Cultivation of a Dioscorea Elephantipes.
- mikethecactusguy
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Re: Cultivation of a Dioscorea Elephantipes.
Not Going. Can you post a bigger picture? I'd like to see the pots better. Thanks.
Mike The Cactus Guy
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- mikethecactusguy
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Re: Cultivation of a Dioscorea Elephantipes.
Its 7am here in Indio A beautiful morning in the Greenhouse. 70f already inside.
Current growth of this beauty. Growth is slower. It will pickup as it gets longer. It also is not a thick. We'll see if it enlarges as the vine grows. I wanted to move this plant to another location but with no indication of dormancy I don't want to try and unwind the current vine with the other elephantipes that also grew together.
Current growth of this beauty. Growth is slower. It will pickup as it gets longer. It also is not a thick. We'll see if it enlarges as the vine grows. I wanted to move this plant to another location but with no indication of dormancy I don't want to try and unwind the current vine with the other elephantipes that also grew together.
Mike The Cactus Guy
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Re: Cultivation of a Dioscorea Elephantipes.
mikethecactusguy wrote: ↑Sat Mar 06, 2021 3:25 pm Not Going. Can you post a bigger picture? I'd like to see the pots better. Thanks.
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Re: Cultivation of a Dioscorea Elephantipes.
mikethecactusguy wrote: ↑Sat Mar 06, 2021 3:25 pm Not Going. Can you post a bigger picture? I'd like to see the pots better. Thanks.
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- mikethecactusguy
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Re: Cultivation of a Dioscorea Elephantipes.
Hi Not_Going
Just leave them buried. As they grow they will sprout new vines. Don't cut off the old growth just yet. Water when soil is just dry. Don't let them get too dry. As the caudex grows it will start to show by itself. After a few years it will be big enough to be uncovered. They should not go through a dormancy period at this age.
Have fun
Just leave them buried. As they grow they will sprout new vines. Don't cut off the old growth just yet. Water when soil is just dry. Don't let them get too dry. As the caudex grows it will start to show by itself. After a few years it will be big enough to be uncovered. They should not go through a dormancy period at this age.
Have fun
Mike The Cactus Guy
Enjoying the Spines
Enjoying the Spines
- mikethecactusguy
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Re: Cultivation of a Dioscorea Elephantipes.
I have been so busy with work I have not really paid attention to how the Larger Elephantipes is actually doing since it popped the new vine. Today I spent time observing what is happening with the plant. And a lot is going on. First the new vine. Growth has really picked up. The base of the vine has thickened. And I now see that the old vine is changing. The leaves have lightened up in color considerably. Vine tips are turning brown. All indications the vine is dying off. Some better views of what is happening.
I do know I fertilized it 2 weeks ago, I have also been watering everyday. The soil has been drying out that fast in the greenhouse. I want to move it to a deeper pot, but wanted to wait until it stopped vine growth and went dormant. I have also noticed some roots that sprouted just where the caudex meets the soil.
Then the caudex itself. I've had this plant for 2 years. I have never really noticed any changes in it shape, color or size until today. Today I realized it has actually grown in size. It is larger than it was 2 years ago. New growth is evident in the darker lines that are appearing at the bottom of all the crevices as well as the lighter colored striations between the deep new growth and the older existing growth. It has also grown taller and is sitting higher in its current pot.
These are still a mystery to me. Since no one seems willing to share growing experiences on any of the posted web sites or pages, it is difficult to know what or how this plant will react. Growing experience Is the best tool. I do know I fertilized it 2 weeks ago, I have also been watering everyday. The soil has been drying out that fast in the greenhouse. I want to move it to a deeper pot, but wanted to wait until it stopped vine growth and went dormant. I have also noticed some roots that sprouted just where the caudex meets the soil.
Mike The Cactus Guy
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- mikethecactusguy
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Re: Cultivation of a Dioscorea Elephantipes.
At the same time I took notice that my second largest Elephantipes and the Sylvatica are changing.
The Elephantipes is showing the same growth pattern the other is showing. Darker areas at the bottom of the crevices as well as it being larger in size. The vine on this one is still looking very healthy. The Sylvatica has also changed in size. It has plumped up. The growth area of the old vines is not as prominent. It is not standing as tall as it did. The lower portion of the caudex looks bigger and fuller. Unlike its counterparts, it does not have scales the increase in height. The caudex just becomes a larger blob. It's vine appears to be healthy still. The leaves have curled at the edges a bit.
The Elephantipes is showing the same growth pattern the other is showing. Darker areas at the bottom of the crevices as well as it being larger in size. The vine on this one is still looking very healthy. The Sylvatica has also changed in size. It has plumped up. The growth area of the old vines is not as prominent. It is not standing as tall as it did. The lower portion of the caudex looks bigger and fuller. Unlike its counterparts, it does not have scales the increase in height. The caudex just becomes a larger blob. It's vine appears to be healthy still. The leaves have curled at the edges a bit.
Mike The Cactus Guy
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- mikethecactusguy
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Re: Cultivation of a Dioscorea Elephantipes.
I couldn't help myself. The price was so low I had to add this to the collection Its small but has incredible faceting already.
The seller included this one in the sale. It was a nice surprise.
They both came with nice healthy roots. The vines are wilted but not dried out. It will be interesting to see if they recover.Mike The Cactus Guy
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- mikethecactusguy
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Re: Cultivation of a Dioscorea Elephantipes.
It keeps growing. It is thinner than previous vines. The leaves of the existing vine have not changed much in color since the last pictures.
Mike The Cactus Guy
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- mikethecactusguy
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Re: Cultivation of a Dioscorea Elephantipes.
Hi All
The vine is starting to show typical growth for this plant. Today's Growth.
The vine is starting to show typical growth for this plant. Today's Growth.
Mike The Cactus Guy
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- mikethecactusguy
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Re: Cultivation of a Dioscorea Elephantipes.
One thing have not done is record closeups of the caudex growth. These are 2 larger elephantipes and the sylvatica. Obviously the Sylvatica' facets are much less pronounced but they are there.
This is the smaller of the 2. Yet I think it has had the most growth of the 2 in the past 4 months. The larger The Sylvatica I have been watering all the Dioscorea more than usual. Before it was let the soil dry completely and then water. Over the past few months it has been let the almost dry and water. With the 80f to 100f day time temps in the Greenhouse, I'm not to concerned with rot I have always treated the larger elephantipes with kid gloves. Very careful not to over water and honestly other than vines growing there has not been that much growth in the caudex. This new approach is making a significant difference. I see it in all the smaller elephantipes and hemicrypta that are active right now.
This is the smaller of the 2. Yet I think it has had the most growth of the 2 in the past 4 months. The larger The Sylvatica I have been watering all the Dioscorea more than usual. Before it was let the soil dry completely and then water. Over the past few months it has been let the almost dry and water. With the 80f to 100f day time temps in the Greenhouse, I'm not to concerned with rot I have always treated the larger elephantipes with kid gloves. Very careful not to over water and honestly other than vines growing there has not been that much growth in the caudex. This new approach is making a significant difference. I see it in all the smaller elephantipes and hemicrypta that are active right now.
Mike The Cactus Guy
Enjoying the Spines
Enjoying the Spines
- mikethecactusguy
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Re: Cultivation of a Dioscorea Elephantipes.
Looks like dormancy is where all the plants going
The big elephantipes stopped growing the new vine. The leaves have all opened up and the old vine is dead.
The Mexicana went dormant all of a sudden and the vine dried up in a few days. The roots never grew more than 1" or 25.4 mm long during this whole growth period. I've decided to just let it sit in a small bowl with fresh dirt. If it survives great. The rest of the smaller elephantipes and hemicrypta all are going into dormancy
The big elephantipes stopped growing the new vine. The leaves have all opened up and the old vine is dead.
The Mexicana went dormant all of a sudden and the vine dried up in a few days. The roots never grew more than 1" or 25.4 mm long during this whole growth period. I've decided to just let it sit in a small bowl with fresh dirt. If it survives great. The rest of the smaller elephantipes and hemicrypta all are going into dormancy
Mike The Cactus Guy
Enjoying the Spines
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- mikethecactusguy
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Re: Cultivation of a Dioscorea Elephantipes.
The little guy is hanging on.. The main vine is dead
Mike The Cactus Guy
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Re: Cultivation of a Dioscorea Elephantipes.
Thanks for the closeups mike, they look beautiful! so fascinating
- mikethecactusguy
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Re: Cultivation of a Dioscorea Elephantipes.
Thank you Silverfalls
Mike The Cactus Guy
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