Cultivation of Amorphophallus konjac

From: LisaOthello at gateway.net on 2000.01.20 at 05:30:31(4008) Hi everybody!! I have several questions about the cultivation of my Amorphophallus konjac. I purchased it at the end of summer last year while it was in it's leaf stage. When the leaf died back I brought it into the house because I have no garage or basement in which to over winter it. It now has several offsets which I've read should be removed while the bulb is dormant. The bulb has never really gone dormant, so is it still okay to remove the offsets (or is it better to just leave them)? To do that do I simply slice them off flush with the main bulb? Second, the bulb has a bud that is about 3/4" long, should I plant it in normal potting soil +More (it's happily sitting dry, in peat moss now) and start watering it? And lastly, to get maximum bulb growth can anyone recommend what type of fertilizer, if any should be used, and when it should be applied? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Lisa Baumgartner

From: Plantbob at aol.com on 2000.01.20 at 19:56:06(4015) Lisa, A. konjacs are fairly easy to grow. You can take them out of the soil for the winter +More months if you wish. As soon as the bud tip starts to grow and turn pinkish in color, plant it in a good potting soil and feed with Peters 20-20-20. The offsets can be cut from the mother plant when dormant. I have also removed the offsets when they were still in leaf with no problems. They do generate offsets freely, which is why I have over 400 in various sizes. Mine bloom when they reach about 10 to 12 pounds. I have some in full sun and some in full shade here in Pennsylvania and all seem to do well. I am sure you will be getting more advise from other VooDoo Lily people, so good luck. Bob

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