Amorphophallus is a striking flower that belongs to the Aroid family. It can be found on the plains of tropical and subtropical Africa and the islands of the Pacific Ocean. A plant can be tiny or exceed human growth. In various countries, amorphophallus is called "Voodoo Lily", "Devil's Flower", "Cadaveric Flower", "Snake Palm". Its unusual inflorescences, despite their beauty, exude a very unpleasant odor. And yet, amateurs of the beauty of amorphophallus are not so few. You can buy it or order tubers in any major city. In order for the plant to open in all its beauty, care rules and life cycles should be followed.
Botanical Description
Amorphophallus is a perennial tuberous plant. Its height depends on the species and can range from 80 cm to 5 m. There are both evergreen varieties and plants with a dormant period. The rounded tuber is covered with wrinkled skin. Its weight averages 5-8 kg, but more severe specimens are also found.
From the top of the tuber a petiole leaf is blooming. Most often, he is alone, but up to 3 pieces can appear. A smooth or rough petiole is distinguished by its large thickness and strength. The leaf lives only one year. It appears after the death of a flower. The dark green leaf is covered with a mesh pattern of veins. Every year, the leaves are becoming higher and larger, and the leaf plate takes on a more dissected shape. Gradually, the foliage reaches several meters across.
After a period of rest, the flower appears first. It is more correct to call it an inflorescence. An elongated ear of irregular shape is partially hidden under a huge blanket. Holds his short but thick peduncle. The corrugated cover folds into an oval tube or partially falls. Amorphophallus are monoecious plants. On the inflorescence are male and female flowers, separated from each other by a sterile space.
During flowering, the amorphophallus flower exudes a very unpleasant, and sometimes just disgusting, smell. Just touch it, the aroma intensifies, and the temperature of the plant rises to 40 ° C. Scientists conducted an analysis of odor and found in it chemical compounds that are characteristic of the following items:
- flavored cheeses (dimethyl trisulfide);
- excrement (indole);
- rotting fish (dimethyl disulfide);
- sugary sweetness (benzyl alcohol);
- smelly socks (isovaleric acid).
This specific aroma attracts flies, moths and other insects involved in pollination of the plant. As a result, fruits are formed on the cob - tiny juicy berries with a thin skin. They are painted in white-pink, red, orange or blue. Inside are one or more oval seeds.
Types of amorphophallus
According to various sources, there are from 170 to 200 species in the genus of amorphophallus. The main types:
Amorphophallus titanic. The plant is a true herbaceous giant. It grows 5 m in height. The weight of a huge tuber exceeds 20 kg. A conical cob up to 2 m high is framed by a meaty bedspread with a corrugated edge. Outside, the bedspread is painted in light yellow-green hues, and from the inside it has a brown-burgundy color.
Amorphophallus brandy. The tuber is flattened and is up to 20 cm in diameter. Petioles and a peduncle of dark green color with brown and whitish spots grow from it. The peduncle length is 60 cm, on it there is a half-meter old cob with a bell-shaped bedspread up to 30 cm high. The inflorescence is painted in a purple-burgundy color. At home, the species is rare, but it is actively cultivated in the east as a feed plant. Its tubers are boiled and eaten, as well as dried and used as seasoning.
Amorphophallus bulbous. A plant about 1-1.5 m high has a single petiole leaf. The olive leaf plate is dissected into several parts. The petiole is covered with brown spots, and at its base is a miniature bulb. The tuber is flattened, its diameter is 7-8 cm. The inflorescence 25-30 cm long is located on a thick peduncle. A creamy cob hides the dirty green outside and the pinky-yellow inside veil.
Plant life cycles
By the end of March, amorphophallus leaves its dormant state. Tuber with awakened kidneys is transplanted into fresh soil. The sprout develops very quickly, it needs abundant watering and regular feeding. A plant older than 5 years is capable of blooming. By the end of spring, a flower blooms, it pleases with its unusual beauty for about two weeks. Some varieties hibernate immediately after flowering, while others grow leaves.
