Dioscorea elephantipes care?

[mcdieimp]

Hi,

So I sowed my eight seeds on 8 December using the 'baggie method' and now have four seedlings of which one is already reaching to the top of the bag. They currently in my home-made propagator at a comfortable 22C with c. 13hrs of heavily filtered light each day. The question is what now?

Should I leave them in the baggie but remove the shade? Take them out and put them on a windowsill at c.18C? I see there a long thread on this plant but seems mostly care of bought plant rather than 'Grown from seed".

Any tips welcome (I'm in London, UK btw).

Thanks

[bbarv]

I open a bag gradually in a course of 2-3days, keep soil wet, increase light. Had last seedling spouted about two months after first ones.

[mcdieimp]

Thanks, opened the bag up and spotted a fifth sprouting - happy with five out of eight if that's all I get.

I've upped to light level and will cover the surface with grit to prevent it drying out too quickly and see how they go.

[bbarv]

Sounds like a good plan.
Please post pic of a progress in a few month

[mcdieimp]

Okay, will do.

As they're out in the fresh air...

[mikethecactusguy]

Hi
I'm the one with the long thread on the 3 already sprouted plants. I have learned a lot about the plants in 5 months.
Your seedlings like to stay buried for 2 to 3 years. The caudex thrives very well covered. After a while it will start to show. As long as they are growing vines, they need water. Let the soil almost dry out before watering again. Try and keep them at 50 degrees or warmer. No direct sun if it is around. My 3 like the window sill with the plant lights. If you check back on my postings you will see I just uncovered my second plants caudex. I was surprised how large it was and that it had become root bound in 3 months. My youngest is another story.
I can not advise you on when they will go dormant. I don't know enough about seedlings stage to know if they will go dormant or it skips a season as they grow.
Best of luck. Please post a lot more as they mature
Mike M

[mcdieimp]

Six months on, five of the eight seeds germinated and have now gone dormant. Took the opportunity to untangle and re-pot them all ready for a few months rest.

IMG_20200620_092812.jpg (73.68 KiB) Viewed 2521 times

[mcdieimp]

First one hasn't taken much of a rest and springing back to life already. Possibly prompted by a light watering last week just to dampen the soil.

IMG_20200804_112751.jpg (73.72 KiB) Viewed 2417 times

[majcka]

Six months on, five of the eight seeds germinated and have now gone dormant. Took the opportunity to untangle and re-pot them all ready for a few months rest.

IMG_20200620_092812.jpg

This is 6 months plant? I have one and only leaves are out of the soil. Do you think I should pick in to see if any bulb is inthere?

[mcdieimp]

Yep. Seeds planted on 8 Dec and went dormant in June. I would wait for the leaves to die off, let the soil dry for a few weeks then have a look. These plants don't seem to follow any particular rules. Some will go dormant and the ones next to them don't. Just neee to be patient and see what happens.

[mcdieimp]

So all five plants came out of dormancy in August, possibly slight encouraged by a sprinkling of water.

One or two now starting to sprout a second 'vine'...

IMG_20200921_194607.jpg (83.85 KiB) Viewed 2143 times

Not sure coat hangers were the best choice for growing the vines on although if careful I could unwind the vine and reapply it to something else.

[mikethecactusguy]

nice looking vines. Check out my blog in the members section.

[majcka]

Not sure coat hangers were the best choice for growing the vines on although if careful I could unwind the vine and reapply it to something else.

Plants seem happy.