Cultivation of a Dioscorea Elephantipes.

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mikethecactusguy
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Re: Cultivation of a Dioscorea Elephantipes.

Post by mikethecactusguy »

I need to stop using my Samsung phone camera and use the Nikond-610 I bought. So I did. These are all taken with a 24-120mm Zoom. I accidently had it set in "p" mode. next time it will be "a" mode so I can learn to play with depth of field.
Every one of the dioscorea has either entered dormancy or is going dormant. The heat?
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Re: Cultivation of a Dioscorea Elephantipes.

Post by mikethecactusguy »

They cease to amaze.
I thought the sylvatica was done growing . WRONG!! I just realized it's pushed out new secondary vines from the existing main vine. All along the lower 1/2 of the existing vine. Leaves have opened . Not the best pictures.
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Re: Cultivation of a Dioscorea Elephantipes.

Post by keith »

Every one of the dioscorea has either entered dormancy or is going dormant. The heat? "

Probably you're in the desert now. I use to think Eastern Ventura county would get hot sometimes.. no. When I moved to Phoenix AZ I learned what hot is . Lots of my cactus did things they never did in coastal CA.

Meanwhile its cool and foggy here with high humidity. Not super great for growing cactus.
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Re: Cultivation of a Dioscorea Elephantipes.

Post by mikethecactusguy »

keith, where are you in So.Cal?
I moved out here last Sept. 105 f and above through Oct. All the Discorea became active at that time. I think it just dormancy time. You just don't know. I just was going through all of the dormant ones. One of the small elephantipes did not look right. When I removed it from the pot all the roots fell off. The whole buried part of the caudex had dried out. Plant was toast.
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Re: Cultivation of a Dioscorea Elephantipes.

Post by mikethecactusguy »

I've officially crossed over to the dark side. A new Dioscorea Mexicana.
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8" in diameter. It was a bargain on e-bay. It came from a grower in Texas who assured me it had not been poached from Mexico. It was seed grown.
It has an active vine about 12" long and roots that are about 1 1/2" long around the caudex perimeter.
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Re: Cultivation of a Dioscorea Elephantipes.

Post by mikethecactusguy »

The biggest surprise is the Sylvatica . Secondary vines are growing out from the main vine everywhere now. Leaves are opening up. AND!!! I did not notice it 2 days ago in a picture but it has sent up a new vine from an old growth point.
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Re: Cultivation of a Dioscorea Elephantipes.

Post by mikethecactusguy »

Unique to the Mexicana is the growth point. It will first turn green and then as the vine grows a few small leaves remain visible.
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Re: Cultivation of a Dioscorea Elephantipes.

Post by mikethecactusguy »

The placed is alive again. The hell with dormancy.
The newest mexicana is exploring the greenhouse and decided this mammillaria was a good resting spot The hemicrypta sprouted a new vine overnight. This elephantipes only lasted 2 weeks in dormancy. This vine grew last night. The last elephantipes vine was going dormant and I cut it off at the point of dormancy. Well surprise surprise. It is growing a new vine.
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Re: Cultivation of a Dioscorea Elephantipes.

Post by mikethecactusguy »

The Mexicana, Elephantipes, Sylvatica and Hemicrypta this morning Saturday. The vines all snaked up the stakes. The Mexicana is above the 3rd shelf. The Smaller Elephantipes is growing a 3rd vine. This one is more substantial. The Sylvatica is making the south/west corner of the greenhouse its home. Vines upon vines are growing everywhere. It appears I have a visitor to the greenhouse. A few of the Sylvatica leaves are eaten. Need to find the worm..
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Re: Cultivation of a Dioscorea Elephantipes.

Post by mikethecactusguy »

The One that started it all in August 2019. In a 6" Bowl
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21 months later. A 12" bowl.
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Last night i noticed the tip of a new vine. this morning it was visible. this evening it's grown a full inch, 25.4 mm
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Re: Cultivation of a Dioscorea Elephantipes.

Post by mikethecactusguy »

The big Mexicana's vine is up to the ceiling of the Greenhouse. Just at 8ft.
Various other shoots from this afternoon.
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Re: Cultivation of a Dioscorea Elephantipes.

Post by mikethecactusguy »

One of the smallest dioscorea came out of dormancy today. One days growth.
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Re: Cultivation of a Dioscorea Elephantipes.

Post by mikethecactusguy »

I'm going to be lazy today and just do a photo dump. All the active Dioscorea currently. I will add, I guess the length of the Mexicana Vine at 10ft by now. The growth tip appears to be opening a few leaf buds. It's a lot different than any other Dioscorea that i have cultivated.
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Re: Cultivation of a Dioscorea Elephantipes.

Post by mikethecactusguy »

Hi All
One of the Hemicrypta came out of dormancy. And then various growth pictures throughout. The Mexicana just keeps searching around the greenhouse.
Some pictures of leaf nodes. The smaller of the elephantipes vines have wrapped around each other
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Re: Cultivation of a Dioscorea Elephantipes.

Post by greenknight »

It's a jungle in there.
Spence :mrgreen:
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