are moving the plant back to the Botany Greenhouse to see if the higher heat
and humidity will help it bloom. Fairchild had similar problems when they
moved a blooming Titan to a display room. That Titan never did open.
As of Tuesday morning, Aug. 3, the "Little Stinker" still had not bloomed.
It is being moved to the Botany Greenhouse today in hopes that the
conditions there will bring about its bloom.
"When?" is the first question asked by most of the visitors coming to Birge
Hall to see the plant, and there is still no answer. The spadix of "Little
Stinker" continued to grow taller in the past week, albeit at a relatively
slow pace of a half to one inch per day. However, its height has now
remained at 58 and 1/2 inches since Friday morning. When the spadix stops
growing, it is usually an indication that the plant is close to blooming.
Indentations in the spadix have also occurred, another sign that the bloom
could be imminent. The spathe is showing more maroon color and has some
beautiful ruffling at the top. The ruffles appear to be pulling farther away
from the spadix, but it is still a guessing game as to when the spathe will
open. Little Stinker's progress may have been slowed because of the plant's
location. The previous two Titans (2001 and 2002
) were located in the Botany Greenhouse, where there is
considerably more heat and humidity. Conditions in the Birge Hall lobby are
cooler and much less humid.
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