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Arisaema Propagation Primer
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Posted by krazyaroider Hamburg, NY 14075 Zo (My Page) on Wed, Jan 28, 09 at 17:36
Since I am suffering from a severe case of the winter doldrums here in the Buffalo, NY, suburb of Hamburg. I have been reading Garden Web forums and have found that many people enjoy growing the Jack in the Pulpit. The common Jack is also known as Arisaema triphyllum. I have many varieties of the common Jack and many of his Asian relatives.
I have read that many Garden Webbers would like to be sure about the procedure of growing Arisaema from seed. I shall share with you the procedure that I use for Arisaema propagation - all I know is that it works for me and as a result I have many Arisaema species in my garden.
I grow many species of Arisaema from seed.
I am a member of The Arisaema Enthusiasts Group (AEG), this is a worldwide organization sharing information, seed, tubers, etc.
The berries contains germination inhibitors that must be removed in order for it to germinate. In nature, this is removed by animal digestion/excretion or by rotting away during wintertime
The red flesh on the berries contains calcium oxalate, a skin irritant. This may bother some people, but not others. Wearing plastic gloves while cleaning berries is an option.
Berries when ripe are red or orange - red. If berries are still green when the stalk is knocked down by frost, cut the berry off and keep it in a warm (@ 70 degrees) in dry area.
I soak the berry in a freezer bag ( ziploc) filled partly with water for at least 48 hours.
I use a kitchen strainer (5 inches across, metal mesh) when finished with the 48 hour soak to catch the berry that may have loosened. I then pick each individual berry off the "cone" and place back in bag.
Without adding water, I gently squeeze and squish the berries. I find it helpful to place the bag flat on a table as I squeeze each berry individually - I know it seems like a lot of work especially with 6 inch berries from Arisaema consanguinum! When I have finished squeezing, then I refill the bag half way with water, the ripe seeds will sink to the bottom of the bag. Sterile seeds will float along with some of the red flesh. Pour into strainer - you may have to keep repeating this until most of the flesh is gone.
If the seed head is small, I often squeeze the berries and the seed comes out. I would use gloves as some people may find this irritates the skin on their hands..
I make sure I soak the seed overnight in liquid seaweed fertilizer( Neptune s Harvest) mixed in the appropriate ratio with water.
I use plastic window boxes due to amount of seeds or larger (5 inches or larger) plastic pots.
I do this in late March, early April - weather depending and label each seed pot according to species. I let nature to take it s course. If the seed sprout @ 4 - 6 weeks, could be sporadic over the summer. IMPORTANT: Once the Arisaema seeding sprout, never, ever allow them to dry out! Since I read this years ago, I never had the misfortune to find out what happens, but I am sure it is really bad!!!
I fertilize with liquid fertilizer with this or similar ratio ~ 8-14-9; 10-15-10;10-52-10 since Arisaema grows from a tuber, keep in mind the middle # (Phosphate) feeds roots so this, with good cultivation, should help increase the size of the tuber. I also deadhead berries if I am not planning to use them. This helps store energy in the tuber, rather than producing seed.
I grow my Arisaema in pots/tray for 3 to 4 years then plant out.
I also grow some species of Arisaema in large clay pots as this seems to cause them to prolific in producing offsets. Make sure these offsets separate from the "mother" tuber - they should survive on their own. Keep them moist and fertilized as they should produce for you. Again, this works for me and I have many more Jacks for the cost of one!
Remember 3 things for Asian Arisaema success are: excellent drainage, excellent drainage, and excellent drainage. I learned the hard, expensive way as I thought they could grow like our native Jack.
If you read of an Asian Arisaema that catches your fancy, google the name, it should get plenty of hits - that is how I found the Arisaema Enthusiast Group!
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Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Arisaema Propagation Primer
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| I enjoy this plant and would like to grow a variety. The information you have given is helpful and interesting. What is a good source for seeds? Thanks, this is the kind of information I enjoy so much. |
RE: Arisaema Propagation Primer
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| marthaye ~ A source of Arisaema seed is hirt dot com. They sell a variety pack of Asian Arisaema. I just ordered some and they will/should germinate using the technique above. ~ Gerry |
RE: Arisaema Propagation Primer
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krazyaroider, I also have read that you have to take the covering off of the seeds for them to propogate. But for the last couple of years I plucked the red seeds off the jacks and planted them in various places around the woodlands and many have come up right where I planted them.
Often six or seven of the little things..I dont think wild animals dug them up and re-deposited them in same location, but one never knows. I wonder if that holds true for all forms...Oh well, nature keeps astounding me anyways.Every year brings us something new..Tom in Pa...not to far from You |
RE: Arisaema Propagation Primer
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| Helpful info. I am planning to try growing some jacks this year. This should help make it more successful. |
RE: Arisaema Propagation Primer
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| I only have few of the more common jack's but I enjoy each one of them. Mine have never produced seeds so I propagate via divisons which is super easy. Peggy |
RE: Arisaema Propagation Primer
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| It looks from your instructions that you clean the berries and remove the seeds in late fall, when they ripen, but then plant them in late March, early April. How do you store the seeds until that time? Thanks so much for this information! |
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