Beautiful greenery on a dense petiole resembles a palm tree. The leaf grows quickly, but remains only until August or early September. Gradually, the entire ground part dries up. At rest, feeding is stopped, and watering is limited to a few tablespoons per month. Air temperature should be maintained at + 5 ... +7 0C. You can put the tubers in the refrigerator.
Breeding methods
Amorphophallus is propagated by seed, tuber division or children. At the end of the growing season, several children are formed on the mother tuber. After drying of the ground part, the plant is dug up, released from the soil and the children are broken off. All tubers are stored in the refrigerator until spring in a bag with sawdust. In spring, plants are planted in pots with soil.
An adult bulb with several kidneys can be divided into parts. They do this in the spring, when the buds wake up and small shoots appear. Cuts are performed very carefully so as not to damage the kidneys. Places of slices are dipped in crushed charcoal. The tubers are air dried for 24 hours and then planted in the soil.
Amorphophallus is rarely grown from seeds, since this procedure is laborious and seedlings bloom after 5-7 years. Seeds should be sown in containers with a mixture of garden soil, peat and vermiculite. Depth of landing is 7-12 mm. The containers are kept in a well-lit, warm place. Seedlings are expected within 5-15 days. In just a week, the seedlings will release the first leaf.
Landing rules
Amorphophallus tubers are transplanted in the spring every 1-2 years. The roots begin to appear in their upper part, so they make a landing deep enough. The pot should be at least twice as large as the tuber and be stable. At the bottom of the container, you need to make a hole and pour a thick layer of drainage material (expanded clay, shards, pebbles).
Land for planting should have a neutral or weak alkaline reaction. The following components are used to formulate the soil mixture:
- deciduous humus;
- turf land;
- sheet earth;
- peat;
- sand.
It is useful to add some charcoal and pieces of pine bark to the ground. If the children are not separated before awakening, they form a bright shoot under the mother plant. This will not harm him, but care should be taken in advance about free space.
Care Features
Amorphophallus refers to plants with an average level of difficulty in care.
Lighting. The plant prefers bright lighting. It can tolerate direct sunlight in the morning and evening. Bright, diffused light is needed throughout the day. In winter, to prolong daylight hours, use backlight with phytolamps.
Temperature. Normal room temperature is quite comfortable for the flower. When the whole shoot has dried, you need to find a place where the thermometer shows no higher than + 10 ... + 13 ° C.
Humidity. Amorphophallus needs high humidity. His sheet should be sprayed daily. The accumulation of moisture on the inflorescence leads to its soon withering, therefore, during flowering, it is better to place pallets with wet expanded clay near the amorphophallus.
Watering. With the advent of the first shoots, watering should be plentiful and frequent. However, the water should not stagnate in the soil, otherwise the tuber will rot. Between irrigation, the soil is half-dried. Do not be afraid of a slowdown due to drought, the underground part accumulates enough fluid. Amorphophallus should be watered along the edge of the pot so that water does not accumulate on the tuber. Excess fluid is immediately poured from the sump.
Fertilizers In March-August, the flower needs regular dressing. They are made every 10-14 days. It is necessary to alternate organic (mullein) and mineral (phosphorus, nitrogen) top dressing. Lack of fertilizer can lead to a period of rest after the flower withers, and the leaf does not develop.
Diseases and pests. Amorphophallus tubers may be rotten if over-irrigated. They are not destroyed, but damaged areas are cut off, treated with ash and dried. Spraying with fungicide will not be superfluous. The most common plant pests are nematodes, spider mites and mealybugs. Insects are treated with insecticides, and nematodes are cut out along with damaged fragments. To avoid reinfestation, it is recommended that the soil and tubers be treated.
Using
Amorphophallus serves as a wonderful decoration of the garden and premises. Even without a flower, its unusual leaf attracts a lot of attention. With the advent of inflorescences, amorphophallus is best taken out into the fresh air, where its intoxicating aroma will not bother much.
Tubers of amorphophallus cognac are used as food. They resemble the taste of sweet potato. In Japan, the product is added to soups and meat dishes. Dried tuber flour is used to make noodles and some varieties of tofu cheese. It also serves as the basis of many products for patients with diabetes. It is also believed that the use of amorphophallus tubers cleanses the intestines and reduces weight.
