Tuber pricing questions

From: "Rosalind" <rozgold at pacbell.net> on 2004.02.17 at 05:59:43(11151) Hi folks! I was looking through the bulb catalog of a company called "Van Bourgondien," and noticed two aroid listings with what seemed to be fairly high prices - I called the company to confirm that the price in each case was for a tuber, and not for a plant. The two listings are: Arisaema candidissimun - "Cobra Lily" - 1 tuber for $49.95 - the catalog says the bulb is a "#1 bulb". http://www.dutchbulbs.com/spring/z32880.76824.html +More Alocasia macrorrhiza "Variegata" - Tuber is 7" - 11" in diameter - 1 tuber for $24.95. http://www.dutchbulbs.com/spring/z32880.71862.html Here's my questions: 1) Are these prices at all reasonable? Are the plants that rare or difficult to obtain to justify the prices? 2) Assuming the prices are somewhat reasonable, how hard are these plants to grow from tubers? - I would hate to risk that amount of money on something that was extremely difficult to grow. Finally, on a slightly different topic, I'm seeing lots of great looking calla lilies that are being offered by various catalogs. If I get a bulb that's about 2" and grow a plant from it, approximately how many blooms will I get in one season? I'm just trying to figure out if one bulb really means only one or two blooms - my apologies for how basic of a question this is - I seem to have lent out all of my gardening books to friends lately. Thanks! -Roz, in Southern California

From: "Marge Talt" <mtalt at hort.net> on 2004.02.17 at 07:31:09(11152) Roz, First off, I wouldn't go to Van B's for aroids - they're OK for the more common hardy bulbs; don't waste $$ on their perennials. There are many growers of aroids on this list and there's a list of growers on the Aroid Society pages: http://www.aroid.org/links/index.html Secondly: +More The price for the Arisaema is outrageous - see Plant Delights, you will get what you pay for there: http://www.plantdelights.com/Catalog/Current/page8.html Ellen Hornig normally has A. candidissimum for fall shipping of dormant tubers; it's not on her spring Seneca Hill Perennials list, but if Tony's out of them, email Ellen - she is on this list and can speak up and say whether she will be offering this in the fall. The price for the Alocasia is more reasonable (if they're referring to Alocasia macrorhiza albo variegata) and if it is really that large a tuber, except I'd really expect a growing plant for that and I do not think that's what you'd get from Van B's. If they say 'tuber', it's probably dry as a bone. That is a fairly rare form to find - probably many on this list grow it, but it's not easily found for sale. I got one last spring (small plant but doing nicely) from Steven L. Ankeney - Rare Tropical Plants.com http://www.raretropicalplants.com. Email him and find out if he has any. Others on this list may be offering it and ought to speak up. Arisaema are often shipped as dormant tubers - no problem growing them from those if you provide them with the conditions they require. A. candidissimum is not a difficult species; it is very late to emerge in spring for me - might be different for you in S. CA. I do not know how Arisaema fare in your climate. I personally don't have enough experience with Alocasia to know just how interesting it is to bring a totally dormant tuber back to life - others on this list can speak to that. I've never tried storing Colocasia or my one precious Alocasia out of the ground dry. I know I'd rather have a growing plant and kill it myself than buy something that may be DOA. I would imagine that your major difficulty in growing the Alocasia would be your dry climate - they like humidity and heat. Probably would need part shade where you are or at least afternoon shade - depends on where in S. CA you are, I guess. I fell in love with this one growing in the butterfly house in Raleigh, NC - it was at least 12' tall; magnificent plant. I don't expect mine to make that size; I just hope it lives:-) Others will need to speak to your calla lily flower question and hopefully give you more advice on growing these plants in your climate. Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland mtalt@hort.net Editor: Gardening in Shade ----------------------------------------------- Current Article: Battling Bambi http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/shade_gardening ------------------------------------------------ Complete Index of Articles by Category and Date http://mtalt.hort.net/article-index.html ------------------------------------------------ All Suite101.com garden topics : http://www.suite101.com/topics.cfm/635 ---------- > From: Rosalind > > Hi folks! > > I was looking through the bulb catalog of a company called "Van > Bourgondien," and noticed two aroid listings with what seemed to be fairly > high prices - I called the company to confirm that the price in each case > was for a tuber, and not for a plant. The two listings are: > > Arisaema candidissimun - "Cobra Lily" - 1 tuber for $49.95 - the catalog > says the bulb is a "#1 bulb". > http://www.dutchbulbs.com/spring/z32880.76824.html > > Alocasia macrorrhiza "Variegata" - Tuber is 7" - 11" in diameter - 1 tuber > for $24.95. > http://www.dutchbulbs.com/spring/z32880.71862.html > > Here's my questions: > > 1) Are these prices at all reasonable? Are the plants that rare or > difficult to obtain to justify the prices? > > 2) Assuming the prices are somewhat reasonable, how hard are these plants > to grow from tubers? - I would hate to risk that amount of money on > something that was extremely difficult to grow. > > Finally, on a slightly different topic, I'm seeing lots of great looking > calla lilies that are being offered by various catalogs. If I get a bulb > that's about 2" and grow a plant from it, approximately how many blooms will > I get in one season? I'm just trying to figure out if one bulb really means > only one or two blooms - my apologies for how basic of a question this is - > I seem to have lent out all of my gardening books to friends lately. > > Thanks! > > -Roz, in Southern California > > >

