My first Caudiciform!!

Post by **Maria J** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 1:45 pm

At our branch meeting last Wednesday, we had an excellent, informative and humorous talk by Bill Morris. He also brought 3 trays of succulents & other types of plant, so I bough a Dioscorea Elephantipes. It's small for now (in a 2" pot) but I hope that in time, (and the right care!!) it will become an intriguing plant!!

Post by **Roy** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 1:55 pm

I like those and so does my wife so they are part of my secret indoor collection and whats more she waters them! :-)

Post by **CactusChris** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 2:54 pm

Hi Maria,
Now you're in trouble.......I bet it is not alone for long!
It is a nice plant and develops really nicely as the years go on. I found that as young plants they grow when watered. Once they go dormant they seem to decide when to be in active growth, mostly in late autumn rather than spring if i remember correctly.

Best regards

Chris

Post by **Tina** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 3:08 pm

Hi Maria

Congrats on the new acquisition, the caudex grows better if they are covered/protected when young so I would advise a repot with soil to the same level on the plant but protect the caudex with an inch or so of grit.

Someone else may have more advice as I only have a couple & they are still young but it's nice when you have plants that grow at different times of the year, just be careful about watering when it's dormant.

Post by **MikeT** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 3:27 pm

Maria

Elephant's feet aren't without enemies. This one was savaged by a house rabbit we were looking after for a few days.
Most of them are coming into growth again, a couple have flower buds forming. I'll post a picture when they open; not the most exciting flowers, unless 2-3mm green flowers are a favourite. I think the plants with the buds developing are both males (identifed on previous occasions). If you want to collect your own seed, you need male & female plants; I don't think there's any way to tell them apart until they flower.

Mike T
Sheffield branch member, growing Dioscorea elephantipes many years

Post Edited (09-18-06 15:29)

Post by **MikeT** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 3:30 pm

Maria

should be a picture this time

Post by **Maria J** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 4:42 pm

Thanks everyone for your comments & advice!
Bill (Morris) told me basically to water when the vine was growing and stop when it died in spring (and cut it back about 1 cm above the caudex), then not water again until a new vine growth appeared. It sounded ?easy? enough?

Fortunately, I don?t have a rabbit!! ;-)
(I read that these plants were in fact Yam family so no doubt tasted / smelled irresistible to the bunny!!)
I will be repotting it shortly so have made note of covering the caudex Tina, thanks!

Post by **Maria J** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 4:43 pm

Yes please, I'd love to see pics of the flowers when they open!

Post by **Phil White** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 6:13 pm

GREAT choice of plant for your 1st caudiciform Maria I only have a few & this is one of them.
Attached is a pic of my plant but if it's flowers you want don't get excited, mine has just finished & they are rather insignificant see my next post.

Post by **Phil White** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 6:14 pm

And heres the flowers...........at least what's left of them. They were many of them a few weeks ago but still not too exciting.

My first Caudiciform!!

My first Caudiciform!!

Re: My first Caudiciform!!

Re: My first Caudiciform!!

Re: My first Caudiciform!!

Rabbit attacks elephant's foot

Re: Rabbit attacks elephant's foot

Re: My first Caudiciform!!

PS MikeT

Re: My first Caudiciform!!

Re: My first Caudiciform!!