Growing the Corpse Flower: Earth's largest inflorescence

In this video, Logee's horticulturist and third generation owner, Byron Martin, discusses the Corpse Flower (Amorphophallus titanum) the largest and most unusual inflorescence in the world. It’s found in botanical gardens that specialize in rare and unusual plants. Only the patient gardener will want to try this one, for it can take up to 7 years to bloom. It is estimated there are only 3-5 blooming plants in cultivation each year, worldwide. The plant’s foundation is an underground tuber, or corm, that supports a petiole with palm-like leaves (technically, it's a single leaf). Each year, the petiole and leaves go dormant; it wilts and rots away. Below the soil surface, the corm rests for a month or two then sends up a new, larger petiole and leaves. When the corm reaches 40-50 pounds, it’s ready to bloom. It sends up a pod that swells and elongates for about a month. A long spadix emerges from the top of the pod. Finally the bloom opens in mid-afternoon usually to lots of festivities and celebration due to the rare nature of the flower. When blooming, the flower releases a carrion odor to attract pollinators. Corpse Flower will need to be repotted several times before it blooms. It’s best to wait until dormancy at the end of the year to repot. Then the potting soil is washed from the corm and it’s placed in a new, larger pot.

For more information on Logee’s, and to see our selection of rare, fruiting and tropical plants, please visit us here: https://www.Logees.com

Видео Growing the Corpse Flower: Earth's largest inflorescence канала LogeesPlants