From: "Albert & Febie" <mrknight at charter.net> on 2004.02.17 at 11:38:21(11153) The Alocasia is a decent price as that I have seen a small one go for 192.50 on ebay. Most of the time I see small ones for sale at 24.99 - 49.99. As for growing them I have had great success with them. I grow in full morning sun upto about 12:30 and with lots of water. That seems to give them the best variegation as I have tried several places in one season to find out. Good Luck, Albert Beaufort, South Carolina

From: "George R. Stilwell, Jr." <GRSJr at worldnet.att.net> on 2004.02.17 at 11:54:58(11154) Roz, $49.95 is an outrageous price for Arisaema candidissimum. I can't comment on the other plant. If you're going to order from Van Bourgondien, be sure to get their wholesale catalog. Prices are much more reasonable and you can still order single quantities. +More But if you want first class Arisaema candidissimum at a reasonable price, contact Ellen Hornig at hornig@oswego.edu . Most Arisaema go do dormant and are delivered as tubers even if they're advertised as plants. They grow well from dormancy.

From: Ellen Hornig <hornig at Oswego.EDU> on 2004.02.17 at 15:19:50(11155) I do have a few A. candidissimum that I can sell now -expect to have a lot more ready by fall. I've been trying to rebuild my stock after overselling for a few years. And thanks, Marge and Ray, forr your kind words - Ellen +More ******************************************************************* Ellen Hornig Seneca Hill Perennials 3712 County Route 57 Oswego, New York 13126 USA USDA zone 5B (mintemps -10 to -20F) Phone:(315) 342-5915 Fax: (315) 342-5573 Website: http:\\www.senecahill.com

From: "Pacific Rim" <paige at hillkeep.ca> on 2004.02.17 at 16:18:30(11156) Up betimes (3 hours later on the west coast of North America) and find that Arisaemas are being discussed. I have quite a few. Please take a look if you haven't before. http://www.hillkeep.ca/bulbs%20arisaema.htm With best wishes Paige Woodward +More paige@hillkeep.ca www.hillkeep.ca

From: "Bryant, Susan L." <SLBryant at scj.com> on 2004.02.17 at 16:35:38(11157) Hi Roz, Yes, I gasped too when I saw the price! A. candidissimun is one of my favorites. +More It is getting more common in the US, only a few years ago they were quite rare here, at least as far as retail availability went. They seem to be much more common in the UK. It is quite easy to grow from a tuber. Just stick it in a pot or out in the ground. I was looking for some this year, too- (online, from retailers). I saw Ellen had "not available until fall". Shipping prices for plants are getting very expensive, retailers are not getting rich off shipping, but they must charge a price to make it fair for all. I found one site that was asking more for shipping than the price of one bulb! Anyhow, I ordered some from Naylor Creek, http://www.naylorcreek.com/main/per1.html I should say I chose them on price alone, and I have not bought plants from them before. The Alocasia I don't have any info on, sorry.... I do have the info you are looking for on calla lilies (Zantedeschia), it will take me a while to find it... (I seem to be "Queen of the bookmarks"). The number of blooms has to do with the size of the bulb, and also the variety. I'll try to find the info and send it to you. Susan

From: <robyn82 at bellsouth.net> on 2004.02.17 at 18:01:05(11160) Hey, Rosalind, Check out www.brentandbeckysbulbs.com for better prices. They do send great bulbs. Neither of the two tubers you mentioned will ever be found in the local stores. Well, if there is an overwhelming demand maybe. Waiting for the sun here in Tennessee, Nancy Robinson

From: "Bryant, Susan L." <SLBryant at scj.com> on 2004.02.17 at 19:22:03(11162) wonderful!! Up betimes (3 hours later on the west coast of North America) and find that Arisaemas are being discussed. I have quite a few. Please take a look if you haven't before. http://www.hillkeep.ca/bulbs%20arisaema.htm With best wishes Paige Woodward +More paige@hillkeep.ca www.hillkeep.ca

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