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View Full Version : Anyone else growing Xanthosoma robustum?


Ontariobanana
06-16-2011, 08:29 PM
Hi All,

I'm in the Toronto Canada area. I grow a variety of banana and aroids. I'm wondering if anyone else has any experience growing Xanthosoma robustum (looks like sagittifolium except bigger). I started two large tubers last year, one in the ground and one potted. The potted one got huge and outgrew the in ground one. I kept the potted one growing during the winter.....did poorly, leaves went from over 3' long to about 8" long in a full sun southern exposure. It is still lagging even after moving outside.
The inground one was stored dry in the basement as a bare tuber. I planted in a pot in early March and it took off within a couple of weeks. It is now in the ground putting out progressively larger leaves.
My question is. Does Xanthosoma need dormant period unlike Alocasia? Any help with this would be great.

Craig

nannerfunboi
06-19-2011, 06:10 PM
a big yo to ontarionanner!!!
this will be my 1st yr with xanthosomas.. i have sagittifoliiums.. i need to
look for robustums.. bigger cool!!!!!
my experience with EE.. mostly alocasia portodora,macrhorrhiza,odora,
jacks giant,and colocasia thai giant..and couple spp..
my alocasias overwinter great every time.. i keep them bareroot..except small ones and i keep them pretty dry.. only monthly waterings..
colocasias havent done well for me.. my problem is the plants get so
big (base of plant).. last yrs thai giants got over 14" wide..
reading here..and daves garden.. im going to pot them up..
BIG POTS ..SIGH ... lol.. keep them on dry side but potted up..
i think when ya find what works keep to it..
im rethinking my overwintering potting mix.. especially with my tropicals.. nanners and EE.. im thinking of using coconut husk chips in the mix..to
make more drainage for the roots..
good luck to you..hope you post your sucess on these...
im going to source on robustums..
thanks :goteam: