tropical locations--provided it is moved indoors for the winter.
Cultivation
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Roots sprout from the top of the bulb, near the stem. Voodoo lily should be grown in a very large tub--around 30 gallons--so it has plenty of room to grow. Pour about 4 inches of a soil-free potting mix in the bottom of the pot, set the bulb in the pot, then cover it so it sits about 8 inches deep. Water the bulb when you see growth. The plant will grow a very tall stem that develops a mottled green color with a perfect umbrella of leaves at the top. Fertilizing throughout the summer with a tomato fertilizer--18-18-30, for example--will help the bulbs grow larger.
Bulbs
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A potato-sized bulb may not bloom for three or four years. During this time, however, the bulb will increase in size each year, putting out new offsets each season. These can be cut off and thrown away, given to friends or even eaten. The starchy tubers of voodoo lilies are harvested in Japan and used to make soba noodles.
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References
- Photo Credit Calla image by Zane Billings from Fotolia.com
