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Re: Cultivation of a Dioscorea Elephantipes.
Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2021 6:49 pm
by mikethecactusguy
Hi ya OWgave.
looks like a 20yr plus year old plant. Very nice. Where did you acquire it from. Each plant as you have read is unique. Growth rate, vine growth etc. Nice growth for 3 weeks. Yours will be a nice bush. Personally I'd get rid all the rock dressing. Better air circulation. Don't be afraid to soak the soil. Don't just water the perimeter. Also us a diluted cactus fertilizer every other watering. If its above 20% humidity and hot weather . Let it just dry and water again. If you miss a watering I have found the plants show you with leaf droop. Counterintuitive since you would think the caudex would provide moisture for the leaves. I have come to feel the caudex will support initial vine growth when it comes out of dormancy and then requires a regular watering schedule. Only once has one of mine grown a lot of side vines right away. Usually they throw up one long vine and then branch out.
Enjoy the show.
Re: Cultivation of a Dioscorea Elephantipes.
Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2021 4:28 pm
by OWgave
Hello MTCG-
My wife's De was obtained from Botanical Wonders near San Diego, they have a good selection of De's there, in fact they a few up on Ebay at the moment.
Thank you for the watering and fertilizer tips. As far as the top dressing and decorative rocks, I will mention to my wife that we should remove for better air flow.
Currently, the secondary upright vine has surpassed the main upright vine and of course the side branches has grown into another zip code. Yes, i believe you are right that this De will be heavily bushy....whenever it throws out it's leaves
OWgave
Re: Cultivation of a Dioscorea Elephantipes.
Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2021 12:04 am
by mikethecactusguy
Re: Cultivation of a Dioscorea Elephantipes.
Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2021 5:04 am
by anttisepp
Very nice thread Mike, I like to read it, your plants are incredible!
I grow more than 10 years only one elephantipes and it became big enough. It likes to sleep in winter and awoke this year very late.
Antti
Re: Cultivation of a Dioscorea Elephantipes.
Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2021 10:30 pm
by mikethecactusguy
WOW!!!! that is a beauty. How thick is the vine at the base? It looks like a miniature tree....
Re: Cultivation of a Dioscorea Elephantipes.
Posted: Sat Aug 07, 2021 4:20 pm
by OWgave
FINALLY, LEAVES!!!!
Sorry, image is a bit stretched due to resizing to be able post.
OWgave
Re: Cultivation of a Dioscorea Elephantipes.
Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2021 8:39 pm
by LateBloomer
Amazing thread but I have a question... do you guys leave the caudex completely exposed or slightly bury? I'm gonna leave my seedlings alone to expose themselves on their own time... 1 seedling already has out of 4.
I see most people exposing the caudex since an early age so was wondering if air/light exposure to it is needed at an early age.. this thread mentioned so people leave it covered early on not sure why. Just looking for some guidance for a year or two when I repot.
Re: Cultivation of a Dioscorea Elephantipes.
Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2021 11:34 pm
by mikethecactusguy
Hi Latebloomer.
Let them do their own thing. If you are repotting, they should be set into the soil to the original position. Don't bury them any deeper. They will start growing above ground when ready.
Re: Cultivation of a Dioscorea Elephantipes.
Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2021 7:08 pm
by mikethecactusguy
Re: Cultivation of a Dioscorea Elephantipes.
Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2021 2:15 pm
by OWgave
Aug. 14 update.
My wife decided to introduce her De loooong side branches to the sides of its trellis a few weeks ago, creating an Eiffel tower look.
Enjoy,
OWgave
Re: Cultivation of a Dioscorea Elephantipes.
Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2021 12:26 am
by mikethecactusguy
Re: Cultivation of a Dioscorea Elephantipes.
Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2021 10:28 pm
by OWgave
Hello De Lovers-
My wife's De has bloomed and i think its a female. What do you folks think?
Thanks
OWgave
Re: Cultivation of a Dioscorea Elephantipes.
Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2021 7:22 pm
by mikethecactusguy
Re: Cultivation of a Dioscorea Elephantipes.
Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2021 3:13 pm
by mikethecactusguy
Re: Cultivation of a Dioscorea Elephantipes.
Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2022 12:06 am
by mikethecactusguy