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  Colocasia burgandy stem
From: Lester Kallus <lkallus at earthlink.net> on 1998.06.10 at 22:11:53(2266)
I obtained a Colocasia "burgandy stem" from Plant Delights last summer and
it did great. It flourished and was a nice variation from the other
colocasias given it's blue-green leaf color.

I thought I'd have plenty to go around this summer, but had miserable luck
saving the tubers from last year. Actually, they weren't even tubers, it
was just stems that hadn't formed tubers.

I tried to order a new one from Plant Delights but they were apparently out
of them by the time I placed my order. Does anyone know of any other sources?
Les

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From: nichollsgardens at juno.com (Diana Nicholls) on 1998.06.11 at 03:31:27(2268)
Email me privately, I can help you with Colocasia burgandy stem.

Diana Nicholls

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From: Steve Marak <samarak at arachne.uark.edu> on 1998.06.11 at 03:51:10(2269)
On Wed, 10 Jun 1998, Lester Kallus wrote:

> I obtained a Colocasia "burgandy stem" from Plant Delights last summer and
..
> I thought I'd have plenty to go around this summer, but had miserable luck
> saving the tubers from last year. Actually, they weren't even tubers, it
> was just stems that hadn't formed tubers.

Les,

Don't give up hope on your "not even tubers" from last year. You would not
believe the resurrections I routinely perform on pieces of various
Colocasias (and I am no saint).

I can't winter them over outside, and though I'm careful with the largest
pieces of each one (and, for a few such as Black Magic/Jet Black
Wonder/Voodoo, with every piece) I always have pieces I don't find -
especially with the 'Burgandy Stem' because it sends out those crazy
runners. Most haven't formed any tuber at all. I treat them with callous
disrespect - shake most of the dirt off, them toss them in a box in a heap
where they winter over with no - and I mean literally NO - water at all.
Any leaves that are up dry up and they look ghastly.

Whenever I think about it in the spring, I fill a shallow pan with water,
chunk them all into it, and when I see a new growing point start up, I pot
them up or give them away or whatever.

In fact, I found a piece of another Colocasia cultivar a guy in S.
Arkansas gave me last November in a sack just a few days ago, dry as a
bone since he dug it up, no real tuber at all. After about 4 days in
water, it's sprouting nicely.

I'm not recommending this, you understand, but these plants are really
tough, so don't count them out too early.

Steve

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From: Lester Kallus <lkallus at earthlink.net> on 1998.06.11 at 13:23:55(2270)
That sounds like an easier method than the multiple steps I used. I have
an area on my website where I describe the methodical care I gave to the
Caladiums & Colocasias. It worked great on the Caladiums but the
Colocasias turned into mush.

It's funny because last year (summer of 96) I never got to the Coloasias.
They were treated essentially the same as yours - I threw them into a bag.
I kept planning to "get to them" but just never did.

Surprisingly, I had great results that spring. It looks like the more you
do to them, the less you get back. I guess I'll just relax this fall and
try the paper bag method again.
Les

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