sikokianum seedlings - Zone 5

From: Kathryn <kmulhear at ix.netcom.com> on 1997.06.03 at 03:11:38(792) We have a four year old sikokianum which just bloomed for the first time which we grew from Park seed. It's splendid in Zone 5, southern Maine coastal area. When it goes to seed, what should we do? Nothing? Let them drop or dry them and start them indoors the following year? We have a number of (Park) seedlings in peat cups and would be grateful for any advice on what soil they thrive in. Also can we plant them in containers and bring them inside in the winter? Thanks, Kathryn and Emmanuel

From: grsjr at juno.com (George R Stilwell, Jr.) on 1997.06.03 at 13:48:58(794) Kathryn, Arisaema are not fussy about soil. Any woodland soil will do. If it forms a seedhead with viable seed it will be a miracle. Arisaema require plants of both sexes to mate and produce seed. They are perculiar in that they change sex with age and with stressful conditions - neuter at birth, male in youth, female with maturity and reverting to male when stressed. Arisaema require a cold season to thrive, so bringing them indoors will only work if you give them a 1 - 2 month cold treatment either outdoors or in the fridge. A number of AEG (Arisaema Enthusiasts Group) members get two years growth in a year with this treatment. The trick is to keep them in bearly miost condition while cold - too moist, they rot, too dry they die. There have been a number of postings on Arisaema-L describing the exact process. +More Ray

From: JimMcClem at aol.com on 1997.06.03 at 16:41:55(795) Kathryn and Emmanuel First, I hope you won't be too disappointed if your A. sik. is a male (which it probably is, since it's a young plant) and doesn't set seed. It takes both a male and female plant to make babies. Most arisaema species are dioecious (unisex), although a few are not. They change from male to female as they get older and larger. (not necessarily wiser!) If seeds are made, the fruit is similar to that of our native "Jack", except that it is very late turning red, despite the fact that the plant blooms very early. However, the green seedhead can be harvested when the plant is taken down by frost, and the berries will eventually ripen and the seed is usually OK. I'm talking Delaware here, but I would hope that you'd have similar results in Maine. +More If it turns out that your frost is too early, the only thing that I can suggest would be to grow the plants in pots, or to pot up a pregnant female and bring her inside before frost. If brought inside, they will need cold during dormancy, but not necessarily freezing. Taking the tubers out of the pot and refrigerating in slightly moist peat is easy to do. The roots do not persist from one year to the next, so don't worry about them. As for soil conditions, arisaemas in general, and A. sikokianum in particular, are prone to rot if excessive wet in winter. Well draining soil (not heavy clay), with planting in a raised bed or on a slope seems to help. Hope this helps. Jim McClements, Dover, DE

From: Greg Hood <ghood at psc.edu> on 1997.06.03 at 18:56:32(796) Kathryn, I also grew sikokianum from Park seed (3 or so years ago), and planted them out in a woodland bed (Ohio - Zone 5). Last year one or two of them bloomed for the first time; this year nearly all of them bloomed. One that bloomed last year produced seed, though it took a long time to ripen. After a few fall frosts I picked the seed cluster, thinking that something would eat it since it was lying on the ground. I kept the cluster in an unheated garage, then planted the seeds this spring in a flat in the garage. When none had germinated after a couple of months, the flat was moved into a warm greenhouse, and now many of the seeds have sprouted. This year I think I will plant quite a few of the seeds directly in the ground and see what happens. So, in response to Ray's note, I'd have to say that this Arisaema can be female in youth, so don't give up hope on getting fertile seeds soon. --Greg

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